Info Systems Technology (IST) manufactures microprocessor chips for use appliances and other applications. IST has no debt and 125 million shares outstanding. The correct price for these shares is either $10.75 or $6.75 per share. Investors view both possibilities as equally likely, so the shares currently trade for $8.75. IST must raise $500 million to build a new production facility. Because the firm would suffer a large loss of both customers and engineering talent in the event of financial distress, managers believe that if IST borrows the $500 million, the present value of financial distress costs will exceed any tax benefits by $20 million. At the same time, because investors believe that managers know the correct share price, IST faces a lemons problem if it attempts to raise the $500 million by issuing equity. a. Suppose that if IST issues equity, the share price will remain at $8.75. To maximize the long-term share price of the firm once its true value is known, would managers choose to issue equity or borrow the $500 million if i. They know the correct value of the shares is $6.75? ii. They know the correct value of the shares is $10.75? b. Given your answer to part (a), what should investors conclude if IST issues equity? What will happen to the share price? c. Given your answer to part (a), what should investors conclude if IST issues debt? What will happen to the share price in that case? d. How would your answers change if there were no distress costs, but only tax benefits of leverage? a. Suppose that if IST issues equity, the share price will remain at $8.75. To maximize the long-term share price of the firm once its true value is known, would managers choose to issue equity or borrow the $500 million if i. They know the correct value of the shares is $6.75? (Select the best choice below.) O Managers should issue equity for $500 million. O Managers should borrow the $500 million. Suppose that if IST issues equity, the share price will remain $8.75. To maximize the long-term share price of the firm once its true value is known, would managers choose to issue equity or borrow the $500 million if ii. They know the correct value of the shares is $10.75? (Select the best choice below.) O Managers should issue equity for $500 million. O Managers should borrow the $500 million. b. Given your answer to part (a), what should investors conclude if IST issues equity? What will happen to the share price? (Select the best choice below.) O A. If IST issues equity, investors would conclude IST is overpriced and the share price would decline to $6.75. OB. If IST issues equity, investors would conclude IST is underpriced and the share price would rise to $8.75. OC. If IST issues equity, investors would conclude IST is overpriced and the share price would decline to $8.75. Click to select your
