Question:
American Hardware, a national hardware chain, is considering purchasing a smaller chain, Eastern Hardware. American's analysts project that the merger will result in incremental free flows and interest tax savings with a combined present value of $72.52 million, and they have determined that the appropriate discount rate for valuing Eastern is 16 percent. Eastern has 4 million shres outstanding. Eastern's current price is $16.25. What is the maximum price per share that American should offer?