Attention Industries has two divisions. Division 1 makes cleaning products and the net worth of...

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Accounting

Attention Industries has two divisions. Division 1 makes cleaning products and the net worth of this
division (present value of cash flows) is $3,348. Division 2 makes a chemical product. The net worth of
division 2 is $1352, absent any potential liability. There is a chance that division 2 could have $1,682
liability for pollution damage. The potential victims have no contractual relationship with the firm. The
probability of such a loss is 0.5
(1+), where s is the amount the firm spends on safety. The firm must
choose the level of s.(Note that the derivative of
(1+) with respect to s is equal to
(1+)2)
i) First, calculate the total value of the firm, including both divisions at the same time, as an
equation of s. Second, take derivative with respect to s to find the s that maximizes the
total value. Third, plug in the value of s you found into total value equation to find the
maximum total value. [5 marks]
ii) Division 1 is riskless and has a stand-alone value of $3,348. Since all the risk comes from
division 2, we must consider the chosen level of safety s of this unit as a stand-alone entity.
First, calculate the stand-alone value of division 2 as an equation of s. Second, take
derivative with respect to s to find the s that maximizes the stand-alone value of division 2.
Third, plug in the value of s you found into the equation of stand-alone value of division 2
to find the maximum stand-alone value of division 2.[5 marks](Hint: the value of division 2
is $1352if no liability arises. However, if a loss of $1,682 occurs it cannot pay more than
the original $1352 stand-alone value due to limited liability.)
iii) What is the maximum value of the firm if we treat division 2 as a separate entity? Note that
we are splitting the two divisions assuming that separated division 2 as a stand-alone firm is
protected by limited liability. (Hint: Add your answer to part ii) to the net worth of division
1.)[2 marks]
iv) Is there a gain from splitting the firm up? Calculate the numerical value of gain/loss.[2
marks](Hint: It is the difference between the maximum total value without split up that you
found in i) and the maximum total value with split up that you found in iii).)

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