Please choose a topic from the text that you would like to research for the project. Please email me back by this upcoming Sunday, September 12th, with your selection of topic. You may choose a topic from the text book’s table of contents (Gaughan 2018 7th ed). Please provide a research question that you would like to research. This allows you the opportunity to create your own research direction for the assignment. You may also continue your research to any question provided in the homework assignments. Once the topic is approved, then you may begin your research in finding at least ten academic, peer-reviewed research journal articles. Not that each article should include hypothesis testing, a research question, and/or a methodological chapter. The research articles will help you to build an initial outline by week-6 of the course. The paper instructions and the list of homework questions are provided below for your review. INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH PAPER INSTRUCTIONS: For your Individual Research Paper, you will choose a topic, approved by the instructor that deals with some aspect of theory related to topics covered in the course. Use the Liberty University Research Portal and other sources to search for journal articles in professional accounting and business journals that pertain to your topic. You must seek your instructor’s approval of the topic. Then, you will write a 10–12-page, double-spaced research paper that adheres to current APA format. It must include references from at least 10 different scholarly sources, a title page, and a reference page. The Individual Research Paper is due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Sunday of Week 7. Here are the questions from the homework assignments for your review: Discuss the Williams Act and the implications it places on mergers and acquisitions. Describe and discuss why the time period of a commencement offer is crucial in an offer. Discuss the implications of Wellman v. Dickinson in the U. S. District Court for mergers and acquisitions. Choose two of the U. S. State Corporation laws defined in your text. What implications do these laws or legal principles create for the buyer and seller? Why are state antitakeover laws important? Who are these laws designed to protect? Discuss SEC Rule 10b-5. How does this rule protect shareholders who incur losses? The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 provides the foundation of antitrust law. Discuss at least two of the other Acts that pertain to antitrust. Acquisition is a popular growth strategy, why? How does the synergistic effect influence mergers and acquisitions? Discuss diversification as it relates and drives corporate strategy. Why were hedge funds developed? What role do they play in the market today? What created the change in the activist acquisition targets? Why is Jeff Smith known as one of the most aggressive activists? What was the result of his actions? What is the difference between a leveraged buyout and a going-private transaction? How have the trends in leveraged buyouts changed since their origination in the 1980’s? RJR Nabisco is ranked as one of the largest leveraged buyouts; discuss another recent leveraged buyout. How does this LBO differ from what happened at Nabisco? Discuss some of the potential conflicts of interest that take place in a management buyout. How does debt have a lower cost than equity? How does this impact the company’s tax position? List at least two ways of financing a leveraged buyout. Which method would you choose if you were brokering the LBO? What is the difference between a spin-off, an equity carve-out and a divestiture? What caused the increase in divestitures during the 1970’s? Discuss two reasons for voluntary divestitures. Research and discuss a recent corporate divestiture. What were the causes for this divestiture? Describe the six step divestiture and spin-off process. Which step do you believe takes the most time and effort? What wealth effects may be experienced as a result of divestiture announcement? Describe the tax consequences of a spin off. Define and discuss the differences between a liquidation and a reorganization. What are the advantages and disadvantages of Chapter 11 bankruptcy? Why is a systematic valuation process important in the merger and acquisition process? Define and describe two of the methods of valuation that are commonly used. What is the discount rate and why is it important in the valuation process? When is it more appropriate to use a hurdle rate rather than a discount rate? How does a change in interest rates affect an acquisition price? What role does cash flow play in acquisition? How are P/E multiples used in valuation? What determines if an acquisition is taxable or tax-free? List and discuss at least three of the tax consequences of a stock-for-stock exchange. How do tax consequences influence the merger decision?