The Information Dilemma (A)

This case is part of the Giving Voice to Values (GVV) curriculum. To see other material in the GVV curriculum, please visit http://store.darden.virginia.edu/giving-voice-to-values. Maria Pérez has been working at IBB, one of the largest investment banks in Latin America, for only a few months, when she is confronted by a dilemma. She is working with her mentor and boss, Veronica Muñoz, on an acquisition for one of IBB's clients, and they have identified a target company. When they request preliminary information for the valuation, the accountant for the target company accidentally sends very detailed data. He calls in a panic and asks them not to use the information. Muñoz promises not to use the mistakenly sent documents, but as soon as the call is over, she tells Pérez to use all the data to inform her valuation. Pérez loves her job at IBB, but she needs to slow down and consider her actions in this moment. She does not want to lie to a business partner, as trust and honesty are integral to how she sees herself as a businesswoman. She decides to find a solution that would enable her to remain faithful to their assurance to the target company accountant, prepare an informative due diligence for their client under time pressure, and maintain her relationship with Muñoz. The B case details her decision and discusses a few ways Pérez could prepare a more coherent approach for future encounters.

• Mergers and acquisitions
• Investment banking
• Business ethics