Monday, September 30, 2019

Bebop Jazz and its Influence Essay

Developed in the 1940’s, bebop jazz expanded upon the restrictive and structured arrangements of big band music, changed the way music was enjoyed, and provided a foundation for future innovators of jazz music. Bebop was a revolutionary sound that captivated the audience due largely to the new found creative freedom of musical expression allowed by extensive improvisation. According to John Andrews (1998), â€Å"Bop marked the point at which both the musicians and their audience became widely conscious that jazz was an art form.† Andrews also goes on to mention that bebop’s main focus was for people to seriously listen, instead of dancing. After bebop other styles of jazz developed, such as progressive jazz, cool jazz, and hard bop. These three styles of jazz, in the opinion of many people, imparted a substantial influence on current jazz, and will likely impact future generations as well. Bebop is a style of jazz developed in the early 1940s as a means to revolt against big band music. Big band music required large groups of players. As a consequence, the musicians were required to follow simpler, highly structured, written arrangements. At the time, many musicians resented the lack of freedom to improvise and the reliance upon written arrangements, so they created bebop, a new style of jazz. Bebop was vastly different than swing band music. It had faster tempos, complex harmonies, elaborate melodies and a rhythm section. According to _America’s Musical Landscape_, a typical bebop combo consisted of a trumpet, saxophone, double bass, piano, and percussion. Due in part to the smaller number of performing musicians, bebop music allowed for more freedom of expression and imagination than in big band music. Improvisation was a key feature. While much of big band music was designed to indulge the audience’s desire to dance, bebop jazz is for people who want to sit down and listen to the music. At first, many people enjoyed listening to bebop simply because it was something new and exciting. However, many people, particularly musicians, prefer bebop because of its sophistication and complexity. Some jazz musicians felt they needed something different and preferred to play bebop instead of swing jazz to demonstrate their improvisational skills. Musicians such as saxophonist, Dizzy Gillespie; trumpeter, Charlie Parker; and pianist, Thelonious Monk; stand out as examples of creative giants who through their virtuosity, were able to achieve an innovative sound that made listening to the nuances and astounding creative improvisations so finely wound into their musical presentations, more important than dancing or chatting over simple background music. In a way, bebop was a new genre unto itself, more akin to jazz than big band music. Because it is essentially the basis for most contemporary jazz styles, listeners will hear the enduring influence of bebop in most jazz forms that have followed it. Progressive jazz, cool jazz, and hard bop are three styles to have evolved from bebop jazz. It is likely that these three jazz styles, as well as others, embedded with the underlying roots of bebop will have an ongoing influence on future jazz musicians. No one can speak for all musicians, many may prefer to play older well-established, classic jazz, but certainly there are a substantial number of musicians that prefer playing the avant-garde styles, who will carry the flag of bebop for future generations. Bebop was a revolutionary and exciting sound that changed the world of jazz in the 1940’s and continues to influence jazz styles today. At its advent, bebop was a way for jazz musicians to break away from the confines of big band music, which did not allow for much improvisation or freedom of musical expression. Bebop pioneers such as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Thelonious Monk helped pave the way for other jazz musicians, allowing them to shed their restrictive chains of structured big band music and to elevate the level of improvisational genius that bebop allows. Subtle nuances, sophisticated interpretations, and creative variations of musical phrases  created on the fly can be thrilling to an appreciative listener. It is the on the spot creative virtuosity that makes attentive listening so important to bebop jazz and its consequential styles such as progressive jazz, cool jazz, and hard bop. It is likely that these contemporary forms, still infused with the musical DNA of bebop, are likely to influence future jazz musicians. Reference Andrews, J. (1998). What Bebop Meant to Jazz History. Retrieved June 8, 2007, from The World Socialist Web Site: http://www.wsws.org/arts/1998/may1998/bop-m22.shtml

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Postpartum depression: The mother, child and partner involvement Essay

Traditionally, postpartum psychiatric disorders have been divided into three categories depending on increasing degrees of severity: postpartum blues, postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis. Postpartum Depression (PPD) is thought to affect between 4 and 28% of all mothers. Despite its prevalence, it is not well understood.   It is the duration, severity and complexity of the symptoms that distinguishes PPD from the baby blues and postpartum psychosis (Romm, 2002). PPD can affect any woman, no matter what her age, economic status, or cultural background. Symptoms include madness, irritability, apathy, and intense anxiety, crying spells, worthlessness, and inability to make decisions or to concentrate. It can begin anytime during the first few days, weeks, or months after delivery. The specific cause is unknown but fluctuating hormone levels, exhaustion and stress may trigger. PPD, if left untreated could lead to postpartum psychosis characterized by delusions and hallucinations; they may become suicidal or have thoughts of hurting their baby. There are a lot of possible causes of PPD which include: doubt about the pregnancy, lack of support system, breast-feeding problems, sharp drop in estrogen and progesterone levels after childbirth, unresolved issues and any other stressful events. Signs and symptoms that may indicate that postpartum blues are actually PPD include: worsening insomnia, changes in appetite (poor intake), poor interaction with the neonate; views the neonate as a burden or problem, suicidal thoughts or thoughts of harming the neonate, feelings of isolation from social contacts and support systems, inability to care for self or neonate due to lack of energy or desire (Springhouse, 2007). A range of risk factors have been identified with the development of PPD, including a history of depression, difficult infant temperament, marital or partner relationship problems, child care stress, low self-esteem and poor social support. Postpartum depression is very treatable with counseling and/or antidepressant medications that are safe for nursing mothers (Riley, 2006). The child of a PPD mother Researchers have extended examination of PPD to include samples from various cultures and countries around the world. PPD disrupts maternal-infant interactions and children’s cognitive and emotional development. Withdrawn, disengaged, and intrusive maternal behavior patterns may result in fussy, aggressive, less affectionate and less responsive infants. Reduced vocalization and slower neurological growth and motor skills development have been documented among infants of depressed mothers. In response to growing incidence of PPD’s negative effect on infant development, investigators have begun to focus evaluating interventions to promote improved mother-infant relationships. Nurse investigators are also involved in testing better tools for early detection of PPD. The Postpartum Depression Screening Scale (PDSS) is a promising, 35-item self-report instrument to identify women who are at risk for PPD. Given the importance of PPD as a clinical problem, mental health evaluation of all postpartum women should be standard care (Fitzpatrick & Wallace, 2006). This depression often interferes with a woman’s ability to function. One of the major challenges in dealing with PPD has been early recognition. Undiagnosed PPD can result in tragedy, sometimes in a form of maternal suicide or infanticide that makes headlines. Early intervention is essential. In screening, it is important to recognize that women who have experienced a high-risk pregnancy, previous infertility, previous post-partum depression, and stressful labor and birth are at risks of PPD. A non-supportive partner or stress related to family, marriage, occupation, housing, or other events during pregnancy can also contribute to the risk of PPD. Also, women with past history of depression not related to pregnancy are at risk. Screening for PPD begins with prenatally with identification of potential risks. it is important that the woman at risk and/or diagnosed with PPD receive appropriate counseling, treatment, and support (Phillips, 2003). One clinical trial designed to test the efficacy of an interactive coaching approach delivered by trained home visiting nurse produced promising findings. The intervention had a positive effect on maternal-infant responsiveness among mothers. Subsequent research is needed with diverse samples to test additional interventions to reduce negative effects of maternal depression on child development. Inclusion of partners to examine family processes related to maternal depression was also recommended (Fitzpatrick & Wallace, 2006). The treatment   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Treatment is available for people suffering from depression, the most effective for moderate-to-severe cases generally being combination of biological and non-biological therapies. This usually means making use of both medication and psychotherapy. One key factor in the success if antidepressant medication is the willingness of patients to take it as prescribed. Compliance with prescribed medications is also important. Psychotherapy is educational in nature and involves helping patients develop an understanding of various problems, as well as new beliefs and behaviors, which can ultimately lead to more successful adjustments. Psychotherapy may be supportive in nature or crisis-oriented (Ainsworth, 2000). The high rate of depression and anxiety disorders in women of childbearing age should alert the primary care physician to consider PPD in the routine care of young and middle-aged women (Robinson & Yates, 1999). The partner of a PPD mother   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Research suggests that women’s relationships with their male partners are crucial to understanding PPD. According to studies, male partners are the primary sources of support in mother’s lives, and one of the main causes of PPD is seen as a poor relationship in which a woman’s partner fails to be sympathetic, understanding, or supportive in practical or emotional terms (Mauthner, 2002). The partner’s positive response to this problem could result to faster recovery of the mother and the safety of the child as well. References Ainsworth, P. (2000). Understanding Depression: Univ. Press of Mississippi. Fitzpatrick, J. J., & Wallace, M. (2006). Encyclopedia of Nursing Research: Springer Publishing Company. Mauthner, N. S. (2002). The Darkest Days of My Life: Stories of Postpartum Depression: Harvard University Press. Phillips, C. R. (2003). Family-Centered Maternity Care: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Riley, L. (2006). Pregnancy: The Ultimate Week-By-Week Pregnancy Guide: Meredith Books. Robinson, R. G., & Yates, W. R. (1999). Psychiatric Treatment of the Medically Ill: Informa Health Care. Romm, A. J. (2002). Natural Health After Birth: The Complete Guide to Postpartum Wellness: Inner Traditions / Bear & Company. Springhouse. (2007). Maternal-Neonatal Nursing Made Incredibly Easy! : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.   

