Pinkertson

http://www.casetutors.com/6358/Pinkerton-A.html

Pinkerton A

Case ID - 291051     Solution ID - 6358     1455 Words

Abstract

California Plant Protection (CPP) is a very successful security guard firm. Tom Wathen is the CEO and sole owner of CPP. Pinkerton in 1987 was a competitor of the firm with a good brand image. Wathen wanted to buy Pinkerton when it was available for sale. Morgan Stanley represented American Brands in the sale and the bidding. They would not accept a bid of lower than $100 million. He has to decide whether the acquisition of Pinkerton was profitable enough to buy it at that price. He has two financing options. He can raise money by either a $75 million at 11.5% interest or a $100 million debt at 13.5% interest. Wathen has to decide whether to acquire Pinkerton and if so how to finance the bid. The free cash flow technique coupled with the continuing value and incremental improvements are used to analyze the decision.

Excel Sheet

Sensitivity Analysis

A.  All-equity Cost of Capital Based on Wackenhut's Numbers.

B. Projected Pinkerton Free Cash Flows Through 1992

Assumptions

Free cash flowFree cash flow

PV  Free cash flow at All-Equity Cost of Capital

Estimated pessimistic value of Pinkerton

Expected Cashflow

Value of 45% of CPP  Equity -Expected Cash Flows

Equity premium

Financing the Acquisition

75% Debt100% debt

Debt service requirements,75% debt

Excess Cashflow

Debt service requirements,100% debt 

Principal remaining

Total FCF - total debt service burdenCumulative excess cash flow

Questions Covered

1. Why is Wathen acquiring Pinkerton’s Inc.?  How specifically will he create value?  What should his bid strategy be? 

2. What is the proper cost of capital for evaluating this acquisition?  Consider this from the standpoint of WACC and APV.

3. Develop and find the present values of the free cash flows from Pinkerton’s Inc., and also from the CPP margin improvements.  Calculate this only on the assumption of a...