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James and Laura Wiggins had some decisions to make. Last year, James's father had died of a stroke. Death was not instantaneous, however, and the man had lingered in hospital for several weeks in a coma. During this time, no one had been able to access James's father's bank accounts (which were registered in the father's name only). This inability to access the accounts had caused James's mother considerable economic hardship, which impressed upon James the value of a power of attorney (POA). To that end, James asked his lawyer to prepare a power of attorney for him and Laura. James wanted Laura to sign the documents that night. Before signing, Laura had some reservations and a few questions she wanted James to answer. She didn't understand how a POA worked. Was it the same as a will? She and James didn't have a will. Would the POA satisfy both needs?

The president of SinYi Group was contemplating various ways of growing his highly successful Taiwanese real estate company in the mainland China market. SinYi had initially opened up company-operated branches and in 1999, in an effort to expand more quickly, he had obtained a Coldwell Banker master franchise under a joint SinYi/Coldwell brand. But SinYi’s growth in company-operated and franchised branches in China was still slow. He was considering whether he should establish a new company to run the franchise business exclusively using the Coldwell brand and reserve the SinYi brand for company-owned branches. This new approach would require a revision to the agreement with Coldwell Banker, which the president would need to evaluate.

The global financial crisis has caused public trust in institutions to fall to its lowest level in history. The authors begin by defining the three elements of the 'trust failure' that has taken place, and then present six strategies for repairing trust. These include increasing external regulation, changing the way boards function and fostering a culture change. They end by warning that a number of reforms have been put in place to restore institutional trust, but the jury is still out as to whether they will 'stick' over time.

Wealthy people don't just have better toys; they have better nutrition and better medical care, more free time and more meaningful labour-more of just about every ingredient in the recipe for a happy life. And yet research consistently shows that they aren't much happier than those who have less. If money can buy happiness, then why doesn't it? The authors argue that five principles apply to the money/happiness equation, including 'buy experiences instead of things' and 'help others instead of yourself'. In the end, they show that money can buy many of the things that make us happy; and if it doesn't, the fault is ours.

The case deals with how the investment banker advising the chief financial officer of Melco Crown Entertainment Limited (MCEL), a casino and entertainment company based in Macau, suggests the company finance two new gaming resorts currently under construction. The development of these properties has stopped because of insufficient funding, and project timelines have started to be questioned. A decision regarding the best means to raise the necessary capital needs to be made quickly or MCEL may not be able to capitalize on the lucrative, growing gaming market in Macau. The advice must consider both the immediate need to raise capital to get the projects back on track as well as the need for long-term financial flexibility to take advantage of future opportunities. The case considers a variety of domestic and international options to determine what best meets MCEL's needs.

The case deals with how the investment banker advising the chief financial officer of Melco Crown Entertainment Limited (MCEL), a casino and entertainment company based in Macau, will suggest the company finance two new gaming resorts currently under construction. The development of these properties has stopped because of insufficient funding, and project timelines have started to be questioned. A decision regarding the best means to raise the necessary capital needs to be made quickly or MCEL may not be able to capitalize on the lucrative, growing gaming market in Macau. The advice must consider both the immediate need to raise capital to get the projects back on track as well as the need for long-term financial flexibility to take advantage of future opportunities. The case considers a variety of domestic and international options to determine what best meets MCEL's needs.

Spreadsheet for case UV6529

The global head of investment research at the World Gold Council (WGC) had finished his presentation "The Strategic Case for Gold as an Asset Class" at the 2012 Bloomberg Precious Metals Conference in New York. As a result of the market collapse in 2008 and the ongoing euro-area crisis, investors worldwide had safety and security on their minds, and many in the room were wondering whether gold would provide capital preservation and improve the overall risk-return tradeoff of their portfolios. At the same time, the sustained run-up in the price of gold since 2001 that was mentioned in the presentation was a cause for concern. Was gold the safe haven that it had proved to be in 2008 and 2009, or was it an asset class at the peak of a bubble? The investment case for gold deserved closer examination.