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Connection Between Surf, Spirituality And Media Speech or Presentation

Connection Between Surf, Spirituality And Media - Speech or Presentation Example Surfing brings about and evokes the spirituality within individuals. Surfing helps to rejuvenate the connections and oneness with the cosmology. It helps to link the surfer with the positive energy that persists in the world. Another experience that surfers share which evokes spirituality in them is friendly relation and bond they develop for the various aquatic species that reside within the ocean. Some suffers have also reported that they have experienced communication between various aquatic species that on various occasions when they were on the shore in solitude waiting for the right moment to hit the waves. It is also assumed that the spiritual connection that surfers go through also causes them to develop a sense of responsibility in them to save and protect the marine life that resides in water. Today, many organizations have been established that help surfers to gather on a platform, make them aware of their responsibility towards the aquatic life and also to acknowledge the m that the sport they play has a religious point of view too which means that surfing is not merely an experience but it has certain religious perspective.... Spirituality is something within or at times is sought. These days spirituality is obtained through various means. One of them is through sports. When a surfer hits the waves, he comes in contact with the forces of nature that persist. The waves drive him to the shore. On his entire quest on the waves he is in direct contact with nature, the surfer is eventually following the course of nature. Indulging in the waves, he finds his way to the shore which portrays a real experience; a man enters this temporary and fake world. Gets involved in various activities, those who seek the path of God and patiently wait for their reward finally stand victorious like a surfer after hitting the high waves comes back to the shore same way a man continues his journey in this world and the world after. Kreeft in his essay on surfing and spirituality states that "The key elements in the symbolism are pretty clear: I, the surfer, am—myself. The body with which I surf in the sea symbolizes the so ul, with which I "surf" in God. The sea is God. The beach is the approach to God. Surfing is the experience of God, or the spiritual life" (Kreeft, Surfing and spirituality). This is a very precise way to explain surfing and spirituality. Media plays a very important role when it comes to the reinforcement of sustainability as a principal part of surf mentality. This is an all-inclusivemeasure—the magazines and videos featuring professional surfers cannot be shallow and focus only on surfing. Sustainability needs to come up more frequently than once a year in the magazines, for example, in the â€Å"green† issue. Surf media affects the youth: many individuals were influenced by surfing

Friday, September 27, 2019

Site Surveying Procedures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Site Surveying Procedures - Essay Example Uren. J. & W.F.P. (1999) Surveying device, consisting of a visual structure for collimating a measuring position, a driving unit for performing scanning in a dimension range said visual structure, a distance-measuring unit comprising a radiance gesture detachment measuring scheme, an image pickup unit for captivating an illustration in the size range, an icon meting out unit for performing reflection meting out to haul out edges from the image pulled out up, and a control mathematics operation unit for choosing a position near the periphery as a measuring position on the figure singled out for controlling supposed distance-measuring unit to carry out surveying procedure of the measuring position. Uren. J. & W.F.P. (1999) Three-dimensional data is normally surveyed on an object as this flat within a predetermined range; however the past has gripped this model of surveying on an object such as building within a predetermined range, there have been disadvantages in the past in that much time was required and there was limitation in acquired amount of the surveying data because an operator must determine a measuring point and surveying operation must be carried out one point after another. By the use of automatic instruments, surveying operation is automated, raster scanning is performed by determining a range with fine pitch, and a vast amount of 3-dimensional surveying data can be collected more quickly than in the operation by the surveying operator. A great number of measuring points are required and storage capacity o a storage device to store the data at the measuring points also must be large. In case unnecessary data is incorporated as measuring data, the continuity of the data may be lost, and the measurement must be repeatedly carried out in many cases. Tifadi, T. & Booth, D.W. (1997) To obtain the site configuration through the

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Estimating Purchasing and Cost Control Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Estimating Purchasing and Cost Control - Essay Example Cost management is an integral part of financial control and management in any for profit and non-profit organisation, notwithstanding the industry or sector. The same applies particularly to the engineering and construction sector in which the huge amounts of financial and other resources pumped must be accounted for to stakeholders such as the government, project funders and the public/customers.Unfortunately, for various reasons, many countries’ construction sectors lag behind in the use of cost control techniques such as the Cost Value Reconciliation (CVR) and Earned Value (EV), two rather common methods of cost control. Many a stakeholder cites the technical skills and the huge resources required as the reasons many constructions firms and financial managers do not apply CVR in their cost control practices. Most affected by the cost and skill requirements of CVR and other cost control techniques such as CVR and Earned Value (EV) are the small and medium-sized construction and engineering firms that lack the wherewithal to design and implement these techniques of cost control. The other reason for the little use of cost control techniques such as CVR and EV is the apparent lack of literary coverage and information on these methods, implying that stakeholders are not quite conversant with the metho.Nonetheless, these methods are generally used in the construction and engineering industry to measure and monitor project progress, profitability and performance for their strengths. One advantage of EV is that it is capable of combining the assessment of work cost, schedule and scope in a single integrated process or system. What is more, Earned Value gives accurate information and forecasts on project problems, which are important contributory factors in project management. EV has been shown to affect project planning and control aspects more even as it improves project scope and the analysis of project performance. EV is thus a positive predictor of proj ect success. The popularity of EV is evident in the many government contracts that are assessed using this method, more so in its application to assist substantiate contract disputes. This paper explores the use of cost control methods such as the Coat Value Reconciliation (CVR) and the Earned Value (EV) with regards to their effectiveness in providing information on costs, in the monitoring work progress, their benefits, ease of use, advantages and disadvantages. Practicing CVR and EV The importance of using these cost control methods in the construction and engineering sector is the uniqueness and the uncertainties that characterise each project. In fact, every project in the industry has its own set of challenges and hardships that affect not only their successful completion but also their effective use of the available resources. The uncertainties inherent in construction projects result in losses and ultimate project collapse even for big, long-established, sophisticated and fi nancially endowed constructors (Potts, 2008). With more sophisticated structures being ordered by clients every other day with the budgets getting tighter by the day, construction firms must embrace cost control and sound finance management to achieve their objectives. Just like any other cost control measures, CVR has several core elements or principles by which it is successfully applied to give the required data. Important in CVR are the totals for cost and value, which are crucial in establishing a firm’s profitability (Sidwell, 2005). In this regard, CVR’s major objective is to achieve accuracy while displaying a firm’s accounts. CVR’s display of financial accounts and position is thus among the most accurate compared to other methods. It is thus quite apparent that CVR seeks to portray a firm’s statutory accounts as a legal obligation (Sidwell, 2005). Additionally vital is CVR’

Exploring the continuity between heritage and nationalism Essay

Exploring the continuity between heritage and nationalism - Essay Example At the heart of the concept of nationalism therefore is the recognition and portrayal of this nation and the creation of an identification of its people. This can be done through the fostering of national heritage. Heritage is an important and indispensable addition to the concept of national identity and has evolved simultaneously with nationalism. The connection between nationalism and heritage is evidently strong. The nation is a concept built by heritage. Nations will cease to exist without their national heritage. The Relationship between Nationalism and Heritage Heritage, defined as â€Å"that which has been or may be inherited† (Howard, 2003, p. 6), developed from a set of philosophies and ideas, which openly represent ‘modernity’. The modern period, as usually described, frequently espouses a Eurocentric worldview. 18th- and 19th-century Europe are regarded as the zenith of modernism as secularism developed during the Renaissance finally translated into th e Enlightenment of the 18th century, with its support for and confidence in human rationality. The idea of European nation-state was formed within this perspective (Howard, 2003, p. 6). Similar to the Renaissance, the Enlightenment is regarded as being characterised by its specific interpretation of heritage. Consequently, the modern period is characterised by the development of various accounts of nationalism as the â€Å"ideology of belongingness† (Corsane, 2005, p. 3) and primary component of validation in state-building process. As stated by Woolf (Corsane, 2005, p. 3): National identity is an abstract concept that sums up the collective expression of a subjective, individual sense of belonging to a socio-political unit: the nation state. Nationalist rhetoric assumes not only that individuals form part of a nation (through language, blood, choice, residence, or some other criterion), but that they identify with the territorial unit of the nation state. The character of a nation is an aspect related to its attitude toward its national heritage. Basically, national heritage is defined as shared memories of a society emphasising symbols, cultural objects, historical experiences, and people which are viewed as prerequisites for the existence of nation (Labadi & Long, 2010, p. 39). The more components such as symbols and cultural objects that are integrated into a dynamic appreciation and recognition of national heritage, the stronger the concept of national identity and the more intense and committed the nationalism of the community. Thus, when the English appreciated their national heritage, particularly their diverse English intellectuals and literary geniuses, they showed a strong and passionate sense of being‘English’ (Laurajane, 2006, p. 136). Moreover, according to Borelli and Lenzerini (2012), the attempt of Eastern European peoples to restore their 19th-century national heritage, with its focus on commemorating historical events and past grandeurs, is a perfect example of strengthening the sense of nationalism. In this visualisation of a nation that is also the native soil of inhabitants who share cultural similarities, heritage is the most important tool in the development or building and consequent cultivation of a national identity. National heritage and nationalism evolved simultaneously while the concept of ‘nation’

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Students will analyze a problem in policing. It may be a problem that Essay

