Blackstone, Inc

Multiple Choice

Blackstone, Inc. is currently an all equity firm that has 65,000 shares of stock outstanding at a market price of $22 a share. The firm has decided to leverage its operations by issuing $605,000
Of debt at an interest rate of 6.5%. This new debt will be used to repurchase shares of the
Outstanding stock. The restructuring is expected to increase the earnings per share. What is the
Minimum level of earnings before interest and taxes that Blackstone is expecting? Ignore taxes.

A) $92,950
B) $94,700
C) $95,250
D) $95,400
E) $96,150