This case provides students with an opportunity to evaluate the mechanics and effectiveness of an interest rate swap in an actual situation. Rothmans Inc. entered into an interest rate swap in 2001, and the company’s public financial statements allow readers to follow the swap through several years until the eventual early pay-off in 2005. Students can determine if the decision to exit the interest rate swap early was good or bad. Rothmans has only one five-year bank term loan and one interest rate swap covering half of the value of the loan. This simplicity provides an excellent learning environment using publicly available data.

In March 2006, the vice president for business development and finance for the University of Virginia Health System is completing the last-minute details in preparation for a board meeting where he will present his proposal for building a new long-term acute care (LTAC) hospital. Since 1999, when the board rejected his first proposal for building an LTAC, regulations regarding LTAC facilities have changed, which gives him hope that the project now has a good chance of success.

Spreadsheet for case UV6518

The world of early-stage financing has undergone many changes over the years. In this note, we first document the historical roots of early-stage investors, and describe important milestones along the developmental path. We then describe the types of modern-day angel investors, focusing on their investment preferences and practices. Finally, we set up a discussion of salient issues in angel investing for the future.

High yield bond fund Proventus Capital Partners (PCP) has invested in underwater bonds issued by Preem, a large oil refinery. As maturity approaches, in the midst of a financial crisis, Preem appears unlikely to be able to refinance. Meanwhile, Preem has a complicated multi-currency capital structure with senior, secured bank loans and junior bonds. PCP has to decide whether to push for bankruptcy in a European court, or for out of court renegotiations. The case is a tool for studying the difference between liquidity problems and solvency problems, weighing bankruptcy vs. out of court restructuring, and dealing with negotiations between creditors.

Preem's creditors and owners made a deal with an 18 month extension of debt maturities and a minor equity injection in 2009. Now, in 2010 ,the new maturity is approaching, and refinancing is again unlikely. This time, all the firm's debt is coming due. What went wrong in the first restructuring and what should PCP do to facilitate a more permanent solution?

Spreadsheet for case UV6524

Polar Sports, Inc. is a fashion skiwear manufacturing company in Littleton, Colorado. The company has a unique design for skiwear using a special synthetic material that improves insulation and durability. The ski apparel industry is highly competitive and the best way for companies to gain market share is by developing new fabrics and using innovative patterns. The firm generates over 80% of sales between September and January and relies on seasonal production to respond promptly to customer orders. During those months, the plant must rapidly increase production by hiring and training additional workers, often paying them overtime. The vice president of operations is concerned about the costs associated with seasonal production and presents a proposal to switch to level production. The change can reduce costs and improve efficiency but can also affect other aspects of company finance. Students must analyze potential cost savings and understand the financial risks involved before making a final recommendation. This case can be used in first-year MBA-level courses in finance or in advanced undergraduate finance courses.

Spreadsheet Supplement for Product #913513

Lumina, a foundation focused on increasing both access to and success in higher education for U.S. students, is dealing with the recent resignation of its chief investment officer. The CFO reviews the structure the firm has in place to manage its $1.1 billion endowment. Although the CFO and other finance and administration professionals at Lumina are temporarily overseeing the endowment, Maas recognizes that many other foundations outsource this responsibility to investment advisory firms. As part of his review, he invites a number of firms-including CornerStone Partners, from Charlottesville, VA-to make presentations to the Lumina management team. While each firm claims the ability to outperform its benchmark, Maas wonders exactly how the outsourcing would add value, and how this outperformance could be quantified.

Prada currently requires a significant amount of capital both to re-finance debt that is maturing in the next six to twelve months and to finance its intended growth into the Asian (especially Chinese) markets. Since financial markets are aware of Prada's pressing need to raise capital, it is important for the board of directors to develop a credible strategy for raising the necessary capital of at least €1 billion. Although the press has been suggesting that Prada will do an initial public offering, the company has tried this several times in the past with no success, mainly because of bad timing (9/11, the SARS outbreak, and the ongoing global financial crisis and European sovereign debt crisis). The board has approached Guido Santini of the investment bank Grupo Capo Milano to come up with a number of credible alternatives and a strategy for raising the needed capital.

This note will aid in introducing students to the Private Equity Finance course.