Students will analyze a problem in policing. It may be a problem that any level of law enforcement faces. This includes feder - Essay Example A variety of approaches put in place to the precise configuration of both governance and oversight regimes (McKenna, 2000). Governing in the police has two categories; the internal and external governance that has differences in the management of police, categorized into several sections (McKenna, 2000). The sections are internal & external governance, political, managerial, legal and procedural consequential (McKenna, 2000). Governance in police; politically it includes constitutional, decentralization and consultative sections. In managerial, it includes commercial, resource and professional sections. In terms of legality, it includes judicial, quasi-judicial and regulatory sections within the legal regime. All the sections and departments mentioned above establish a police organization that makes it complex and difficult to manage the governance of the police organization due to the difference in the management practices and ideas (McKenna, 2000). Causes of the Problem External go vernance fully depends on the functions of internal governance. The differences experienced in the two organizations create bigger, unbearable blocks that prevent the proper functioning of the police organization (McKenna, 2000). The internal and external governance practices have created discrepancies. ... The senior management level of police has also failed in educating its personnel, enlighten them and enabling them to function as a central component of the governance enterprise. That makes it difficult for the civilian governance to operate its operations as a public policing (McKenna, 2000). Previous Interventions The police organizational unit formed a professional body to curb this problem in the 1960s and 1970s. Police were removed and unresponsive measures taken due to the public demand; which accused them of not attending to issues that affect the public. They were supposed to deal with the main issues affecting the public in their operational roles. A gap was established between the police and some of the various publics sworn to serve and protect the public demand. The police unit conducted a research and found out that the professional module created was not meeting the needs of the society. Its negligence was so intense to the development of security and proper mechanism established to deal with the crimes and disorders that were far much of the high level due to poor practices of the professional police unit created. Reforming and restricting the professional model of policing leads to the establishment of a reform called community policing (McKenna, 2000). The intelligence has established new sectors in the police organization that deal with the police organizations. This enables them to work actively and effectively incorporating society, shareholders, colleagues and governing organizations in the private sector. As the need to reform the police has been on the major world events, police organizations have moved away from

Monday, September 23, 2019

Business Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Business Law - Essay Example The local and state courts are active within their restricted domain. A hierarchal trend is evident in which the bottom courts have restricted domain, and the relatively superior court have increasing number of responsibilities and assignments. The court has certain jurisdictions which are based on the nature and the location of the case (Tinsley, 2000). It is advisable, and is per the discreet of the company to file suit against any party for its failure to abide by the norms and regulations, or violation of any agreed or legal document. In this case, where the company B has betrayed company A, and has tried to defy the accepted deal, the company A is therefore entitled to submit its complain to the court. The issues with reference to the social, family, cultural and religious disputes are handled by the civil courts, whereas the cases related to theft, burglary, murder, violence, corruption and fraud are treated by the criminal courts. The given case in which the company A i.e. employer has been betrayed by another company B i.e. call center has little relevance with the criminal activities; therefore the proceedings of the case are expected to be conducted by the civil courts. The ambiguities and malpractices mostly related to the unethical and immoral values are brought under the domain of the civil court. The civil court are considered perfect judicial resort where the justice can be achieved, the proceedings in other courts are difficult to be materialized mainly due to the reason that either the court itself will rule out the application, or the lawyers of the defendants can prove that the criminal courts are not entitled to conduct the proceedings, thus such a case will stand v oid. Contrary, the civil courts can entitle to conduct the proceedings without any legal barrier, therefore company A is authorized to register a case of manipulation of funds, or detachment from the agreed financial deal against company B in the

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Capital structure analysis Math Problem Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Capital structure analysis - Math Problem Example Since the managers are not sure of the accurate share price IST, the company would face a lemons problem if it would wish to raise the amount of capital required through issuing equity. A lemons problem takes place when both the buyers as well as the sellers have asymmetric information about the worth of the product in order to take an informed choice, and it is not possible to get hold of the correct information. For example, if in the market, the buyer cannot determine the value or worth of the product precisely, then he might be willing to pay only an average price for it, which is near about the mean value of the bid price and the offer price. But, this skews the balance towards the lemon seller (whose products are not of high quality), because receiving an average price for his low quality product is good enough for him; as the average price would definitely be higher than the price the product would command if the buyer knew in advance about the quality of the product. This occ urrence also places the seller of a good quality product in a disadvantageous position, since the best value such a seller can anticipate to get for his product is an average price, which is actually lower than the value the product should command (Tel Aviv University, n.d.). Prob. a) In the case of IST, since the managers of IST are not sure about the accurate price of these shares and feel that it is either $12.5 or $14.5, so as the investors have chosen an average price and hence the shares of IST are presently trading at $ 13.50. i) At present, if the company issues equity to raise the required capital, the share price will remain $13.5. The managers of IST would always want to maximize the long-term share price of the company. If the managers know that the accurate value of the share is $12.5; because the shares would be priced at $13.5 which is higher than the actual correct price, the company will have to issue comparatively lesser number to shares as compared to the situatio n if the shares were priced at $12.5. If the share price was $12.5, IST would have to issue 40 million shares to raise $500 million and now that the share is trading at $13.5, it will have to issue 37.037 million shares. Thus, since in this case IST has to issue 2.96 million less shares, it gains around $40 million (2.96 million times 13.5) and hence the managers would definitely choose to issue equity to raise $500 million ii) But, if the managers know that the accurate value of the shares is $14.5, issuing equity would mean that the share price would remain at $13.5 though its actual value is more. This would go against their policy to maximize the long-term share price of the company and would also imply that the company would have to issue 2.55 million more shares than it would have at share price of $14.5. This would lead to a loss of $34.42 million (2.55 million times 13.5). If the company borrows the required amount, it has a threat of potential financial distress and the pre sent value of the financial distress cost would be more than any tax benefit, by at least $20 million. The potential loss by issuing debt is much less than the loss by issuing equity, hence in this case the mangers would choose to borrow $500 million instead of issuing equity. Prob. b) If the management of IST issues equity, then the investors should conclude that the

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Mirrors Essay Example for Free

Mirrors Essay As long as I can remember, I’ve always perceived mirrors as something inimical. To be honest, I hate mirrors most of the time. But, today I’m sitting in front of one, and a beautiful woman is looking back at me. It’s time to fight my fear and hatred, time to look closely at who I am, and to decide who I want to become. It’s time to accept that mirrors exist. I look at my hands at first. Small and white, they are, the hands of the person who never did any hard labor, the musician’s hands. They remind me of all the people I hugged and touched with my smile, of my friends, who are like family members to me. There are quite a lot of people I can recall, as I’ve always been sociable, not afraid to talk to an unfamiliar person. A chatterbox, my Mom calls me. It’s not that I like to talk so much; it is rather that I believe that people should communicate and become closer to make this world better. People are always trying to find and create differences, like races, different religions or sexual preferences. My upbringing has caused me to have a very open minded about life and the world around me. As I brush back my dark brown hair and expose my ears, I am reminded of the music that lives in my soul. Form the early childhood the elegant splendor of the violin hypnotized me, made me forget about everything I knew and felt. Now I’m 22, and I am pursuing my passion to the fullest being enrolled in the conservatory. When I hear music inside me, I feel free, I see myself dancing through the shiny big hall in the candlelight. I have dreamed of being able to dance since I was a child, and, maybe the greatest my dream is to be able to dance. I want to experience the ability to feel the ground move below my feet and the wind upon my face as I elegantly float across the dance floor. When I close my eyes and play my wish becomes reality within my imagination. And than I look into my reflections eyes, the most feared moment in the whole procedure. I still can’t see vivid blue there rather the darkness of my past that became part of my present. When I look into my eyes I always think of thee one, who created me, and who made me who I am. I think of my father, and, like every time I do it, it hurts almost physically. His abusive ways made my life much more complicated and less carefree than it could be. When I think about it I always begin to put useless questions to myself, like: â€Å"What if he hit her differently? What if my mother never talked back that night? † I still can not understand how a person could physically harm someone carrying his unborn child. Nevertheless, what happened remains a fact. It’s unlikely that I will be able to walk at all. In the same time, it is my past that makes me stronger, and is the motivating force behind my thirst for success. The woman in the mirror looks at me smiling, but her eyes are wet. I look at her full lips and recall all of the unspoken words I keep inside myself. In fact, my fear of commitment and falling in love is my biggest challenge in life. I still cannot forgive my father, who left Mom, right after my birth, and I’m just afraid to trust so much, like loving people should trust each other. Nevertheless, I hope that some day I will be ready to accept what the world will give me. I hope I will meet a person whom I will be able to trust, and who will appreciate me for who I am. I strongly believe in love yet seem to know how to give it rather than receive. The clock counts seconds and minutes, and I still look at the women in front of me. She is living, breathing, and often smiling. She is just like everyone else; except for the metal chair that surrounds her. Usually, it is the first element people note when they see me, and the hardest task is not to let their perception of me affect my mentality, and limit my possibilities. I hate the word â€Å"disabled†. Dis-abled means â€Å"not able†, and it’s not about me. I am able to see the world around me, to sing and to smile, to set the goals and reach them, and to inspire people around me. My chair will not be a limitation as I continue to strive for excellence and live a life of great fulfillment.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Impact of Bank Mergers and Acquisitions on Pakistan Banks

