Burton Sensors presents a realistic situation where a small, rapidly growing, and profitable temperature sensor original equipment manufacturer (OEM) reaches its debt capacity and seeks equity financing to sustain high growth. The president of the company must decide whether to purchase thermowell machines (a positive NPV project), whether to issue common stock to a private investor at depressed prices to alleviate financial pressure, and whether to acquire another sensor manufacturer in an all-stock deal. All three decisions are interrelated and require different techniques to assess. In particular, the acquisition decision must be analyzed as both an investment and a financing opportunity, as the acquisition could be used to resolve the financial constraint problem. This case thus shows students how corporate investment and financing decisions often interact. The case offers a comprehensive overview of key issues in a typical corporate finance or financial management course, including capital budgeting, debt capacity analysis, security issuance, and acquisitions. It can be used in a first-year MBA course in corporate finance or financial strategy or in an elective MBA course in mergers and acquisitions. It can also be used in upper-year undergraduate finance courses that cover capital budgeting, security issuance, and mergers and acquisitions. The case can also be used as a take-home final exam.
Helps students to understand how the characteristics of a business are reflected in the firm's financial statements. In this exercise, students are given balance sheet data in percentage form (common-size balance sheets) and other selected financial ratios for a set of 12 unidentified firms from 12 different industries (all 12 companies are listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, ASX). Students must use the balance sheet data and the financial ratios along with their basic knowledge of the operating characteristics of these various industries to match each firm to the correct industry.
This case presents a realistic situation in which a firm in financial distress attempts an out-of-court financial restructuring by means of a debt exchange. Pinewood Mobile Homes is a large manufacturer of prefabricated homes, producing one-story, ranch-style houses; two-story, single-section and Cape Cod modular homes; and townhomes, apartments and duplexes. The company has lost the ability to compete effectively in the market place because it borrowed and acquired aggressively prior to the housing market crash. In order to avoid filling for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Pinewood Mobile Homes must receive consent form senior lenders, junior creditors, and shareholders for a comprehensive restructuring plan. This case is written for use in elective MBA courses in corporate restructuring or advanced corporate finance. It can also be used in upper-level undergraduate finance courses that cover financial restructuring and corporate valuation.
Landmark Facility Solutions presents a situation in which a medium-sized facility management company assesses whether to acquire a larger facility management company that is known for its high-quality services and technical expertise. The acquirer believes the acquisition will help it to become an integrated facility manager and enter new industries in its home market. The case focuses on valuing the acquisition opportunity and choosing the right financing for the transaction. It explores the interaction between corporate investment and financing, and sets the stage for discussions about capital structure decisions. The case can be used in first-year MBA courses in corporate finance and financial strategy or second-year MBA courses in mergers and acquisitions and advanced corporate finance. It also can be used in an undergraduate finance course that covers mergers and acquisitions.
Thompson Asset Management (TAM) is a small investment advisory and asset management firm in Jacksonville, Florida, with about $100 million in assets under management in two different funds. Since starting the firm in 2009, the CEO and founder Allison Thompson has had a proven track record of beating benchmarks and managing the portfolio's downside risk. The firm's typical clients were high-net-worth individuals, and in 2014, Thompson is looking to expand her business by taking on institutional clients as well. She recently met with the investment officer of her alma mater and is considering taking on the university's endowment fund as a client. For her bid to manage the entire endowment of $20 million, Thompson must create a presentation that outlines her investment strategy. The case is ideal for an MBA-level or undergraduate finance course that covers asset management and/or portfolio theory.
In September 2013, Miles Griffin, CEO and chairman of the board of Newfield Energy, prepares to present financial proposals to the board of directors for approval. Newfield (based in Houston, Texas) was a large independent energy company primarily engaged in the exploration, development, and production of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. It had experienced declines in earnings and cash flows in recent years because of the decline of natural gas prices and asset write-downs. The proposals to the board, prepared by the CFO, included (1) a press release outlining that the company was planning to divest several natural gas projects immediately, probably at significant book losses; (2) a significant reduction of common stock dividends; and (3) an exchange offer under which the company would exchange up to 20% of its common stocks into newly issued preferred stocks. Griffin was concerned that the breadth and complexity of the proposals might cause investors to worry. This case is ideal for use in first- or second-year MBA courses in corporate finance or capital markets or in a finance course for advanced undergraduates.
New MBA graduate Larry Steffen has accepted an attractive job offer from Athena Global Technology but must now choose one of two alternative compensation plans. The first compensation plan option includes a base salary plus a $25,000 cash bonus, and the second includes the same base salary plus employee stock options. In order to evaluate and decide on one of these plans, Larry must estimate the value of the offered stock options and consider several complicating factors, including whether he will remain at Athena for the five-year vesting period necessary to receive the options. This case introduces students to option valuation and facilitates a discussion about the effectiveness and potential benefits and problems associated with the use of stock options in compensation packages.
Helps students to understand how the characteristics of a business are reflected in its financial statements. This case consists of an exercise in which students are given balance sheet data in percentage form and other selected financial data for companies in 14 industries. The specific task assigned to the student is to use the balance sheet data along with their basic knowledge of the operating conditions and characteristics of these 14 industries to match each industry to the correct data.
Jackson Automotive Systems produces automotive parts for advanced heating and air conditioning systems, engine cooling systems, fuel injection and transfer systems, and various other engine parts, and it supplies them to the automotive industry primarily in Michigan. Like many OEM suppliers for the automotive industry, Jackson cut back production following the financial crisis in 2008. By 2013, the firm is back to operating at capacity. The company experiences a bottleneck in production of some key electronic components and, as a result, is unable to repay its outstanding debt to the bank. In addition, the firm delayed replacing equipment during the downturn and now must replace aging equipment to avoid future production delays. The president approaches the bank for an extension to repay a loan and for an additional loan to cover the new equipment purchase. Before meeting with the loan committee, the president must prepare a presentation on the firm's financial position.
Sterling Household Products manufactures and markets a broad line of consumer goods from laundry soap and cosmetics to cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing products. The company has many highly regarded brand names and consistently reports impressive sales and profits to the investment community. Despite a record of success, a deeper analysis of financial measures reveals that growth rates for unit volumes, sales, and profits are low. Looking to expand into new markets with strong growth potential, the company considers acquiring the germicidal, sanitation, and antiseptic product unit from Montagne Medical Instruments, a company in the health care industry. This acquisition seems like a natural extension of Sterling's experience and expertise in the market for household cleaning supplies. Both parties reach a tentative agreement on price and Sterling considers whether the proposed investment adds value given the risks involved. Students must perform a comprehensive investment analysis and examine both the qualitative and quantitative issues associated with evaluating a strategic acquisition before making a final recommendation.
New Earth Mining is one of the largest producers of precious metals in the U.S. While the firm operates mines primarily in the U.S. and Canada, it has also made substantial investments in gold exploration projects in Australia and Chile. New Earth has been very successful and has a large amount of cash on the balance sheet, a simple debt structure, and a reasonable leverage ratio with liquidity risk. With a strong financial position, the firm considers reducing its dependence on precious metals by diversifying into base metals and other minerals. An investment opportunity for mining iron ore in South Africa looks promising but still carries substantial risk. A high risk of civil war in neighboring countries along with strong fears that the South African government will nationalize mining operations combine to create an unstable political environment. The tentative financing package is complex and creates challenges for determining a value for the project. Students must complete a quantitative analysis of 4 proposals with different valuation methods before making a final recommendation.