Disaster Airlines is a firm in severe financial distress. The firm can no longer pay its bills on time and it is far behind on payments to its banks and long-term debt holders. The firm has decided to ether be purchased by another air carrier or liquidate its assets and close. The managers have approached Altruistic Airlines about being acquired. After examining Disasters financial statements, looking at the routes owned by Disaster, and looking at the condition of the fixed assets, Altruistic Airlines has offered to pay the stockholders of Disaster Airlines $8 million to be acquired. Disaster Airlines covers flights to both areas in which Altruistic already flies, but also has routes in areas into which Altruistic is interested in expanding. As part of the analysis, Altruistic determined that the additional cash flows resulting from the acquisition would total $500,000 this year and would grow at a rate of 4 percent for the next three years. After this time the cash flows would grow at a rate of two percent annually. The WACC of Altruistic Airlines would be 8 percent after the merger. If, instead, Disaster Airlines decides to liquidate its assets, it will pay off its debt and give any remaining funds to the firms stockholders. Disaster Airlines balance sheet is listed as follows. Disaster Airlines, Inc. Balance Sheet as of June 25, 2015 (in millions of dollars) Assets Liabilities and Equity Current assets: Current liabilities: Cash and marketable Accrued wages (2,500 employees) $ 4 securities $ 63 Unpaid employee benefits 3 Accounts receivable 28 Unsecured customer deposits 6 Inventory 100 Accrued taxes 22 Total $ 191 Accounts payable 157 Notes payable to banks 211 Fixed assets: Total $ 403 Gross plant and equipment $1,152 Long-term Debt: Less: Depreciation 248 First mortgage $ 160 Net plant and Subordinate debentures 412 equipment $ 904 Total $ 572 Stockholders equity: Common stock and paid-in surplus $ 100 (100 million shares) Retained earnings 20 Total $ 120 Total assets $1,095 Total liabilities and equity $1,095 5 The accrued wages were earned within the last 90 days prior to filing for bankruptcy. The unpaid employee benefits were due in the six months prior to the filing for bankruptcy. The unsecured customer deposits are for less than $900 each. Disaster Airlines has no property taxes past due. The first mortgage is secured against the fixed assets of the firm. The debentures are subordinate to the notes payable to banks. The liquidation of the firms current assets produced $186 million and of the firms fixed assets produced $800 million for a total of only $986 million in funds to distribute to the creditors and stockholders of the firm. The administrative expenses associated with the bankruptcy totaled $1 million and unpaid expenses incurred after the filing of the bankruptcy petition but before the trustee was appointed totaled $5 million. Show which method of dissolution, an acquisition by Altruistic Airlines or a liquidation of assets, is more beneficial for the creditors and stockholders of Disaster Airlines and the stockholders of Altruistic Airlines.