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Home Shopping Network invented the video home shopping industry. It had immediate success in both the product and capital markets, which quickly drew imitators. This case describes the situation as of January 1986, when the company must decide how to sustain successes in both markets. Students must discuss the proper valuation of the firm, proper financing strategy, possible future product lines, and how to deal with competition.

Spreadsheet Supplement for case 295135

The objective is to delineate on methodology for measuring the risk associated with financial leverage and estimating its impact on the cost of equity capital.

Considers a firm whose investment strategies have essentially run out. Walt Disney's original visions and goals have all been fulfilled and after his death no new ones are forthcoming. Disney faces repeated takeover attacks and is forced to either set new corporate goals and formulate a financing strategy or to slowly liquidate the firm's remaining value through expensive merger defenses. The case concentrates on the use of greenmail, a much criticized defensive tactic which Disney uses trying to buy enough time to fix its investment and financial strategies. The firm's independence is retained and value is enhanced although current management is replaced.

Features a firm with a strong, successful, clearly-defined product market strategy. In 1982, this strategy was augmented by new management to include other, conflicting goals. This has an immediate negative impact on the stock market's evaluation of Goodyear's stock and attracts the attention of corporate raider Sir James Goldsmith. In an attempt to ensure independence, Goodyear management responds by returning the firm to its previous investment strategy: selling off new investment, dramatically increasing debt, and repurchasing stock. The case emphasizes that the firm with the greatest potential value gain is most vulnerable to a takeover attempt.