Question

Rearden Metal has earnings per share of $2. It has 10 million shares outstanding and is trading at $20 per share. Rearden Metal is thinking of buying Associated Steel, which has earnings per share of $1.25, 4 million shares outstanding, and a price per share of $15. Rearden Metal will pay for Associated Steel by issuing new shares. There are no expected synergies from the transaction. If Rearden offers an exchange ratio such that, at current pre-announcement share prices for both firms, the offer represents a 20% premium to buy Associated Steel, then the price per share of the Rearden immediately after the announcement will be closest to:

Answer 1

Answer: $19.12

Step-by-step explanation:

The price per share of the Rearden immediately after the announcement will be calculated as the addition of the current prices for the companies divided by the total number of shares after merger. This will be:

= (20 × 10) + (15 × 4) / (10 + 3.6)

= (200 + 60) / 13.6

= 260 / 13.6

= 19.12

The price per share is $19.12