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The North West Company: Cross-enterprise Strategy
Stephen R. Foerster; Mary M. Crossan; James E. Hatch; Ken MarkCase IVEY-9B07M047-EEntrepreneurship, StrategyThe North West Company cases allow students to take a cross-enterprise leadership approach in looking at the dilemma facing the president and chief executive officer of The North West Company (North West), a food and general merchandise retailer operating primarily in Northern Canada. In early 2003, North West had negotiated a master franchisor agreement with Giant Tiger Stores Limited (Giant Tiger) with the objective of opening stores west of Wi...Starting at €8.20
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Time Value of Money: The Buy Versus Rent Decision
Sean Cleary; Stephen R. FoersterCase IVEY-9B14N024-EFinanceA recent MBA graduate had been renting a condominium, and a similar unit next door had just been listed for sale. Now facing the classic buy-versus-rent decision, the young grad decided it was time for her to apply some of the analytical tools she had acquired in business school — including “time value of money” concepts — to her personal life.Starting at €8.20
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Buck Auto Care Products: Selling a Private Company
Stephen R. Foerster; Ken MarkCase IVEY-9B16N018-EEntrepreneurship, FinanceThe chief financial officer (CFO) of Buck Auto Care Products (Buck’s), a Toronto-based manufacturer and distributor of premium car care products, had to prepare for a meeting with the company’s vice-president (VP) of sales and the VP of manufacturing. The staff had heard rumours that the company was for sale, but no one had received any confirmation until now. The company was founded in 1975 as a chain of car-wash stands in Toronto and Mississaug...Starting at €8.20
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Measuring Impairment at Dofasco
Mary Gillett; Mary-Jane MastrandreaCase IVEY-9B09B017-EAccounting and ControlIn December 2008, the ArcelorMittal Dofasco (Dofasco) accounting team was facing a significant challenge. In the past few years, Dofasco had undergone significant ownership changes, and when the firm had first been acquired the market had placed a premium share value on the Dofasco subsidiary. In light of a recent economic downturn, the accounting team was required to reassess the values assigned to the subsidiary's net assets. Dismal forecasted ...Starting at €8.20
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Loblaw and Shoppers Drug Mart
Mary Gillett; Chris Sturby; Leanne BowdenCase IVEY-9B14B003-EAccounting and ControlIn mid-2013, the executive chairman of Loblaw Companies Ltd. was considering whether it was in his company’s best interest to acquire Shoppers Drug Mart. In December 2012, Loblaw had announced a proposal to create a real estate investment trust to which it would initially transfer approximately 75 per cent of its substantial real estate holdings, thus unlocking value for its shareholders. At the same time, Shoppers’ shares were trading at an hist...Starting at €8.20
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BCE Inc.: World's Largest LBO Deal in Jeopardy
Stephen R. FoersterCase IVEY-9B09N029-EFinanceIn November 2008, Bell Canada Enterprises Inc. (BCE) appeared to be on track to meet a December 2008 deadline to complete a $52-billion privatization deal. A consortium had previously submitted a winning leveraged buyout (LBO) bid that was estimated to add around $32 billion in debt to the company. Mere days before the deal’s termination date, BCE executives were stunned to hear that KPMG auditors advised that the deal was in jeopardy of collapse...Starting at €8.20
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BCE Inc.: In Play
Stephen R. Foerster; Heather TobinCase IVEY-9B09N018-EFinance, StrategyBCE Inc. (BCE), one of Canada's leading telecommunications companies, had struggled under its weak stock price performance and low valuation relative to its comparable peers, and faced increasing pressure from its largest shareholder, the powerful Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (Teachers'). On March 29, 2007, it was reported that private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts (KKR) had held informal meetings with BCE executives in the hopes of lau...Starting at €8.20
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BCE Inc.: Bondholders Versus Shareholders Supreme Court Showdown
Stephen R. Foerster; David KunschCase IVEY-9B09N027-EFinance, StrategyIn May 2008, the board of directors of BCE Inc., one of Canada’s leading integrated communications companies, was dealing with the fallout of a Quebec Court of Appeal decision. The court had ruled to disallow a $50 billion privatization deal as, according to the court, the process was flawed and did not consider the debenture (bond) holders of Bell Canada (a wholly owned subsidiary of BCE). The court had ruled that the board had allowed a deal in...Starting at €8.20
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WH Group Limited: Initial Public Offering Road Show
Stephen R. FoersterCase IVEY-9B15N003-EFinance, StrategyAn equity research analyst is preparing to attend a road show presentation by WH Group Limited, the world’s largest pork company headquartered in Hong Kong, concerning its upcoming initial public offering. She is reviewing the preliminary prospectus as well as other publicly available background information on the company and its two core subsidiaries, Shuanghui International Holdings Inc. and Smithfield Foods Inc., whose recent acquisition was t...Starting at €8.20
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White Gold In Benin: Chinese Investment In Cotton
Zhangfeng Fei; Xiaokang Zhao; Kejing Zhang; Alex BeamishCase IVEY-9B18M003-EStrategyIn mid-June 2011, the Chinese president of the China–Benin joint venture Benin Textile Company (Compagnie Béninoise des Textiles, or CBT) was deeply worried about the supply of cotton in Benin. Since 2009, CBT had faced significant challenges in obtaining a reliable cotton supply. In 2010, the company had already placed its cotton orders, but local Beninese cotton producers were unwilling to deliver cotton at the earlier agreed-on price due to th...Starting at €8.20