Final answer:
Firm A's shareholders gain $20 million from the merger, which is calculated by subtracting the sum of Firm A's original value and the purchase price of Firm B from the combined value of both firms including the cost savings.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate how much Firm A's shareholders gain from the merger, we analyze the values and transaction details:
- Value of Firm A: $200 million
- Value of Firm B: $120 million
- Present value of cost savings from the merger: $30 million
- Purchase price of Firm B by Firm A: $130 million
After the merger, the combined value of both firms plus the cost savings is:
$200 million + $120 million + $30 million = $350 million
Firm A spent $130 million to purchase Firm B, so the total cost of acquisition is:
$200 million (original value of Firm A) + $130 million (purchase price) = $330 million
The gain for Firm A's shareholders is the combined value minus the total cost of acquisition:
$350 million - $330 million = $20 million
Therefore, Firm A's shareholders gain $20 million from this merger, which corresponds to option B.