Impact of Bank Mergers and Acquisitions on Pakistan Banks 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study The Pakistani banking sector has undergone extraordinary transformation over the years, in provisions of number of organizations, ownership constitution, as well as the deepness of operations. These modifications have been prejudiced mostly by challenges pretended by deregulation in policies of financial sector, globalization of procedures, technical innovations and embracing of managerial and prudential necessities that kowtow to international principles. The wave of merger and acquisitions that currently swept through the banking sector started after the announcement by the state bank of Pakistan, that banks in Pakistan should beef up their minimum capital adequacy ratio should according to bank risk weighted assets or set by SBP. Mergers and Acquisitions are commonplace in developing countries of the world but are just becoming prominent in Pakistan. Merger and acquisition is simply another way of saying survival of the fittest that is to say a bigger, more efficient, better-capitalized, more skilled industry. Is part of the natural evolution of industries? It is primary driven by Business motives or market forces and Regulatory interventions. The issues therefore , which this study intend to address are whether merger and acquisition will bring about efficient reliable and sound capital base for the bank that fully embraced mergers and to what extend can bank merge boost the confidence of the customers , the investors , the shareholders and ability to finance the real time sector . 1.2 Problem statement The recent sudden increase of bank mergers in Pakistan is attracting much attention, partly because of keen interest in what motivates companies to merge and how mergers affect efficiency. A view holds that companys merger not just to obtain superior but also to be well-organized. It is argued that mergers allow the banking industry to take improvement of new occasions created by transformation in the technical and authoritarian surroundings. A dispute of this is the reduction in the number of banks countrywide but the concentration of power in local banking markets has not increased. The problems of under-capitalization, mismanagement and poor corporate governance have continued to be sources of instability and corruption in successive Pakistani banking crises up till now. Hence, mergers are singing a useful role in restructuring the banking industry with no risk and lack of opposition though, it collide on competence be worthy of attention. This research will consider this inspection by probing the effect of the merger as well acquisition that had taken place in the banking sector of Pakistan on the performance of a selected bank. 1.3 Objectives of the study The reason of this project is to examine the overall impact of Banks mergers and acquisitions in the Pakistani Banking sector. This research also focuses on some issues: To explore the collision of merger as well as acquisition on bank effectiveness, profitability, enlargement and endurance. To observe the impact of the merger as well as acquisition on the stage of competitiveness in the Pakistani Banking Sector. To classify those which will give advantage and be defeated in the merger and acquisition procedures? Does merger boost the capital base of banks? Does merger improve customers service delivery in the area of information technology, innovation and boosting customers confidence? 1.4 Hypothesis The hypothesis with the intention of testing in this research is stated below as: H0: Merger and acquisition has not impact on the banks performance in Pakistan h3: Merger and acquisition has an impact on the banks performance in Pakistan 1.5 Significance of the study The requirement for having a jingle economy and most especially disinfecting the banking sector; It is anticipated that this work will hold out a solution to the importance and recompense of merger and acquisition as a policy tool for the survival of our banking sector. It will equally be of a tremendous significance to those outside the financial sector, who do not know much about some of the benefit of bank merger and acquisition. 1.6 The scope and limitation of the study The study will not in any way inhabit on the technical issues connecting to merger and acquisition or in the locale of work out figures, slightly, it will attempt to examine the impact of merger and acquisition in the Banking industry of Pakistan. The study will be carried out in Islamabad/Rawalpindi. For this reason the result cannot be generalized. Also, the study has nothing to do with other banks even though a number of them have experienced mergers too. CHAPTER 2 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW There are many companies that coming together to originate another company and companies taking over the currently existing companies to expand their business (Altunbas, 2005). Due to recession many Pakistani companies are facing the feeling of uncertainty rising which become reason to alarmed to businessmen, it is not astonishing when we listen to about the enormous corporate restructurings comes into being, particularly in the previous couple of years. Some companies have been taken over and numerous have going to take internal restructuring, while confident companies in same area of trade have consider it valuable to merge with each other to form one company. There are many gears of merger and acquisitions, offshoot, tender proposal, and many other forms of corporate restructuring in our daily news paper. Thus significant matters both for company decision and policy making and public image have been elevated. No company is considered secure from a conquest risk. On the encouraging elevation Mergers may be dangerous for the strong expansion and enlargement of the company. Victorious entry into innovative product and services and ecological markets may necessitate Mergers at some stage in the companys development. Flourishing contest in international markets may focus on abilities gain in a timely and proficient fashion in the course of Mergers. Most disputed that mergers boost value and competence and move capital to their uppermost and best uses, thus mounting shareholder value (Kruse, 2002). To decide on a merger or not is a complex issue, particularly in provisos of the technicalities concerned. We encompass almost all issues that the management must focus before taking final decision for merger. A lot of brainstorming would be necessary through the managements to attain conclusion. Judgment has to be fulfilled after discussing the advantages and disadvantages of the planned merger and the impact of that merger on the business, administrative benefits, on shareholders value, tax implications including stamp duty. 2.1 MERGER Meaning â€Å"A merger is a combining two companies in one corporation which is completely absorbed by another company. The less significant company loses its name and operates with more important company, which exists with its identity.† (Chawla, 2008) What Mergers actually mean: A merger is a combining two companies in one corporation which is completely absorbed by another company. It may entail absorption or consolidation. In absorption one company acquires another company. For example, Telenor and Tameer Microfinance Bank (TMB). In consolidation, two or more companies combine to form a new company. For example, Polka and Walls. The less significant corporation loses its identity and turn into the more significant corporation, which keep hold of its identity. A merger put out the merged corporation, and the existing company supposes all the rights, civil liberties, and liabilities of the merged company. A merger is not like a consolidation, in which two companies lose their detach uniqueness and join to make a totally new company. A rule is based on the relation that mergers inevitably remove competition between the merging companies. This relation is most sharp where the parties are direct opponent, because courts often believe that such provision are more horizontal to limit output and to raise prices. The terror that mergers and acquisitions decrease competition has inevitable that the government carefully examine planned mergers (Altunbas, 2005). in spite of disquiet about a decreasing of competition, companies are comparatively free to buy or sell whole companies or particular parts of a company. Mergers and acquisitions frequently result in a number of social reimbursements. Mergers can convey better management or technological skill to abide on underused assets. They also can create economies of scale and range that decrease costs, get better quality, and raise output. The opportunity of a takeover can deject company managers from acting in ways that fail to capitalize on profits. A merger can enable to owner to sell the company to someone who is more proverbial with the particular industry and maintain a better position to shell out the highest price. The view of a profitable sale encourages entrepreneurs to form new company. Merger is known as amalgamation too. Merger is the synthesis of two or more companies which are working in same era. All current and fixed assets, short and long term liabilities and the stocks of one company shifted toward other Company in reflection of payment in nature of: Cash Equity share of the acquired corporation, Debentures of acquired corporation, All of the above in mixed mode (Chawla, 2008) 2.2 Mergers vs. Acquisitions These conditions are usually used to describe same thing but in actuality, they have vaguely dissimilar meanings. An acquisition and merger pass on to the act of one corporation attainment of another company and obviously fitting the new possessor. Legally, the target corporation, the corporation that is bought, no more presents. Generally acquisition is use to acquired property in ownership. In the scenario of corporation combinations, an acquisition is to buy one company by getting controlling interest in all resources of other company. A merger is a combination of two or more corporations that are frequently about the similar size and concur to bond into one large corporation. In the scenario of a merger, mutually companys stocks come to an end to trade as the fresh corporation selects a latest name and a new stock is announced in position of the two different companys stock. This view of a merger is unrealistic by real world standards as it is often the case that one company is actually bought by another while the terms of the deal that is struck between the two allows for the company that is bought to publicize that a merger has occurred while the company that is doing the buying backs up this claim. This is done in order to allow the company that is bought to save face and avoid the negative connotations that go along with selling out. 2.3 Purpose of Mergers Acquisition: Purposes for mergers are given below. (1) Procurement of materials: To uphold the resources of supplies of raw materials or mediator product To get hold of economies of purchase as a discount, reduce transportation costs, many overhead costs to introduce new department, etc. To divide the reimbursement of suppliers economies by generalizing the resources (Cartwright, 1995). (2) Revamping production facilities: To accomplish economies of scale by combining production services throughout concentrated utilization of deposit and capital To generalized product specifications, perfection in quality of manufactured goods, growing market and planning at customers satisfaction in the course of amplification subsequent to sale services (Chawla, 2008) To attain improved manufacturing technology and knowledge from the acquired company To diminish cost, improvement in quality and manufacture competitive goods to hang on to and get better market share (Altunbas, 2005). (3) Market expansion and strategy: To get rid of competition and defend present market; To get new market channel in control of the acquirer; Strategic control of patents and copyrights To acquire innovative product for diversification or replacement of accessible goods and to increase products range; (Kruse, 2002) Strengthening keep hold of channels and sale the products to downsize the distribution; To decrease advertising cost and get better public image (4) Financial strength: To perk up liquidity and boast direct right to use to cash. To organize of extra and obsolete assets for cash To improve mechanism to maintain capacity, make use of better strength and the superior assets assistance; (Chawla, 2008) To achieve tax advantages To get better Earning Per Share (5) Commonachievements: To get better representation and draw attentions of better-quality managerial aptitude to administer its associations; To give more satisfaction to customers or product user (Chawla, 2008) (6) Own developmental plans: The main reason of merger and acquisition is reversed by the acquirer corporations strategies. A corporation decide to acquire the other business only when it develop it own goals to enlarge its operation by examining its internal strength where it is not going to face any difficulty in tax, accounting and in valuation of company, etc. It has a goal to attain a suitable amalgamation that provide opportunities to enhancement in its funds by increasing its securities. (7) Strategic purpose: The Acquirer Corporation inspect the merger to attain strategic goals in the course of substitute of amalgamation which could be vertical, horizontal merger, product expansion, market expansion or other particular different goals according to attentions of achieving the corporate strategies. Thus, various types of combinations distinct with each other in nature are adopted to pursue this objective like vertical or horizontal combination. (8) Corporate friendliness: Even though it is uncommon but it is reality that companies demonstrate degrees of cooperative spirit regardless of competitiveness to give security to each other from hostile takeovers and develop circumstances of partnership allotment of goodwill of another to get more efficiency through business amalgamation. (9) Desired level of integration: Mergers and acquisition are hunted to achieve the most wanted level of integration between the two corporations. This type of merger could be an operational or financial. The main reason and the necessities of the acquiring corporation get a long term benefit in choosing a appropriate partnership in merger or acquisition in companionship. (Chawla, 2008) 2.4 Reasons of merger Acquisition: The principal economic rationale of a merger id that the value of the combined entity is expected to be greater than the sum of the independent values of the merging entities. For example, if companys A and B merge, the value of the combined entity, V (AB), is expected to be greater than (VA+VB), the sum of the independent values of A and B. (Chawla, 2008) A variety of reasons like growth, diversification, economies of scale, managerial effectiveness and so on are cited in support of merger proposals. Some of them appear to be plausible in the sense that they create value; others seem to be dubious as they dont create value. The most plausible reasons in favor of mergers are strategic benefits, economies of scale, economies of scope, economies of vertical integration, complementary resources, tax shields, utilization