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The price of a bond is a function of the promised payments and the market-required rate of return. Because the promised payments are fixed, bond prices change in response to changes in the market-required rate of return. For investors who hold bonds, the issue of how sensitive a bond's price is to changes in the required rate of return is important. There are four measures of bond-price sensitivity that are commonly used: Simple Maturity, Macaulay Duration (effective maturity), Modified Duration, and Convexity. Each of these measures provides a more exact description of how a bond price changes relative to changes in the required rate of return.

Spreadsheet Supplement for case 100021

This note provides a brief overview of the relationship between the macro behaviour of the economy and the resulting impact on investment returns. It is designed to be used within a course on investments or portfolio management. The note starts by establishing a framework for estimating the long-run expected returns of the two major categories of financial assets - equities and (long-term) bonds - on the basis of the fundamental valuation theorem, which states that value comes from expected future discounted cash flows. The note demonstrates that this theorem implies that the long-run expected real returns on equities depend on the dividend growth rate and the expected average growth rate in dividends, which in turn depends on long-run macroeconomic growth. Expected long-term real returns on bonds depend on the yield to maturity and the long-run inflation rate. The note then goes on to establish the long-run behaviour of four key macroeconomic variables: output, inflation, interest rates, and exchange rates. An overview of how to identify business cycle positions is an important component of this analysis. Also, the analysis focuses on methods for identifying disequilibrium situations for interest rates. Finally, the note concludes by discussing some short-run influences on macroeconomic variables and the key role of monetary policy.

This note provides a brief overview of the relationship between the macro behaviour of the economy and the resulting impact on investment returns. It is designed to be used within a course on investments or portfolio management. The note starts by establishing a framework for estimating the long-run expected returns of the two major categories of financial assets - equities and (long-term) bonds - on the basis of the fundamental valuation theorem, which states that value comes from expected future discounted cash flows. The note demonstrates that this theorem implies that the long-run expected real returns on equities depend on the dividend growth rate and the expected average growth rate in dividends, which in turn depends on long-run macroeconomic growth. Expected long-term real returns on bonds depend on the yield to maturity and the long-run inflation rate. The note then goes on to establish the long-run behaviour of four key macroeconomic variables: output, inflation, interest rates, and exchange rates. An overview of how to identify business cycle positions is an important component of this analysis. Also, the analysis focuses on methods for identifying disequilibrium situations for interest rates. Finally, the note concludes by discussing some short-run influences on macroeconomic variables and the key role of monetary policy.

Nanpo (Holdings) Limited, a Hong Kong-based Chinese food distributor is planning for its initial public offering on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. Nanpo was established in 1981 with a mandate to be the sole distributor of poultry, fresh water fish, livestock, and fruit and vegetables produced in Guangdong, the bordering province of mainland China. Throughout the years, Nanpo has built up an admirable market share in many food categories and a distribution channel of 500 wholesalers. Recently, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation in the PRC reaffirmed its sole distributor status. The management of Nanpo has developed an aggressive growth plan which includes new food processing facilities and forward integration into retail outlets and restaurant chains. Nanpo has turned to the capital market of Hong Kong to finance its future growth. Nanpo's management has decided to float 25% of the company and has engaged a local merchant bank, Hinson Capital, as its lead underwriter. Three weeks away from the planned IPO, Jack Yang, a director of Nanpo, is once again reviewing the details of pricing.

Nanpo (Holdings) Ltd., a Hong Kong-based Chinese food distributor, is planning for its initial public offering on the stock exchange of Hong Kong. Nanpo was established in 1981 with a mandate to be the sole distributor of poultry, fresh water fish, livestock, and fruit and vegetables produced in Guangdong, the bordering province of mainland China. Throughout the years, Nanpo has built up an admirable market share in many food categories and a distribution channel of 500 wholesalers. In 1993, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation in the People's Republic of China reaffirmed its sole distributor status. The management of Nanpo has developed an aggressive growth plan, which includes new food processing facilities and forward integration into retail outlets and restaurant chains. Nanpo has turned to the capital market of Hong Kong to finance its future growth. Nanpo's management has decided to float 25% of the company and has engaged a local merchant bank, Hinson Capital, as its lead underwriter. Three weeks away from the planned IPO, Jack Yang, a director of Nanpo, is once again reviewing the details of pricing.

Spreadsheet Supplement for case 200002.

The CFO of UniHost Corporation is faced with a requirement to raise capital. UniHost is involved in the development, syndication, franchising and management of motels and hotels in Canada. Most of its properties were flagged under the Quality and Comfort brands. UniHost required capital to repay a $52 million bridge loan facility and fund multiple growth opportunities. Financing alternatives included equity, convertible bonds and high yield debt. The CFO had to decide on both the form and structure of the financing. The case allows for discussion of a number of issues, including: the public financing process in Canada, financing strategy (i.e. choice of the form of financing in the context of a likely sequence of financings), optimal capital structure, and the impact of financing decisions on the overall strategy of a firm. With respect to the debt alternatives, data is provided which allows for analysis of the choice of debt maturity, bond covenants and bond rating agencies.

IFC Manufacturing, an automobile parts producer, was attempting to raise capital to fund expansion in Mexico. In order to secure financing, the creditor banks required an assessment of the IFC's financial risk management apparatus. IFC had exposures to foreign exchange and interest rates. IFC had grown aggressively by acquiring firms on both sides of the Canadian-U.S. border, funding these purchases in U.S. dollars. The case allows for discussion of a number of issues, including: internal controls (the Group of Thirty recommendations for good derivatives practices), risk measurement and management. Data is provided which allows students to qualify translational and transactional risk exposures. Information is also provided allowing students to evaluate IFC's portfolio of hedging instruments which includes plain vanilla options, single barrier options, double barrier options and average rate options.

