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Spreadsheet for product 9B06N014.

Spreadsheet for product 9B06N007.

The chief executive (CEO) of Cequel Energy, Inc. (Cequel) is trying to choose between three options: continue operating Cequel as is, selling it, or converting part of the company into an income trust (in combination with another similarly sized firm). The CEO's key concern is the relative valuation of the three options. Other key issues include the management team's preferences and an impending tax horizon. This case can be used as an introduction to corporate finance and valuation using multiples. It also allows for consideration of the impact of taxes on valuation and could provide a useful tool to discuss tax policy given changes in the tax treatment of income trusts that occurred subsequent to the case.

The chief executive (CEO) of Cequel Energy, Inc. (Cequel) is trying to choose between three options: continue operating Cequel as is, selling it, or converting part of the company into an income trust (in combination with another similarly sized firm). The CEO's key concern is the relative valuation of the three options. Other key issues include the management team's preferences and an impending tax horizon. This case can be used as an introduction to corporate finance and valuation using multiples. It also allows for consideration of the impact of taxes on valuation and could provide a useful tool to discuss tax policy given changes in the tax treatment of income trusts that occurred subsequent to the case.

An entrepreneur must decide if he should bid to acquire a commercial bakery, Cake Masters, given his objectives in his search and his investors' expected returns of 20-30 per cent. If he bids, he must decide how much to bid and in what form of consideration. Students are introduced to valuation methodologies and will evaluate an acquisition or opportunity, understand the process of acquiring a small company, learn how preceding transactions are considered and learn about discounted cash flow analysis.

An entrepreneur must decide if he should bid to acquire a commercial bakery, Cake Masters, given his objectives in his search and his investors' expected returns of 20-30 per cent. If he bids, he must decide how much to bid and in what form of consideration. Students are introduced to valuation methodologies and will evaluate an acquisition or opportunity, understand the process of acquiring a small company, learn how preceding transactions are considered and learn about discounted cash flow analysis.

The president of the board of directors of the London Youth Symphony is contemplating how to ensure the survival of the orchestra. On the verge of bankruptcy in 2001, the symphony now has more than $40,000 in the bank, but must address the reality that the orchestra might not survive due to a lack of musicians. Students must develop projected financial statements subject to given minimum balance and breakeven constraints. There is much room for judgment in developing the strategic plan; while many of the numbers are alluded to, many assumptions must also be made. Additionally, students will be exposed to some of the issues that may arise with volunteer boards of directors and not-for-profit organizations.

The chief executive officer of Amtelecom Group Inc. must make a recommendation to the board of directors regarding the best way to sell its Amtelecom Communications subsidiary. AGI owns and operates ICS Courier, a national fixed-route courier business and Amtelecom Communications, a regional telecommunications, cable television and Internet business. Amtelecom Communication's capital requirements are not being satisfied because cash is being diverted to ICS Courier to cover its losses. As well, AGI's stock has been performing poorly. In order to alleviate these problems, the board has decided to sell off Amtelecom Communications. The three sales alternatives being considered are: selling to a strategic buyer, IPO via a common share offering and IPO via an income trust offering. This case can be used to teach students about valuation in a strategic setting, and provides an opportunity to apply sum of parts valuation to value a diversified firm, apply discounted cash flow, conduct a transactions analysis to determine the standalone value of a firms, and gain a basic understanding of income trusts.

The CEO of Amtelecom Group Inc. (AGI) must make a recommendation to the board of directors regarding the best way to sell its Amtelecom Communications subsidiary. AGI owns and operates ICS Courier, a national fixed-route courier business, and Amtelecom Communications, a regional telecommunications, cable television, and Internet business. Amtelecom Communication's capital requirements are not being satisfied because cash is being diverted to ICS Courier to cover its losses. In addition, AGI's stock has been performing poorly. To alleviate these problems, the board has decided to sell off Amtelecom Communications. The three sales alternatives being considered are: selling to a strategic buyer, IPO via a common share offering, and IPO via an income trust offering.

Fast Learning Inc. was a private firm that developed software and learning materials largely for preschool-aged children. It is considering moving into two new ventures: opening an early childhood education center and purchasing an existing day-care center. Fast Learning has approached a strategy consulting firm for advice on these ventures. One of the team members evaluating the proposals must determine the appropriate costs of capital (or hurdle rates). He considers whether to base the calculations on the cost of new sources of financing or an average of the costs of existing sources, and whether required returns should reflect actual past costs or current market costs.