of surplus funds, and managerial effectiveness. Strategic benefit: As a pre-emptive move it can prevents competitor from establishing a similar position in that industry. It offers a special timing advantage because the merger alternative enables the company to ‘leap frog several stages in the process of expansion. It may entail less risk and even less cost In a ‘saturated market, simultaneous expansion and replacement (through merger) makes more sense than creation of additional capacity through internal expansion Economies of scale: When two or more companys combine, certain economies are realized due to larger volume of operations of the combined entity. These economies arise because of more intensive utilization of production capacity, distribution networks, and research and development facilities, data processing systems and so on. Economies of scale are prominent in horizontal mergers where the scope of more intensive utilization of resources is greater. Even in conglomerate mergers there is scope for reduction of certain overhead expenses. Economies of scope: A company may use a specific set of skills or assets that it possesses to widen the scope of its activities. For example: proctor and gamble can enjoy economies or scope if it acquires a consumer product company that benefits from its highly regarded consumer marketing skills. Economies of vertical integration: When corporations occupied at dissimilar stages of manufacturing and value chain merge, financial system of vertical integration may be comprehend. For instance, the merger of a corporation occupied in searching and production with a company occupied in cleansing and marketing may get better co-ordination and manage. Vertical integration, though, is not forever a good thought. If a company does everything in-house it may not get the advantage of outsourcing from self-governing suppliers who may be additional well-organized in their division of the value chain. Complementary resources: If two companies have harmonizing resources, it may make sense for them to merge. A good example of a merger of companies which complemented each other well is the merger of online gift shop with TCS. Online gift shop is best to know the demands of customer but they dont have excellent transport infrastructure to deliver that gifts to customers but to make its system efficient online gift business should be merge/acquire with TCS or any other service like that. Tax shields: When a company with accumulated losses and/or unabsorbed depreciation merges with a profit making company, tax shields are utilized better. The company with accumulated losses and/or unabsorbed depreciation may not be able to derive tax advantages for a long time. However, when it merges with a profit making company, its accumulated losses and/or unabsorbed depreciation can be set off against the profits of the profit making company and the tax benefits can be quickly realized. (Mylonakis, 2006) Utilization of surplus funds: A company in a mature industry may generate a lot of cash but may not have opportunities for profitable investment. Such a company ought to distribute generous dividends and even buy back its shares, if the same is possible. However, most management has a tendency to make further investments, even though they may not be profitable. In such a situation, a merger with another company involving cash compensation often represents a more efficient utilization of surplus funds. Managerial effectiveness: One of the potential gains of merger is an increase in managerial effectiveness. This may occur if the existing management team, which is performing poorly, is replaced by a more effective management team. Another allied benefit of a merger may be in the form of greater congruence between the interests of the managers and the share holders. (Mylonakis, 2006) Often mergers are motivated by a desire to diversify and lower financing costs. Prima facie, these objectives look worthwhile, but they are not likely to enhance value. Diversification: A frequently acknowledged reason for mergers is to attain risk diminution through diversification. The degree, to which risk is condensed, of course, depends on the association connecting with the earnings of the merging units. at the same time as negative correlation fetches superior lessening in risk, positive correlation takes smaller diminution in risk. Corporate diversification, though, may present value in at smallest amount two special gears. (Chawla, 2008) 1) If a company is overwhelmed with troubles which can put in danger its existence and its merger with one more company can hoard it from possible liquidation. 2) If shareholders do not have the chance of diversification because one of the corporations is not traded in the bazaar, corporate diversification might be the merely possible route to risk diminution. Lower financing costs: The outcomes of larger size and greater earnings and stability, many argue, are to reduce the cost of borrowing for the merged company. The reason for this is that the creditors of the merged company enjoy better protection than the creditors of the merging companies independently. Increase Supply-Chain Pricing Power: Bybuying out one of its suppliers or one of the distributors, a business can eliminate a level of costs. If a company buys out one of its suppliers,it is able to save on themargins that the supplier was previouslyadding to its costs; this isknown asa vertical merger.If a company buys out a distributor, it may be able to ship its products at a lower cost. Eliminate Competition: Many MA dealsallow the acquirer to eliminate future competition and gain a larger market share inits products market.The downside of thisis that a large premium is usually required to convince the target companys shareholders to accept the offer. It is not uncommon for the acquiring companys shareholdersto sell their shares and push the price lower in response to the company paying too much for the target company. Synergy: The most used word inMA is synergy, which is the idea that by combining business activities, performance will increase and costs will decrease. Essentially, a business will attempt to merge with another business that has complementary strengths and weaknesses. (Mylonakis, 2006) 2.5 categories of mergers Acquisitions The resulted merger and acquisition is based on the offeror corporations attention what it desires to attain. Depend on offerors goal, mergers could be conglomeratic, vertical, horizontal, and circular which will explain below. I. Vertical combination: A corporation merged with another company to increase espousing in backward integration and forward integration to absorb the resources of supply in market. The acquiring business due to merger can reduce inventories and finished products. In the vertical combination, the acquirer may be a supplier or a buyer who use their intermediary material for finished goods. (Ahmed Badreldin, October 2009) There are some benefits from merger that acquiring companies achieved i.e. 1. Due to imperfect market and shortage of resources and obtained products, it gets strong position. 2. Has monopoly in goods specifications. II. Horizontal combination: It is a combination of two competitive companies which are at same level of success in industry, and both companies should be related from same business. The main rationale of such mergers is to get economies of scale by removing repetition of conveniences and the processes and expansions the product line, diminution in speculation in working capital, removal in competition attentiveness in product, lessening in advertising costs, raise in market segments and work out improved control on market (Badreldin, 2009). III. Circular combination: Corporations generating unique products look for merger to contribute to general division and investigate facilities to get economies by reducing cost on replication and prop up market growth. The acquiring corporation gets advantaged as diversification and resource sharing. IV. Conglomerate combination: It is combination of two corporations affianced in different businesses. Main reason of this type of merger remains consumption of finances and increase debt capacity by bringing change in their financial system and also boost share holders leveraging and earning per share, lessening average cost of capital and in that way raising present worth of the outstanding shares. Merger increases the on the whole constancy of the acquirer corporation and generates balance in the corporations whole portfolio of various products and manufacturing processes. (Sue Cartwright, May 01, 1995) V. Market-extension This entails the grouping of two corporations that sell the identical products in dissimilar markets. A market-extension permits for the market that can be accomplished to develop into larger and is the foundation for the repute of the merger. VI. Product-extension This merger is flanked by two corporations that sell different, but to some extent associated products, in a same market. This allows the new, larger company to group their goods and sells them with better success to the previously common market with the intention of the two different companies shared. VII. Accretive In accretive an acquired firms earnings per share enlarge. A substitute way of manipulative this is if a corporation with a high cost to earnings ratio obtains one with a less price earning ratio. (Chawla, 2008) 2.6 Concerns of Mergers Acquisitions Conglomerate, Horizontal and vertical mergers each hoist unique competitive alarms. Horizontal Mergers: Horizontal mergers lift up three basic cutthroat problems. The first is the removal of competition among merging corporations, which, depending on their bulk, could be important. The second is that the amalgamation of the merging companys operations might make sizeable market power and might facilitate the merged company to raise prices by falling output unilaterally. The third difficulty is that, by rising concentration in the related market, the deal might make stronger the ability of the markets outstanding contributors to synchronize their pricing and production decisions. The terror is not that the companies will connect in secret partnership but that the decrease in the number of industry members will improve implicit coordination of performance. (Chawla, 2008) Vertical Mergers: Vertical mergers have two essential forms: Forward integration: by which a company purchases a customer, and backward integration, in which a company gets a supplier. Swapping the market contacts with interior transfers can present at least two foremost benefits. First, the vertical merger maintains all transactions between a producer and its supplier, as a result adapt a potentially adversarial association into impressive more like a partnership. Next, internalization can provide management more effectual ways to scrutinize and get better performance. Vertical integration merger does not diminish the total number of economic units working at one level of the market, but it is changing patterns of industry performance. Either its a forward or backward integration, the newly acquired company may make a decision to deal only with the acquiring company, thus changing competition between the acquiring companys suppliers, customers, or opponents. Suppliers may misplace a market for their possessions; retail channel may be destitute of supplies; or opponents may locate that both supplies and channel are infertile. These potential raise to the anxiety that vertical integration will shut out opponents by restrictive their access to resources of supply or to customers. Vertical mergers also might be less competitive because their well-established market power may hamper new industry from entering the market. (Chawla, 2008) Conglomerate Mergers: Conglomerate mergers take many forms, series from provisional joint ventures to complete mergers. Moreover a multinational merger is wholesome, ecological, or a product-line addition, it engages companys that operate in separate markets. Therefore, a corporation transaction generally has no direct result on competition. There is no reduction or other alters in the number of companies in both the acquiring and acquired corporations market. (Chawla, 2008) Conglomerate mergers can provide a market or requirement for companies, therefore giving entrepreneurs liquidity at an open market price and with a key inducement to form new enterprises. The danger of conquest might force offered managers to increase competence in competitive markets. Conglomerate mergers also offer openings for companies to lessen capital costs and transparency and to attain other efficiencies. Conglomerate mergers, though, may lessen future competition by get rid of the option that acquiring company would have come into the acquired companys market separately. A conglomerate merger may exchange a strong company into a leading one with an influential competitive benefit, or else formulate a policy to make it complex for other corporations to penetrate the market. Such mergers also may lessen the number of minor companies and may enlarge the merged companys political influence, in that way weaken the social and political objectives of keeps self-governing decision-making hubs, assurance that small firm will get opportunities, and defending democratic practices. (Mylonakis, 2006) 2.7 Benefits of Mergers Acquisition Diversification: Corporations that want quick growth in dimension or diversification or market share in the variety of products may discover that a merger can be worn to accomplish the intentions instead of obtainable throughout the volume overriding practices of internal expansion or diversification. The company may attain the similar goals in a short time period merging with an existing company. Moreover this type of a strategy is frequently show low cost than the alternative of mounting the necessary production potential and capability. If a company that wants to expand operations in existing or new product area can find a suitable going concern (Altunbas, 2005). It may avoid many of risks associated with a design; manufacture the sale of addition or new products. Moreover when a company expands or extends its product line by acquiring another company, it also removes a potential competitor. Synergism: The scenery of synergism is very simple. Synergism exists at any time the value of the combination is greater than the sum of the real values. We can explain it as; synergism is â€Å"2+2=5†. But categorize synergy on appraise it may be difficult; in fact occasionally its implementations may be very delicate (Chawla, 2008). As generally defined to include any incremental worth is resulting from business combination, synergism in the basic economic good reason of merger. The incremental value may draw from raise in either operational or financial competence. (Chawla, 2008) Operating Synergism: Operating synergism may result from economies of scale, some degree of monopoly power or increased managerial efficiency. The value may be achieved by increasing the sales volume in relation to assts employed increasing profit margins or decreasing operating risks. Although operating synergy usually is the result of either vertical/horizontal integration some synergistic also may result from conglomerate growth. In addition, sometimes a company may acqu Impact of Bank Mergers and Acquisitions on Pakistan Banks Impact of Bank Mergers and Acquisitions on Pakistan Banks 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study The Pakistani banking sector has undergone extraordinary transformation over the years, in provisions of number of organizations, ownership constitution, as well as the deepness of operations. These modifications have been prejudiced mostly by challenges pretended by deregulation in policies of financial sector, globalization of procedures, technical innovations and embracing of managerial and prudential necessities that kowtow to international principles. The wave of merger and acquisitions that currently swept through the banking sector started after the announcement by the state bank of Pakistan, that banks in Pakistan should beef up their minimum capital adequacy ratio should according to bank risk weighted assets or set by SBP. Mergers and Acquisitions are commonplace in developing countries of the world but are just becoming prominent in Pakistan. Merger and acquisition is simply another way of saying survival of the fittest that is to say a bigger, more efficient, better-capitalized, more skilled industry. Is part of the natural evolution of industries? It is primary driven by Business motives or market forces and Regulatory interventions. The issues therefore , which this study intend to address are whether merger and acquisition will bring about efficient reliable and sound capital base for the bank that fully embraced mergers and to what extend can bank merge boost the confidence of the customers , the investors , the shareholders and ability to finance the real time sector . 