Cascade Mining ($28Mil Assets) has an estimated beta of 1.6. The company is considering the acquisition of Hanson Welding ($42 Mil assets) that has a beta of 1.2.

Cascade last paid a dividend of $1 per share 2010. In 2007, the Cascade paid a dividend of $0.89. This dividend growth rate is expected to be constant for the foreseeable future if the merger is not completed. If the merger is successful, the expected dividend for next year, that is, D1 is expected to be $1.03 and the new long-term growth rate will be 7.5% as a result of the merger.

What is the expected new beta of cascade after the acquisition?

To calculate the expected new beta of Cascade after the acquisition, you can use the following formula:

Beta_Cascade = (Assets_Cascade / Total_Assets) * Beta_Cascade + (Assets_Hanson / Total_Assets) * Beta_Hanson

Where:
- Beta_Cascade is the current beta of Cascade.
- Assets_Cascade is the value of Cascade's assets ($28 million).
- Total_Assets is the combined value of both Cascade and Hanson's assets ($28 million + $42 million = $70 million).
- Assets_Hanson is the value of Hanson's assets ($42 million).
- Beta_Hanson is the beta of Hanson (1.2).

Plugging in the given values, you can calculate the expected new beta of Cascade after the acquisition:

Beta_Cascade = (28 / 70) * 1.6 + (42 / 70) * 1.2

Beta_Cascade = 0.4 * 1.6 + 0.6 * 1.2

Beta_Cascade = 0.64 + 0.72

Beta_Cascade = 1.36

Therefore, the expected new beta of Cascade after the acquisition is 1.36.