Use the Following Information to Answer the Question(s)below

Multiple Choice

Use the following information to answer the question(s) below.
Rearden Metal has earnings per share of $2.It has 10 million shares outstanding and is trading at $20 per share.Rearden Metal is thinking of buying Associated Steel,which has earnings per share of $1.25,4 million shares outstanding,and a price per share of $15.Rearden Metal will pay for Associated Steel by issuing new shares.There are no expected synergies from the transaction.
-If Rearden pays no premium to buy Associated Steel,then Rearden's earnings per share after the merger will be closest to:

A) 10
B) 10.42
C) 12
D) 7.8