Provides a basic introduction to the principles of Islamic finance. Examines the religious background and legal foundations of Islamic finance. Also discusses the development of Islamic financial institutions and the financial instruments they use. Concludes with a discussion of recent developments and future challenges for this growing segment of the global financial system.

The newly appointed branch manager at a branch of PEB Securities was worried. He had just finished speaking to a sales assistant regarding a series of transactions made by him over the last few months. Earlier in the day, the branch manager had received a call from a client's lawyer regarding the mishandling of her account by the firm. As he sat down to review the file again, he wondered which of the transactions, if any, exposed the firm to legal liability and what his next course of action should be. The main pedagogical objectives of this case are to explore liability issues. Several transactions are presented; in each case, students must examine the legal as well as ethical issues and determine to what extent the individual or firm can be held liable.

Grant Lewis, a Chartered Accountant (CA) and senior manager at a Big Six professional services firm, was investigating the feasibility of establishing a CA firm with two former colleagues. Mr. Lewis recognized the need for external financing during the start-up phase of the business. In preparation for a meeting with his bank manager, Mr. Lewis has been asked to prepare a projected monthly cash flow statement as well as a balance sheet and income statement for the first year of operations. The primary objective of the case is to get students to develop these financial statements and appreciate the links and differences between a cash flow and an income statement. The case also allows students to examine the bank lending process, discuss the merits and drawbacks of starting a small business, and become familiar with some of the basic components and sources of relevant market information for a new venture.

Two managers attending a financial management course are attempting to compute the cost of capital for Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited, a well-known local Hong Kong firm. The two managers are somewhat confused about the costs of various sources of capital, the calculation of the overall corporate cost of capital, and the appropriate use of the hurdle rate.

An assistant account manager is evaluating a loan request from a small trucking company that is planning to expand its fleet in order to bid for a large trucking contract. The decision is centered on the firm's past performance and growth record. Particular attention is paid to the firm's chances of winning the trucking contract and its ability to service the increased debt. New highway safety regulations for trucking companies also play a role in the case.

Despite 30 years of evidence demonstrating that most acquisitions don't create value for the acquiring company, executives continue to make more deals, and bigger deals, every year. There are plenty of reasons why value isn't created, but many times it's simply because the acquiring company paid too much. It's not, however, that acquirers pay too high a price in an absolute sense. Rather, they pay more than the acquisition is worth to them. What is that optimum price? The authors present a systematic way to arrive at it, involving several distinct concepts of value. In today's market, the purchase price of an acquisition will nearly always be higher than the intrinsic value of the company--the price of its stock before any acquisition intentions are announced. The key is to determine how much of that difference is "synergy value"--the value that will result from improvements made when the companies are combined. This value will accrue to the acquirer's shareholders rather than to the target's shareholders. The more synergy value a particular acquisition can generate, the higher the maximum price an acquirer is justified in paying. Just as important as correctly calculating the synergy value is having the discipline to walk away from a deal when the numbers don't add up. If returns to shareholders from acquisitions are no better in the next ten years than they've been in the past 30, the authors warn, it will be because companies have failed to create systematic corporate governance processes that put their simple lessons into practice.

In all economies, financial systems perform a basic set of functions, which include the need to pool resources, to save and borrow, to make payments, and to collect information. And yet, in rich and poor communities, the ways in which those needs are met differ greatly. In part, this is because traditional financial service firms have found it too expensive to serve poor neighborhoods. But it is possible to work with less traditional institutions to meet those needs. According to the authors, inner cities face two core impediments to financial services: lack of economies of scale and lack of good information. An inner-city investor with $500, for instance, does not warrant much attention from financial service firms. But twenty thousand parishioners investing $500 apiece can collectively wield $10 million. By partnering with strong social organizations such as churches, financial institutions can benefit both themselves and investors. A lack of good information concerning credit histories--a common problem in poor communities--also makes low-income customers much less appealing to financial institutions. Churches can help close such information gaps by vouching for parishioners' reliability. There are certainly problems that come with mixing business and religion, as the authors concede. Ethical issues, trust issues, and issues of experience all come to mind. But understanding that functions need to dictate the structure of the financial service sector may be the first step toward achieving inner-city prosperity.

Supplements the (A) case.

This case chronicles the mismanagement of funds by an investment management firm for a medical center's endowment and details the subsequent lawsuit. It explores fiduciary responsibility, securities litigation, mortgage-backed securities, and endowment portfolio management while providing background on the bond crisis of 1994. To examine portfolio management, nonprofit management, finance, and law.

Canada-based Oxford Learning Centres (OLC) entered into a licensing agreement with U.S.-based Childtime Learning Centers (Childtime) where Childtime would operate OLC supplemental education programs in their facilities. In less than six months, Childtime decided to make an offer to purchase OLC. OLC's CEO must decide how to approach the impending negotiations. The case describes the North American supplement education industry, valuation considerations and private firm purchase negotiations. Detailed comparables are provided for such firms as Sylvan Learning Systems and Corporate Family Solutions. The case provides an opportunity to apply a number of valuation techniques including discounted cash flow, and multiples based on comparable firms and transactions.

Provides students with an opportunity to use simple real options analysis to value a startup. Penelope Phillips is deciding whether to start a company to make wireless phones. Students get experience using traditional discounted cash flow valuation and a real options approach.