1.2 Problem statement The recent sudden increase of bank mergers in Pakistan is attracting much attention, partly because of keen interest in what motivates companies to merge and how mergers affect efficiency. A view holds that companys merger not just to obtain superior but also to be well-organized. It is argued that mergers allow the banking industry to take improvement of new occasions created by transformation in the technical and authoritarian surroundings. A dispute of this is the reduction in the number of banks countrywide but the concentration of power in local banking markets has not increased. The problems of under-capitalization, mismanagement and poor corporate governance have continued to be sources of instability and corruption in successive Pakistani banking crises up till now. Hence, mergers are singing a useful role in restructuring the banking industry with no risk and lack of opposition though, it collide on competence be worthy of attention. This research will consider this inspection by probing the effect of the merger as well acquisition that had taken place in the banking sector of Pakistan on the performance of a selected bank. 1.3 Objectives of the study The reason of this project is to examine the overall impact of Banks mergers and acquisitions in the Pakistani Banking sector. This research also focuses on some issues: To explore the collision of merger as well as acquisition on bank effectiveness, profitability, enlargement and endurance. To observe the impact of the merger as well as acquisition on the stage of competitiveness in the Pakistani Banking Sector. To classify those which will give advantage and be defeated in the merger and acquisition procedures? Does merger boost the capital base of banks? Does merger improve customers service delivery in the area of information technology, innovation and boosting customers confidence? 1.4 Hypothesis The hypothesis with the intention of testing in this research is stated below as: H0: Merger and acquisition has not impact on the banks performance in Pakistan h3: Merger and acquisition has an impact on the banks performance in Pakistan 1.5 Significance of the study The requirement for having a jingle economy and most especially disinfecting the banking sector; It is anticipated that this work will hold out a solution to the importance and recompense of merger and acquisition as a policy tool for the survival of our banking sector. It will equally be of a tremendous significance to those outside the financial sector, who do not know much about some of the benefit of bank merger and acquisition. 1.6 The scope and limitation of the study The study will not in any way inhabit on the technical issues connecting to merger and acquisition or in the locale of work out figures, slightly, it will attempt to examine the impact of merger and acquisition in the Banking industry of Pakistan. The study will be carried out in Islamabad/Rawalpindi. For this reason the result cannot be generalized. Also, the study has nothing to do with other banks even though a number of them have experienced mergers too. CHAPTER 2 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW There are many companies that coming together to originate another company and companies taking over the currently existing companies to expand their business (Altunbas, 2005). Due to recession many Pakistani companies are facing the feeling of uncertainty rising which become reason to alarmed to businessmen, it is not astonishing when we listen to about the enormous corporate restructurings comes into being, particularly in the previous couple of years. Some companies have been taken over and numerous have going to take internal restructuring, while confident companies in same area of trade have consider it valuable to merge with each other to form one company. There are many gears of merger and acquisitions, offshoot, tender proposal, and many other forms of corporate restructuring in our daily news paper. Thus significant matters both for company decision and policy making and public image have been elevated. No company is considered secure from a conquest risk. On the encouraging elevation Mergers may be dangerous for the strong expansion and enlargement of the company. Victorious entry into innovative product and services and ecological markets may necessitate Mergers at some stage in the companys development. Flourishing contest in international markets may focus on abilities gain in a timely and proficient fashion in the course of Mergers. Most disputed that mergers boost value and competence and move capital to their uppermost and best uses, thus mounting shareholder value (Kruse, 2002). To decide on a merger or not is a complex issue, particularly in provisos of the technicalities concerned. We encompass almost all issues that the management must focus before taking final decision for merger. A lot of brainstorming would be necessary through the managements to attain conclusion. Judgment has to be fulfilled after discussing the advantages and disadvantages of the planned merger and the impact of that merger on the business, administrative benefits, on shareholders value, tax implications including stamp duty. 2.1 MERGER Meaning â€Å"A merger is a combining two companies in one corporation which is completely absorbed by another company. The less significant company loses its name and operates with more important company, which exists with its identity.† (Chawla, 2008) What Mergers actually mean: A merger is a combining two companies in one corporation which is completely absorbed by another company. It may entail absorption or consolidation. In absorption one company acquires another company. For example, Telenor and Tameer Microfinance Bank (TMB). In consolidation, two or more companies combine to form a new company. For example, Polka and Walls. The less significant corporation loses its identity and turn into the more significant corporation, which keep hold of its identity. A merger put out the merged corporation, and the existing company supposes all the rights, civil liberties, and liabilities of the merged company. A merger is not like a consolidation, in which two companies lose their detach uniqueness and join to make a totally new company. A rule is based on the relation that mergers inevitably remove competition between the merging companies. This relation is most sharp where the parties are direct opponent, because courts often believe that such provision are more horizontal to limit output and to raise prices. The terror that mergers and acquisitions decrease competition has inevitable that the government carefully examine planned mergers (Altunbas, 2005). in spite of disquiet about a decreasing of competition, companies are comparatively free to buy or sell whole companies or particular parts of a company. Mergers and acquisitions frequently result in a number of social reimbursements. Mergers can convey better management or technological skill to abide on underused assets. They also can create economies of scale and range that decrease costs, get better quality, and raise output. The opportunity of a takeover can deject company managers from acting in ways that fail to capitalize on profits. A merger can enable to owner to sell the company to someone who is more proverbial with the particular industry and maintain a better position to shell out the highest price. The view of a profitable sale encourages entrepreneurs to form new company. Merger is known as amalgamation too. Merger is the synthesis of two or more companies which are working in same era. All current and fixed assets, short and long term liabilities and the stocks of one company shifted toward other Company in reflection of payment in nature of: Cash Equity share of the acquired corporation, Debentures of acquired corporation, All of the above in mixed mode (Chawla, 2008) 2.2 Mergers vs. Acquisitions These conditions are usually used to describe same thing but in actuality, they have vaguely dissimilar meanings. An acquisition and merger pass on to the act of one corporation attainment of another company and obviously fitting the new possessor. Legally, the target corporation, the corporation that is bought, no more presents. Generally acquisition is use to acquired property in ownership. In the scenario of corporation combinations, an acquisition is to buy one company by getting controlling interest in all resources of other company. A merger is a combination of two or more corporations that are frequently about the similar size and concur to bond into one large corporation. In the scenario of a merger, mutually companys stocks come to an end to trade as the fresh corporation selects a latest name and a new stock is announced in position of the two different companys stock. This view of a merger is unrealistic by real world standards as it is often the case that one company is actually bought by another while the terms of the deal that is struck between the two allows for the company that is bought to publicize that a merger has occurred while the company that is doing the buying backs up this claim. This is done in order to allow the company that is bought to save face and avoid the negative connotations that go along with selling out. 2.3 Purpose of Mergers Acquisition: Purposes for mergers are given below. (1) Procurement of materials: To uphold the resources of supplies of raw materials or mediator product To get hold of economies of purchase as a discount, reduce transportation costs, many overhead costs to introduce new department, etc. To divide the reimbursement of suppliers economies by generalizing the resources (Cartwright, 1995). (2) Revamping production facilities: To accomplish economies of scale by combining production services throughout concentrated utilization of deposit and capital To generalized product specifications, perfection in quality of manufactured goods, growing market and planning at customers satisfaction in the course of amplification subsequent to sale services (Chawla, 2008) To attain improved manufacturing technology and knowledge from the acquired company To diminish cost, improvement in quality and manufacture competitive goods to hang on to and get better market share (Altunbas, 2005). (3) Market expansion and strategy: To get rid of competition and defend present market; To get new market channel in control of the acquirer; Strategic control of patents and copyrights To acquire innovative product for diversification or replacement of accessible goods and to increase products range; (Kruse, 2002) Strengthening keep hold of channels and sale the products to downsize the distribution; To decrease advertising cost and get better public image (4) Financial strength: To perk up liquidity and boast direct right to use to cash. To organize of extra and obsolete assets for cash To improve mechanism to maintain capacity, make use of better strength and the superior assets assistance; (Chawla, 2008) To achieve tax advantages To get better Earning Per Share (5) Commonachievements: To get better representation and draw attentions of better-quality managerial aptitude to administer its associations; To give more satisfaction to customers or product user (Chawla, 2008) (6) Own developmental plans: The main reason of merger and acquisition is reversed by the acquirer corporations strategies. A corporation decide to acquire the other business only when it develop it own goals to enlarge its operation by examining its internal strength where it is not going to face any difficulty in tax, accounting and in valuation of company, etc. It has a goal to attain a suitable amalgamation that provide opportunities to enhancement in its funds by increasing its securities. (7) Strategic purpose: The Acquirer Corporation inspect the merger to attain strategic goals in the course of substitute of amalgamation which could be vertical, horizontal merger, product expansion, market expansion or other particular different goals according to attentions of achieving the corporate strategies. Thus, various types of combinations distinct with each other in nature are adopted to pursue this objective like vertical or horizontal combination. (8) Corporate friendliness: Even though it is uncommon but it is reality that companies demonstrate degrees of cooperative spirit regardless of competitiveness to give security to each other from hostile takeovers and develop circumstances of partnership allotment of goodwill of another to get more efficiency through business amalgamation. (9) Desired level of integration: Mergers and acquisition are hunted to achieve the most wanted level of integration between the two corporations. This type of merger could be an operational or financial. The main reason and the necessities of the acquiring corporation get a long term benefit in choosing a appropriate partnership in merger or acquisition in companionship. (Chawla, 2008) 2.4 Reasons of merger Acquisition: The principal economic rationale of a merger id that the value of the combined entity is expected to be greater than the sum of the independent values of the merging entities. For example, if companys A and B merge, the value of the combined entity, V (AB), is expected to be greater than (VA+VB), the sum of the independent values of A and B. (Chawla, 2008) A variety of reasons like growth, diversification, economies of scale, managerial effectiveness and so on are cited in support of merger proposals. Some of them appear to be plausible in the sense that they create value; others seem to be dubious as they dont create value. The most plausible reasons in favor of mergers are strategic benefits, economies of scale, economies of scope, economies of vertical integration, complementary