The vice-president (VP) and treasurer of TELUS has been asked by the chief financial officer for his opinion on the company's dividend policy and how many recommendations would be conveyed to investors. In developing his response, the VP needs to consider TELUS's future prospects, its leverage policy, the state of the telecommunications industry, and investor expectations. This case facilitates a discussion on dividend policy. Conventional wisdom on dividend policy can be reviewed and then interpreted in the context of the particular circumstances facing TELUS. The case can also facilitate a short discussion on the costs and benefits of share repurchase.
The chief financial officer (CFO) of TELUS Corporation (Telus) has just been informed that Moody's, a bond rating service, has downgraded the firm's credit rating to one notch below investment grade. The CFO's challenge is to determine what specific actions, if any, to recommend to the firm's audit committee. First, this case facilitates a discussion on how changes in capital structure impact a firm's earnings, stock price and flexibility to carry out plan. Second, students learn about how bond ratings are set and how a firm's bond rating affects its bond yield. Last, by focusing on the situation faced by Telus during challenging market conditions in 2002, students learn how to manage relationships with investors while in the midst of change.
The vice-president of a U.S.-based multi-national company must reach a decision regarding a $13 million capital expenditure proposal from the firm's Brazilian division. The proposal is of particular interest because it is considered to be a testcase in the development of a process to evaluate foreign currency-based investment proposals company wide. The vice-president's objective is to establish a process which will measure the relative economic attractiveness of investment proposals worldwide, regardless of the currencies in which these proposals are initially assessed.
The owner of a lumber and building supply business is interested in finding out how much the business is worth and how to go about selling it. The business is currently enjoying considerable success and earnings are at record levels. She must decide which valuation method to choose.
The senior officers of a national office supplies manufacturer and distributor are at odds over a slow paying, and perhaps insolvent, major distributor, and what the options are to collect the account and maintain sales in the region.
Royal Manufacturing Inc. requires an extension of its temporary $3 million line of credit. Holdbacks on contracts and several years of losses were causing a cash flow problem. The company and the bank must now assess the company's financial needs.
The president and general manager of Township Motors, a franchised dealership, was considering two proposals for a new body shop facility. He has to decide whether to accept a loan at 15 per cent interest for ten years, or to lease the building and land for a ten-year period, with payment at year end.
The vice-president finance for a Canadian manufacturer has to decide how best to refinance a Swiss franc loan that is about to mature. The case involves consideration of interest rate risk and foreign exchange risk. The case is designed to introduce students to borrowing in international markets. It gives students an idea of the many opportunities to borrow internationally. By examining the cost of the previous loan, students should gain an appreciation of how changes in exchange rates can affect the cost of a loan.
The Noranda Board of Directors is considering four major capital budgeting proposals: development of a new mine, a mine shaft extension, purchase of an existing pulp and paper mill and purchase and installation of a continuous casting mill. A key issue is whether to use one overall cost of capital for the company or individual hurdle rates for each division.