Excel Online Structured Activity: Merger Valuation with Change in Capital Structure

Hastings Corporation is interested in acquiring Vandell Corporation. Vandell has $1$ million shares outstanding and a target capital structure consisting of $30\%$ debt. Vandell's debt interest rate is $7\mathrm{.}3\%.$ Assume that the risk$-$free rate of interest is $4\%$ and the market risk premium is $6\%.$ Both Vandell and Hastings face a $30\%$ tax rate.

Vandell's beta is $1\mathrm{.}25.$ Hastings estimates that if it acquires Vandell, interest payments will be $$1,600,000$ per year for $3$ years. The free cash flows are supposed to be $$2\mathrm{.}3$ million, $$3\mathrm{.}0$ million, $$3\mathrm{.}4$ million, and then $$3\mathrm{.}79$ million in Years $1$ through $4,$ respectively. Suppose Hastings will increase Vandell's level of debt at the end of Year $3$ to $$25\mathrm{.}2$ million so that the target capital structure will be $45\%$ debt. Assume that with this higher level of debt the interest rate would be $8\mathrm{.}5\%,$ and assume that interest payments in Year $4$ are based on the new debt level from the end of Year $3$ and new interest rate. Free cash flows and tax shields are projected to grow at $5\%$ after Year $4.$

The data has been collected in the Microsoft Excel Online file below. Open the spreadsheet and perform the required analysis to answer the questions below.

Open spreadsheet

What is the value of the unlevered firm? Enter your answer in dollars. For example, an answer of $$1\mathrm{.}2$ million should be entered as $1,200,000,$ not $1\mathrm{.}2.$ Do not round intermediate calculations. Round your answer to two decimal places.

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What is the value of the tax shield? Enter your answer in dollars. For example, an answer of $$1\mathrm{.}2$ million should be entered as $1,200,000,$ not $1\mathrm{.}2.$ Do not round intermediate calculations. Round your answer to two decimal places.

$ $$ What is the maximum total price that Hastings would bid for Vandell now? Assume Vandell now has $$11\mathrm{.}45$ million in debt. Enter your answer in dollars. For example, an answer of $$1\mathrm{.}2$ million should be entered as $1,200,000,$ not $1\mathrm{.}2.$ Do not round intermediate calculations. Round your answer to two decimal places.

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