Spreadsheet Problem
SiamTel Corporation, a large telecommunications company, is evaluating the possible acquisition of
Pixable Inc., a social photo aggregation service company. SiamTel's analysts project the following
post-merger data for Pixable (in thousands of dollars):
If the acquisition is made, it will occur on January 1, 2017. All cash flows shown in the income
statements are assumed to occur at the end of the year. Pixable currently has a capital structure of 40%
debt, but SiamTel would increase that to 50% if the acquisition were made. Pixable, if independent,
would pay taxes at 20%, but its income would be taxed at 35% if it were consolidated. Pixable's current
market-determined beta is 1.40, and its investment bankers think that its beta would rise to 1.50 if the
debt ratio were increased to 50%. The cost of goods sold is expected to be 65% of sales, but it could vary
somewhat. Depreciation-generated funds would be used to replace worn-out equipment, so they would not
be available to SiamTel's shareholders. The risk-free rate is 8%, and the market risk premium is 4%.