resources, tax shields, utilization of surplus funds, and managerial effectiveness. Strategic benefit: As a pre-emptive move it can prevents competitor from establishing a similar position in that industry. It offers a special timing advantage because the merger alternative enables the company to ‘leap frog several stages in the process of expansion. It may entail less risk and even less cost In a ‘saturated market, simultaneous expansion and replacement (through merger) makes more sense than creation of additional capacity through internal expansion Economies of scale: When two or more companys combine, certain economies are realized due to larger volume of operations of the combined entity. These economies arise because of more intensive utilization of production capacity, distribution networks, and research and development facilities, data processing systems and so on. Economies of scale are prominent in horizontal mergers where the scope of more intensive utilization of resources is greater. Even in conglomerate mergers there is scope for reduction of certain overhead expenses. Economies of scope: A company may use a specific set of skills or assets that it possesses to widen the scope of its activities. For example: proctor and gamble can enjoy economies or scope if it acquires a consumer product company that benefits from its highly regarded consumer marketing skills. Economies of vertical integration: When corporations occupied at dissimilar stages of manufacturing and value chain merge, financial system of vertical integration may be comprehend. For instance, the merger of a corporation occupied in searching and production with a company occupied in cleansing and marketing may get better co-ordination and manage. Vertical integration, though, is not forever a good thought. If a company does everything in-house it may not get the advantage of outsourcing from self-governing suppliers who may be additional well-organized in their division of the value chain. Complementary resources: If two companies have harmonizing resources, it may make sense for them to merge. A good example of a merger of companies which complemented each other well is the merger of online gift shop with TCS. Online gift shop is best to know the demands of customer but they dont have excellent transport infrastructure to deliver that gifts to customers but to make its system efficient online gift business should be merge/acquire with TCS or any other service like that. Tax shields: When a company with accumulated losses and/or unabsorbed depreciation merges with a profit making company, tax shields are utilized better. The company with accumulated losses and/or unabsorbed depreciation may not be able to derive tax advantages for a long time. However, when it merges with a profit making company, its accumulated losses and/or unabsorbed depreciation can be set off against the profits of the profit making company and the tax benefits can be quickly realized. (Mylonakis, 2006) Utilization of surplus funds: A company in a mature industry may generate a lot of cash but may not have opportunities for profitable investment. Such a company ought to distribute generous dividends and even buy back its shares, if the same is possible. However, most management has a tendency to make further investments, even though they may not be profitable. In such a situation, a merger with another company involving cash compensation often represents a more efficient utilization of surplus funds. Managerial effectiveness: One of the potential gains of merger is an increase in managerial effectiveness. This may occur if the existing management team, which is performing poorly, is replaced by a more effective management team. Another allied benefit of a merger may be in the form of greater congruence between the interests of the managers and the share holders. (Mylonakis, 2006) Often mergers are motivated by a desire to diversify and lower financing costs. Prima facie, these objectives look worthwhile, but they are not likely to enhance value. Diversification: A frequently acknowledged reason for mergers is to attain risk diminution through diversification. The degree, to which risk is condensed, of course, depends on the association connecting with the earnings of the merging units. at the same time as negative correlation fetches superior lessening in risk, positive correlation takes smaller diminution in risk. Corporate diversification, though, may present value in at smallest amount two special gears. (Chawla, 2008) 1) If a company is overwhelmed with troubles which can put in danger its existence and its merger with one more company can hoard it from possible liquidation. 2) If shareholders do not have the chance of diversification because one of the corporations is not traded in the bazaar, corporate diversification might be the merely possible route to risk diminution. Lower financing costs: The outcomes of larger size and greater earnings and stability, many argue, are to reduce the cost of borrowing for the merged company. The reason for this is that the creditors of the merged company enjoy better protection than the creditors of the merging companies independently. Increase Supply-Chain Pricing Power: Bybuying out one of its suppliers or one of the distributors, a business can eliminate a level of costs. If a company buys out one of its suppliers,it is able to save on themargins that the supplier was previouslyadding to its costs; this isknown asa vertical merger.If a company buys out a distributor, it may be able to ship its products at a lower cost. Eliminate Competition: Many MA dealsallow the acquirer to eliminate future competition and gain a larger market share inits products market.The downside of thisis that a large premium is usually required to convince the target companys shareholders to accept the offer. It is not uncommon for the acquiring companys shareholdersto sell their shares and push the price lower in response to the company paying too much for the target company. Synergy: The most used word inMA is synergy, which is the idea that by combining business activities, performance will increase and costs will decrease. Essentially, a business will attempt to merge with another business that has complementary strengths and weaknesses. (Mylonakis, 2006) 2.5 categories of mergers Acquisitions The resulted merger and acquisition is based on the offeror corporations attention what it desires to attain. Depend on offerors goal, mergers could be conglomeratic, vertical, horizontal, and circular which will explain below. I. Vertical combination: A corporation merged with another company to increase espousing in backward integration and forward integration to absorb the resources of supply in market. The acquiring business due to merger can reduce inventories and finished products. In the vertical combination, the acquirer may be a supplier or a buyer who use their intermediary material for finished goods. (Ahmed Badreldin, October 2009) There are some benefits from merger that acquiring companies achieved i.e. 1. Due to imperfect market and shortage of resources and obtained products, it gets strong position. 2. Has monopoly in goods specifications. II. Horizontal combination: It is a combination of two competitive companies which are at same level of success in industry, and both companies should be related from same business. The main rationale of such mergers is to get economies of scale by removing repetition of conveniences and the processes and expansions the product line, diminution in speculation in working capital, removal in competition attentiveness in product, lessening in advertising costs, raise in market segments and work out improved control on market (Badreldin, 2009). III. Circular combination: Corporations generating unique products look for merger to contribute to general division and investigate facilities to get economies by reducing cost on replication and prop up market growth. The acquiring corporation gets advantaged as diversification and resource sharing. IV. Conglomerate combination: It is combination of two corporations affianced in different businesses. Main reason of this type of merger remains consumption of finances and increase debt capacity by bringing change in their financial system and also boost share holders leveraging and earning per share, lessening average cost of capital and in that way raising present worth of the outstanding shares. Merger increases the on the whole constancy of the acquirer corporation and generates balance in the corporations whole portfolio of various products and manufacturing processes. (Sue Cartwright, May 01, 1995) V. Market-extension This entails the grouping of two corporations that sell the identical products in dissimilar markets. A market-extension permits for the market that can be accomplished to develop into larger and is the foundation for the repute of the merger. VI. Product-extension This merger is flanked by two corporations that sell different, but to some extent associated products, in a same market. This allows the new, larger company to group their goods and sells them with better success to the previously common market with the intention of the two different companies shared. VII. Accretive In accretive an acquired firms earnings per share enlarge. A substitute way of manipulative this is if a corporation with a high cost to earnings ratio obtains one with a less price earning ratio. (Chawla, 2008) 2.6 Concerns of Mergers Acquisitions Conglomerate, Horizontal and vertical mergers each hoist unique competitive alarms. Horizontal Mergers: Horizontal mergers lift up three basic cutthroat problems. The first is the removal of competition among merging corporations, which, depending on their bulk, could be important. The second is that the amalgamation of the merging companys operations might make sizeable market power and might facilitate the merged company to raise prices by falling output unilaterally. The third difficulty is that, by rising concentration in the related market, the deal might make stronger the ability of the markets outstanding contributors to synchronize their pricing and production decisions. The terror is not that the companies will connect in secret partnership but that the decrease in the number of industry members will improve implicit coordination of performance. (Chawla, 2008) Vertical Mergers: Vertical mergers have two essential forms: Forward integration: by which a company purchases a customer, and backward integration, in which a company gets a supplier. Swapping the market contacts with interior transfers can present at least two foremost benefits. First, the vertical merger maintains all transactions between a producer and its supplier, as a result adapt a potentially adversarial association into impressive more like a partnership. Next, internalization can provide management more effectual ways to scrutinize and get better performance. Vertical integration merger does not diminish the total number of economic units working at one level of the market, but it is changing patterns of industry performance. Either its a forward or backward integration, the newly acquired company may make a decision to deal only with the acquiring company, thus changing competition between the acquiring companys suppliers, customers, or opponents. Suppliers may misplace a market for their possessions; retail channel may be destitute of supplies; or opponents may locate that both supplies and channel are infertile. These potential raise to the anxiety that vertical integration will shut out opponents by restrictive their access to resources of supply or to customers. Vertical mergers also might be less competitive because their well-established market power may hamper new industry from entering the market. (Chawla, 2008) Conglomerate Mergers: Conglomerate mergers take many forms, series from provisional joint ventures to complete mergers. Moreover a multinational merger is wholesome, ecological, or a product-line addition, it engages companys that operate in separate markets. Therefore, a corporation transaction generally has no direct result on competition. There is no reduction or other alters in the number of companies in both the acquiring and acquired corporations market. (Chawla, 2008) Conglomerate mergers can provide a market or requirement for companies, therefore giving entrepreneurs liquidity at an open market price and with a key inducement to form new enterprises. The danger of conquest might force offered managers to increase competence in competitive markets. Conglomerate mergers also offer openings for companies to lessen capital costs and transparency and to attain other efficiencies. Conglomerate mergers, though, may lessen future competition by get rid of the option that acquiring company would have come into the acquired companys market separately. A conglomerate merger may exchange a strong company into a leading one with an influential competitive benefit, or else formulate a policy to make it complex for other corporations to penetrate the market. Such mergers also may lessen the number of minor companies and may enlarge the merged companys political influence, in that way weaken the social and political objectives of keeps self-governing decision-making hubs, assurance that small firm will get opportunities, and defending democratic practices. (Mylonakis, 2006) 2.7 Benefits of Mergers Acquisition Diversification: Corporations that want quick growth in dimension or diversification or market share in the variety of products may discover that a merger can be worn to accomplish the intentions instead of obtainable throughout the volume overriding practices of internal expansion or diversification. The company may attain the similar goals in a short time period merging with an existing company. Moreover this type of a strategy is frequently show low cost than the alternative of mounting the necessary production potential and capability. If a company that wants to expand operations in existing or new product area can find a suitable going concern (Altunbas, 2005). It may avoid many of risks associated with a design; manufacture the sale of addition or new products. Moreover when a company expands or extends its product line by acquiring another company, it also removes a potential competitor. Synergism: The scenery of synergism is very simple. Synergism exists at any time the value of the combination is greater than the sum of the real values. We can explain it as; synergism is â€Å"2+2=5†. But categorize synergy on appraise it may be difficult; in fact occasionally its implementations may be very delicate (Chawla, 2008). As generally defined to include any incremental worth is resulting from business combination, synergism in the basic economic good reason of merger. The incremental value may draw from raise in either operational or financial competence. (Chawla, 2008) Operating Synergism: Operating synergism may result from economies of scale, some degree of monopoly power or increased managerial efficiency. The value may be achieved by increasing the sales volume in relation to assts employed increasing profit margins or decreasing operating risks. Although operating synergy usually is the result of either vertical/horizontal integration some synergistic also may result from conglomerate growth. In addition, sometimes a company may acqu

