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This case is a critical introduction, for business students, to the significance of cash flow statements. First students evaluate the cash flow statements of four "mystery" companies and recommend one for an acquisition. After making a recommendation in class, students are given more information, namely risk assessments and audit opinions, and reevaluate their recommendations. Finally, students learn the surprising identities of the "mystery" companies. Note that students should not view Cases (B) and (C) prior to completing the homework. Cases (B) and (C) are found in the case teaching note that is available only to registered business educators.

Spreadsheet supplement for case number 101072.

Spreadsheet supplement for case number 101011.

Spreadsheet supplement for case number 101010.

A series of caselets exploring the accounting for liabilities.

If you're seeking attention from investors and analysts, the press can be a convenient megaphone. Cultivating relationships with the media takes patience, but the payoffs in both good times and bad are priceless.

Glitnir Bank is an Icelandic company following an aggressive growth strategy that relies heavily on foreign debt. Access to such debt is suddenly curtailed when there is a downturn in market sentiment regarding the Icelandic economy as a whole. Students will reflect on the essential elements of a communications strategy, including the role of the media and analysts. Class discussion will focus on creating infrastructure that will increase the bank's ability to communicate effectively in an environment of macroeconomic uncertainty.

BP's IR director has begun a program to use information regarding external views of BP and the industry as part of the firm's planning and operational activities. This information is generated as a portion of their award winning investor relations program, and had previously been used only to enhance communications. Allows a discussion of the relative merit of more formally including this information in BP's planning and operations. Also provides "best practices" insights into IR.

Introduces students to factors that impact global equity flows, including institutional friction, investor protection, firm visibility, firm understanding, and culture.

Spreadsheet Supplement for case 106023

Examines investor relations and financial communications in a large company with a diverse group of financial stakeholders. Total is an "energy major" based in Paris, France. The importance of its product and its impact on economies and environments combine with the size of the company to make Total highly visible to investors, governments, environmental groups, and other shareholders. The highly technical nature of Total's many internal activities and the breadth of its complex operations further impacts communication efforts. In addition, as a Continental European firm (in particular, French), Total has strong societal expectations regarding its interactions with employees/citizens vs. shareholders. Examines how Total creates a consistent and clear financial communication that provides information to these diverse stakeholder bases and their different desires for the company. Also asks students to consider how this communication strategy will need adjustment due to a period of high oil prices and a resulting windfall profit during 2005.

Gives an overview of accounting for equity investments less than 20%. Uses this accounting to introduce the issue of amounts included in the statement of comprehensive income during a different time period from its inclusion in net income (sometimes called "recycled earnings").

Introduces students to a group of investors and stakeholders who evaluate firms at least partially on factors other than eventual investment payoff. Focuses on investors who evaluate and attempt to impact firms' ethical, corporate governance, or other "societal" practices. Such investors vary from large institutions that use this as one component of investing to "ethical" funds that invest solely on these criteria to individual gadfly's who use this forum for their personal initiatives. These nontraditional investors are becoming an increasingly important portion of the financial markets. Thus, managers and investor relations experts must consider their alternative desires when designing disclosure/communication strategies. Considers noninvestor groups that use a firm's financial market information and connections as a lever to impact the firm's behavior.

Spreadsheet Supplement for case 106021

Uses Ford's and Toyota's financial statements to familiarize students with the information provided in pension footnotes. Allows students to combine that information with other financial statement information to create a greater understanding of the costs of each company's business. Includes directive questions.

Uses a fictional new winery to introduce accounting concepts and practices such as assets, liabilities, expenses, the matching principle, and contingent activities. Designed to approach the subject at a conceptual level, allowing class discussion to focus on the underlying thought process regarding accounting, rather than on "proper" numerical calculations.

Introduces the basic concept of asset securitization and the accounting for these transactions.

Spreadsheet supplement for 105077

Supplements the (A) case.

Spreadsheet Supplement for case 105021.