個案總覽

Spreadsheet for case UV2332

Spreadsheet for case UV2334

This introductory case considers the very sudden and large drop in market value of Oracle Systems' equity associated with two announcements in 1990. These announcements cause investors to revise their expectations about the future growth of Oracle Systems, perhaps the most rapidly growing U.S. corporation in the 1980s. The tasks for the student are to evaluate both the import of the announcements and the company's financial health. The case provides a first exercise in financial statement analysis and lays the foundation for two important financial themes: the concept of financial health and the financial economic definition of value and its determinants. The case also presents an interesting profile of an aggressive chief executive officer and suggests some potential unintended financial consequences of extreme aggressiveness.

In October 1990, the Boeing Company announced that it was launching a new aircraft model, the 777. The fanfare praised the technological superiority of the product and the fact that it filled a gap in Boeing's product line. The task for students is to evaluate the 777 against a financial standard, the investors' required returns. Gives internal rates of return (IRRs) for the 777 project under base-case and alternative forecasts. The students must estimate a weighted-average cost of capital (WACC) for Boeing's commercial aircraft business segment in order to evaluate these IRRs. As a result of this analysis, students identify the "key value drivers" and distinguish, on a qualitative basis, the key gambles Boeing is making.

This crossfunctional case in economics and finance highlights the concerns about protection of intellectual property rights as well as competition from traditional retailers in Shanghai's prime shopping venue. It begins with the history that led to Xiangyang Market's development, and concludes with a description of the future of the market. Located at the center of the shopping district in the trendy former French concession in Shanghai, the market is considered a shopper's paradise by many foreign visitors. This open-air bazaar is known for the incredible deals on quality knockoffs of designer products. The case includes an account of the shopping experience of two American tourists, giving details of their discoveries and bargaining sessions in the market.

Cases Empirical Chemicals (A) and (B) consider the capital-investment decisions to be made by executives of this large chemicals firm in January 1992. The A case presents a go/no-go project evaluation regarding improvements to a polypropylene production plant. The B case reviews the same project, but from one level higher, where the executive faces an either/or investment decision between two mutually exclusive projects. The objective of the two cases is to expose students to a wide range of capital-budgeting issues.

Cases Empirical Chemicals (A) and (B) consider the capital-investment decisions to be made by executives of this large chemicals firm in January 1992. The A case presents a go/no-go project evaluation regarding improvements to a polypropylene production plant. The B case reviews the same project, but from one level higher, where the executive faces an either/or investment decision between two mutually exclusive projects. The objective of the two cases is to expose students to a wide range of capital-budgeting issues.

Spreadsheet Supplement for case 293095

This case presents four exercises designed to introduce students to applications of option pricing and decision-tree analysis to real corporate investment problems. Two of the four problems involve decision trees and two involve option pricing. Students should be familiar with basic option pricing theory (Black-Scholes and/or the Binomial Model) before being assigned these exercises.

This case considers the unusual terms under which Rhone-Poulenc, the large French chemicals producer, acquired the U.S.-based Rorer Group, Inc., in August 1990. Set a year later, in August 1991, the case reviews the terms of the merger and the experience of the new entity in its first year, and invites the student to evaluate the "contingent value right" (CVR) issued by Rhone-Poulenc in the merger.

Spreadsheet Supplement for case 279069

Describes the legal and institutional framework by which troubled companies are dealt with in the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, and France. Deals with both out-of-court and in-court restructuring. Provides perspective on how approaches for dealing with troubled companies in certain foreign countries vary from U.S. practice. Particularly useful as a companion to cases on foreign companies that undergo restructuring.

The finance director of the Texas High-Speed Rail Corp. (THSRC) is considering modifications to the financing program designed to support the development, construction, and operations of THSRC's planned high-speed rail system. The current plan achieves many objectives, including raising $6.5 billion from private sources, but a few problems remain to be addressed. These include temporary overfunding, unutilized tax losses, and certain important contingencies. Designed to highlight the shortcomings of simple valuation tools in a static analysis when applied to a dynamic project. The class discussion should isolate specific analytical issues, which may then be addressed in subsequent class sessions.

Spreadsheet Supplement for case 293072

Describes the "adjusted present value" (APV) approach to discounted cash flow analysis. Much of the note is devoted to a critical comparison of APV and an approach based on the wrighted average cost of capital (WACC). Argues that APV is usually, if not always, simpler, more accurate, and/or more informative than using the WACC. Designed to be distributed in conjunction with a case on valuation and captial budgeting. Assumes students are familiar with the WACC but not with APV.

Documents a pricing anomaly in the large and liquid treasury bond market. The prices of callable treasury bonds seem to be inconsistent with the prices of noncallable treasuries and an arbitrage opportunity appears to exist. Permits instructors to introduce the treasury market, the concept of creating synthetic instruments, principles of arbitrage, and institutional frictions in the bond markets.

Details a thinly disguised situation faced by a recent Harvard MBA graduate who was forced by a prospective employer to place a dollar value on a grant of stock options. There are two objectives: 1) Serves as an introduction to option valuation, in which students have an opportunity to use market data to value an option in a realistic setting. 2) The setting permits a broader discussion of the wisdom of option-based incentive plans and the popular misconceptions of the value of option grants based on a widespread misunderstanding of how options work and how they are valued.

In October 1990, the president of this bank (the 9th largest in Japan and 15th largest in the world) must design a financing plan with which to bring the bank into compliance with the new worldwide Bank for International Settlements' (BIS) capital-adequacy standards. The alternatives include (1) slowing the growth of the bank, (2) issuing equity, and (3) issuing convertible subordinated debentures. The tasks of the student are to compare and contrast the equity and convertibles tactics and to recommend a possible price or coupon rate for the convertible issue.

In April 1992, this multinational consumer foods and beverages company is the focus of takeover rumors, which have prompted an assessment of the firm's returns. The student must choose among the principal methods of estimating the weighted-average cost of capital (WACC) for GrandMet and its three main business segments, and must then produce WACC estimates in order to evaluate the firm's performance.