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Magic Trip: Ken Kesey’s Search for a Kool Place Essay example -- Film

â€Å"Magic Trip: Ken Kesey’s Search for a Kool Place† was written and directed by Alex Gibney and Alison Ellwood. The documentary is based on the words and recordings of Ken Kesey and the unseen footage from the 1964 cross country trip. The voiceover is done by Stanley Tucci. â€Å"Magic Trip† was produced by Will Clarke, Mr. Gibney and Alexandra Johnes and released by Magnolia Pictures. This documentary was compiled from home videos shot by Kesey and the Pranksters, which lends itself to a sense of authenticity because there are to actors trying to portray the Pranksters. This compilation of original footage shot by Ken Kesey and his friends, known as the Merry Pranksters, follows their cross country bus trip in 1964 from California to New York to see the World’s Fair. Besides Kesey, the most well-known Prankster was Neal Cassady, who was the inspiration for Dean Moriarty in Jack Kerouac’s â€Å"On the Road† and the driver for the first leg of the journey. The film begins with a short biography of Kesey, a writer known for his novels â€Å"One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest† and â€Å"Sometimes a Great Notion.† The Merry Pranksters are introduced by their nicknames. Stark Naked, Intrepid Traveler, Mal Function, Gretchen Fetchin, Generally Famished and Zonker, and Sometimes Missing, just to name a few. The film tells some of the stories behind the nicknames. On one of the Pranksters stops they accidentally left Babb behind. By the time they had realized he was missing Babb had hitchhiked and caught up to the bus, leading to the nickname of ‘Sometimes Missing’. ‘Generally Famished’ was given because as a pregnant woman, she was always hungry. ‘Zonker’ was named so because he always fell asleep before anything happened. The bus receives the moniker of ... ... me a lot of background information. However, I was unfamiliar with The Merry Pranksters’ trip across country. My reception of this film was so positive because of my knowledge, experiences and values. I have always enjoyed learning about the 1960’s and admired the political activism and change that occurred in that time period. I grew up in a very liberal home, where we were freely able to discuss controversial topics and form our own opinions. Works Cited "Magic Trip." Magic Trip. IMDb.com. Web. 01 Apr. 2012. . "Magic Trip." (Official Movie Site). Magnolia Pictures. Web. 01 Apr. 2012. . Magic Trip:Ken Kesey's Search for a Kool Place. Dir. Alison Ellwood and Alex Gibney. Prod. Will Clarke and Alexandra Johnes. Perf. Ken Kesey and Neal Cassady. Magnolia Pictures, 2011. DVD.