個案總覽

This case is designed for use in JD/MBA programs or in contexts where mutual understanding of legal and financial issues is required. The case focuses on an entrepreneur in the security-software industry who is attempting to raise a first round of financing in October 2000. The firm was unsuccessful in attracting funding from venture capitalists and has relied on a small seed round and bridge loan from angel investors. The angels have now proposed investing $1.4 million in Series A convertible preferred stock. The entrepreneur must decide whether to accept the angel investors' proposal or revisit the issue of seeking venture capital. The case incorporates the Stockholder Agreement for the proposed Series A round, the capitalization of the company after the seed round, and five years of cash-flow projections for the firm. The case can be used in a law-school setting as a contract-drafting exercise and as an introduction to valuation. In a business-school setting, the case can help students understand the complex contract terms associated with a "plain-vanilla" form of venture capital. Valuation can be taught at an introductory level, or it can be made more complex if students are asked to incorporate "what-if" contract conditions into their analysis.

This case analyzes a large investment decision considered by the Texas Rangers in 2000: whether to spend $252 million for the services of shortstop Alex Rodriguez. The signing was probably the most controversial sports contract of the past decade.

In response to Stanley Work's announcement that it is moving to Bermuda--and the associated jump in market value--a major competitor sets out to determine how the market is valuing the consequences of moving to a tax haven and whether his company should invert to a tax haven. In particular, the competitor's CFO needs to attribute Stanley's stock price movements across several dimensions of potential tax savings (tax savings on foreign operations and on interest payments) to see if there might be something else at play (earnings stripping). In the process, the mechanics and incentives created by the international tax regime are illustrated. To obtain executable spreadsheets (courseware), please contact our customer service department at [email protected].

Spreadsheet to (9-201-068). Download only.

Fast Learning Inc. was a private firm that developed software and learning materials largely for preschool-aged children. It is considering moving into two new ventures: opening an early childhood education center and purchasing an existing day-care center. Fast Learning has approached a strategy consulting firm for advice on these ventures. One of the team members evaluating the proposals must determine the appropriate costs of capital (or hurdle rates). He considers whether to base the calculations on the cost of new sources of financing or an average of the costs of existing sources, and whether required returns should reflect actual past costs or current market costs.

Pharmex Industries is a high-growth pharmaceutical company that has aggressively expanded through acquisitions of financially sound firms. The chief financial officer must decide if their latest potential acquisition, the privately owned Formulex Group of Companies, is strategically attractive, and he must also determine the value of the company and how to finance the acquisition.

Two large oil and gas companies agree to merge to form Husky Energy Incorporated. An individual investor has received the information circular with respect to the transaction and has gathered some other information about the merger. She must decide whether the offer is attractive enough for her to vote her proxy in favour of the transaction and tender her shares. The case provides an opportunity for students to evaluate the acquisition from the unique perspective of an individual investor holding shares of the target company. Extensive data is provided on comparable firms and transactions allowing for ratio-based valuation of the transaction. This valuation is complicated by the fact that payment to shareholders consists of both cash and shares. Information is also provided that allows for a general discussion of the takeover process as well as the pros and cons of using a takeover as a means of going public (a reverse takeover).

This case documents the many unusual features and puzzles of Chinese financial markets (e.g., foreigners' receiving large discounts in buying Chinese shares relative to Chinese investors). The case illustrates how government policies can have a profound impact on the development of financial markets. Students analyze how policies work and why policies are imposed in China and generally not elsewhere. It also illustrates the perils and added risks from government regulation in financial markets.

This note provides a summary of the primary fiscal and monetary policies. It also provides a matrix of the expected effects on GDP and interest rates when these policies are enacted simultaneously.The matrix reflects the interactions of the policy mix when both policies are expansionary and contractionary, and when one is expansionary and one is contractionary.

The objective of this note is to provide an overview of monetary policy tools and the primary policy objectives. The mechanics behind the money multiplier are explained, and an algebraic derivation is provided. The note also provides examples of how parameters associated with the money multiplier influence its magnitude, including the propensity of the public to hold currency relative to demand deposits and the propensity of banks to hold reserves relative to demand deposits. The companion exercise allows students to walk through the mechanics of expansionary monetary policy.

This note describes different exchange rate regimes that are currently used in the world economy. It also discusses the advantages and disadvantages of fixed versus floating exchange rate regimes.

This note defines exchange rates and explains changes in exchange rates (appreciations and depreciations). The note also introduces the concept of the real exchange rate as an inflation adjusted measure of the purchasing power of a country's currency and as a measure of the competitiveness of a country's products. The note discusses factors that influence the real exchange rate. The note contains assignment questions.

An exercise in case format that demonstrates how to compute the cost of equity for an investment project in an emerging market using both the Lessard and the Godrey and Espinosa methods.

Spreadsheet to (9-203-024). Download only.

In late September 1999, representatives from Telstri, Japan Telecom, and Teleglobe met to discuss the structure of the Australia-Japan Cable (AJC) project, a $520 million submarine cable system that would run from Australia to Japan. The sponsors, excited by the possibility of large returns, needed to move quickly to capitalize on the projected shortfall in Australia's broadband capacity. As telecommunications carriers, the sponsors needed additional capacity to serve their retail and wholesale customers. As cable system owners, they wanted to earn an appropriate return on their invested capital while mitigating ownership risks. The need to move quickly in the face of significant demand, competition, and technological uncertainty made it particularly risky to invest at this time.

This case examines a bank's ability to manage its credit exposure to a particular client using credit default swaps.

Spreadsheet Supplement for case 203033

Citic Pacific Ltd. (CPL) had to decide whether to purchase newly reclaimed land at the waterfront of Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong, and develop a Grade A office building for investment purposes. The decision was to be made at an approaching cyclical high point in the market for Grade A office space, in the second half of 2000. CPL knew that the commercial real estate market was extremely cyclical and that very few companies active in the market had managed to time rental cycles and investment strategy successfully. If Citic Tower II came onto the market at the right time, it might be far more promising than it appeared in mid-2000. Nobody knows when the "right time" is, of course, but being able to defer the decision to develop while still retaining control over the site could buy time and the option to retain what could be a very good opportunity. In other words, CPL had to value its options.

Scott Malkin, CEO of Value Retail, a developer and operator of European outlet villages serving luxury brands, is planning on developing a 18,503 m2 open-air outlet village to be built 98 kilometers south of Milan on land he was about to acquire for 7.26 million lira. Is this a good investment? What are the risks associated with the project? Could Value Retail pursue its outlet strategy in Italy? Includes color exhibits.