Facing strong pressure from investors to improve financial performance and preserve capital, senior management at Euroland Foods must select which projects to fund across a slate of major investment proposals for 2021. While the board of directors has imposed a limit of EUR120 million for the company budget, various managers have proposed projects totaling EUR316 million. The task for students is to evaluate each proposal's financial attributes and qualitative factors (mainly strategic considerations and internal company politics), then choose the projects to be approved. This case presents two alternative modes of delivery: (1) a standard case discussion; or (2) a role-play exercise with a debriefing. The teaching note includes role-playing character descriptions for distribution to students and describes both modes of delivery. The different viewpoints of the company managers featured in these character descriptions is a unique aspect of this case, which affords students the opportunity to grapple with some aspects of capital budgeting that they don't normally encounter. The multifunctional aspect of this case affords an opportunity for a finance instructor to coteach it with an organizational behavior instructor. Points of linkage are in the areas of group leadership and the assessment and management of group decision-making processes. The case is suitable for intermediate corporate finance courses.
In mid September 2001, Jennifer Campbell, the chief financial officer of this large CAD/CAM (computer-aided design and manufacturing) equipment manufacturer must decide whether to pay out dividends to the firm's shareholders or repurchase stock. If Campbell chooses to pay out dividends, she must also decide on the magnitude of the payout. A subsidiary question is whether the firm should embark on a campaign of corporate image advertising and change its corporate name to reflect its new outlook. Serves as an omnibus review of the many practical aspects of the dividend and share buyback decisions, including (1) signaling effects, (2) clientele effects, and (3) finance and investment implications of increasing dividend payout and share repurchase decisions. Can follow a treatment of the Miller Modigliani dividend irrelevance theorem and serve to highlight practical considerations in setting dividend policy.
In January 2001, the senior management committee of this company has to decide which major projects should be funded for implementation by the company starting in 2001. The board of directors arbitrarily set a limit of (euros) EUR120 million to be spent on capital projects in 2001. Various managers, however, have proposed projects totaling EUR316 million. The task for the student is to evaluate the completed discounted cash flow (DCF) analyses presented along with qualitative factors (mainly strategic considerations and internal politics of the company), and to choose the projects to be approved.
In March 1997, the board chair of this small steel mill is pondering how to finance the growth of his firm: either with an initial public offering of equity or a private placement of 8 year senior notes with warrants. The task for the student is to sort out the comparative advantages and disadvantages of each alternative--including valuing the possible securities--and recommend a course of action.
In mid-1992, Christine Olsen, the chief financial officer (CFO) of this large CAD/CAM equipment manufacturer, must decide on the magnitude of the firm's dividend payout. A subsidiary question is whether the firm should embark on a campaign of corporate-image advertising and change its corporate name to reflect its new outlook. The case serves as an omnibus review of the many practical aspects of the dividend decision, including (1) signaling effects, (2) clientele effects, and (3) finance and investment implications of increasing dividend payout.
In January 1993, the senior management committee of this company has to decide which major projects the company should fund for immediate implementation. The board of directors arbitrarily set a limit of European currency units (ECU) at 80 million to spend on capital projects in 1993. But various managers have proposed projects totaling ECU208 million. Students must evaluate the completed discounted cash flow (DCF) analyses presented along with qualitative factors (mainly the strategic considerations and the internal politics of the company) and choose the projects to be approved.
Acting as management, students determine the effects of different degrees of leverage and review this company's current leverage in light of inherent industry risks and company goals.
In the mid-1980s, Emerson Electric looked at possible two-year debt issues in three countries: the United States, Switzerland, and New Zealand. The $65 million to be raised is earmarked for general corporate expenses. Emerson has subsidiaries in 27 countries, including the three candidate countries. In this case, students act as Emerson's CFO and must evaluate the U.S., Swiss, and New Zealand economies to determine in which currency to secure the needed debt issues.
This negotiation case is meant to be used in conjunction with "Eli Lilly and Company" (F-0794); half the class works from one case and half from the other. Lilly is considering acquiring Hybritech, but the genetic-engineering company's future cash flows are difficult to predict and value. Both companies want to effect the merger, but the cases, which provide essentially the same information in all other respects, provide widely divergent projected cash flows. (The B case is F-0793.)
Acting as chief financial officer (CFO), students try to determine how Coleco can fend off creditors. Coleco is in default on its loans and is in a negative equity position.
This negotiation case is meant to be used in conjunction with "Hybritech, Incorporated (A)"; half the class works from one case and half from the other. Lilly is considering acquiring Hybritech, but the genetic-engineering company's future cash flows are difficult to predict and value. Both companies want to effect the merger, but the cases, which provide essentially the same information in all other respects, provide widely divergent projected cash flows. The "Hybritech, Incorporated (B)" case is the follow-up case dealing with the payment structure of the acquisition.
Primarily an exercise in quantitative techniques-financial forecasting and simple equity valuation-this case also presents issues related to decision-making and judgments in forecasting, and handling ethical concerns. In February 1986, Alfin, an importer and marketer of perfumes, introduced a skin cream with certain purported medicinal qualities to reduce wrinkles. The product is considered a major breakthrough as an over-the-counter therapy and offers huge potential sales. Students must estimate Alfin's funding needs as a result of that growth, decide whether those needs should be financed with debt or equity, and determine the value of its common stock.