The document discusses stock repurchases and their benefits. It notes that stock repurchases can be used to provide an internal investment opportunity, modify a firm's capital structure, and increase earnings per share which should raise the stock price. Repurchases can also benefit investors for tax purposes by being taxed as capital gains rather than ordinary income like dividends. However, dividends may still be preferred by investors for being more dependable and if the stock price is too high.

1. To provide an internal investment opportunity.
 To modify the firm's capital structure.
 To impact earnings per share, thus increasing stock
price.
Stock Repurchases: Benefits

2. Share repurchase as a dividend decision:
 A firm may decide to repurchase its shares, increasing
the earnings per share which should be reflected in a
higher stock price.
 For tax purposes the investor may prefer the firm to
repurchase stock in lieu of a dividend. Dividends are
taxed as ordinary income, whereas any price
appreciation resulting from the stock repurchase
would be taxed as a capital gain.
 The investor may still prefer dividend payment
because
 Dividends are viewed more dependable than
stock repurchases.
 The price the firm must pay for its stock may
be too high.
 Risk of the firm's capital structure may
increase, lowering the P/E ratio and thus the
stock price.

3. Financing or investment decision
 A stock repurchase effectively increases the debt-
equity ratio towards higher debt, thus repurchase
is viewed as a financing decision.
 Buying its own stock at depressed prices, a firm
may consider the repurchase as an investment
decision. However, this action is not a true
investment opportunity, as the extreme result
would mean the company would consume itself.
 The Stock Repurchase Procedure
 A public announcement should be made detailing
the amount, purpose and procedure for the stock
repurchase.
 Open market purchase - at the current market
price.
 Tender offer - more formal and at a specified price.
 Negotiated basis - repurchasing from specific large
shareholders.

4.  Buying own stock back from
stockholders
 Reasons for repurchases:
 As an alternative to distributing cash as
dividends.
 To dispose of one-time cash from an asset
sale.
 To make a large capital structure change.

5.  Stockholders can tender (sell) or not.
 Helps avoid setting a high dividend that
cannot be maintained.
 Repurchased stock can be used in takeovers
or resold to raise cash as needed.
 Income received is capital gains rather than
higher-taxed dividends (sometimes).
 Stockholders may take as a positive signal--
management thinks stock is undervalued.

6.  May be viewed as a negative signal (firm has
poor investment opportunities).
 IRS could impose penalties if repurchases
were primarily to avoid taxes on dividends.
 Selling stockholders may not be well
informed, hence be treated unfairly.
 Firm may have to bid up price to complete
purchase, thus paying too much for its own
stock.