Two large oil and gas companies agree to merge to form Husky Energy Incorporated. An individual investor has received the information circular with respect to the transaction and has gathered some other information about the merger. She must decide whether the offer is attractive enough for her to vote her proxy in favour of the transaction and tender her shares. The case provides an opportunity for students to evaluate the acquisition from the unique perspective of an individual investor holding shares of the target company. Extensive data is provided on comparable firms and transactions allowing for ratio-based valuation of the transaction. This valuation is complicated by the fact that payment to shareholders consists of both cash and shares. Information is also provided that allows for a general discussion of the takeover process as well as the pros and cons of using a takeover as a means of going public (a reverse takeover).

A financial analyst for Dell Computer Corporation, one of the world's largest computer systems manufacturers, has been asked by the treasurer to develop a report on the company's recent financial performance. Over the last few years, the company has realized it has lost approximately 50 per cent of its stock. Did this decline reflect industry and market wide effects or were there some emerging problems with Dell's operating performance? The financial analyst must analyse the company's financial statements and the cash flows of Dell and its competitors.

United Grain Growers Limited is a grain handling and marketing business with elevator storage capacity in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and British Columbia. The head of investment at Scotia Capital Markets must make a recommendation to his client regarding the fairness of a hostile offer to purchase the shares of United Grain Growers. He must consider a number of issues such as determining the value of the company using discounted cash flow analysis, value synergies for the company if it were combined with a number of alternative suitors, analyse the potential gains to a merger and analyse data on comparable firms and transactions allowing for a traditional ratio-based valuation of the company. There is a case supplement (product 9B00N021) that describes the outcome of this bid.

An associate director at Scotia Capital Markets must make a recommendation to his client, Empire Company Limited (Empire), regarding a possible bid for rival Oshawa Group Limited (Oshawa). Both companies are in the food retail and wholesale business. Empire was based in Atlantic Canada, with an expanding presence in Ontario and Quebec, while Oshawa competes on a national basis. There were increasing public signals and rumors that suggested that Oshawa's controlling shareholders (the Wolfe family), might be willing to entertain an offer for the company. To get a clearer picture of the value of the company, the associate director performed a discounted cash flow analysis and comparable analyses to determine the stand-alone and synergy values of the acquisition target. He also had to consider the methods of financing the acquisition and examine the effect of the ownership structure on the market for corporate control.

The account manager of the Confederation Bank is being asked to significantly increase a loan to the London Ski Club, a not-for-profit organization (which has taken losses for the previous two years), in order to buy a key piece of equipment. Students will have the opportunity to size up the risks and opportunities presented by the borrower, prepare a projected income statement and balance sheet, assess the risks of lending to a not-for-profit enterprise, and to structure a loan deal.

Canada's largest privately owned department store, the T. Eaton Company Ltd., founded in 1869, had recently emerged from bankruptcy protection and was now planning to raise $175 million through an initial public offering (IPO). Investment bankers must determine the appropriate share price and consider the appropriateness of the timing for the issue. The case describes North American retail industry trends and the bankruptcy protection process and provides a detailed discussion of the IPO process and valuation considerations. Detailed comparables are provided for such firms as Federated, Nordstrom's and Dillard. The case provides an opportunity to apply a number of valuation techniques, including discounted cash flow, price-to-earnings multiples and enterprise value-to-EBITDA multiples.

IFC Manufacturing, an automobile parts producer, was attempting to raise capital to fund expansion in Mexico. In order to secure financing, the creditor banks required an assessment of the IFC's financial risk management apparatus. IFC had exposures to foreign exchange and interest rates. IFC had grown aggressively by acquiring firms on both sides of the Canadian-U.S. border, funding these purchases in U.S. dollars. The case allows for discussion of a number of issues, including: internal controls (the Group of Thirty recommendations for good derivatives practices), risk measurement and management. Data is provided which allows students to qualify translational and transactional risk exposures. Information is also provided allowing students to evaluate IFC's portfolio of hedging instruments which includes plain vanilla options, single barrier options, double barrier options and average rate options.

The CFO of UniHost Corporation is faced with a requirement to raise capital. UniHost is involved in the development, syndication, franchising and management of motels and hotels in Canada. Most of its properties were flagged under the Quality and Comfort brands. UniHost required capital to repay a $52 million bridge loan facility and fund multiple growth opportunities. Financing alternatives included equity, convertible bonds and high yield debt. The CFO had to decide on both the form and structure of the financing. The case allows for discussion of a number of issues, including: the public financing process in Canada, financing strategy (i.e. choice of the form of financing in the context of a likely sequence of financings), optimal capital structure, and the impact of financing decisions on the overall strategy of a firm. With respect to the debt alternatives, data is provided which allows for analysis of the choice of debt maturity, bond covenants and bond rating agencies.