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Crawford Development Co. and Southeast Bank of Texas
Ovchinnikov, Anton S.; Loutskina, ElenaCase DARDEN-QA-0727-EDecision AnalysisIn the early months of the 2007–08 financial crises, a loan manager faces a real estate financing decision. Should he approve a bullet structure three-year loan to a longstanding client, a legendary Texan developer? The developer, who near retirement downsized his business, is seeking financing for his only project: residential or commercial development on an attractive piece of land in suburban Houston. The loan manager considers the decision in...Starting at €8.20
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Mars, Incorporated
Loutskina, Elena; Shapovalov, GeorgeCase DARDEN-F-1612-EFinanceRecommended for MBAs, this case is one of a pair of cases used in a merger negotiation exercise. It is designed to be used with "Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company" (UVA-F-1607), but it can also be used on its own. Half of the class prepares only the Wrigley case and the other half uses the Mars case. Wrigley and Mars are in the process of negotiating a merger agreement. Macroeconomic assumptions—particularly forecasting future sugar prices in an uncertain...Starting at €8.20
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TriLinc Global Impact Fund
Loutskina, Elena; Yemen, GerryCase DARDEN-F-1779-EFinanceThis case calls students to evaluate an investment in impact-oriented private-debt fund TriLinc Global. The fund is led by Wall Street veteran Gloria Nelund and provides debt financing to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets. The case discusses the well-known shortages in SME finance globally and the role SMEs play in emerging economies. In her desire to make the impact investing accessible to retail investors, Nelund registere...Starting at €8.20
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Impact Makers (B): Equity Raise
Yemen, Gerry; Loutskina, ElenaCase DARDEN-F-1801-EFinanceThis case can be taught alone or as an epilogue to "Impact Makers (A): The Newman's Own of Management Consulting" (UVA-F-1797). The case is based on Impact Makers, an IT consulting company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. The company focus on creating value for a community led to an innovative corporate structure where original founders of the firm hold all voting rights, while the cash flow rights belong to two nonprofits, setting the stage ...Starting at €5.74
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Crocs: On Rough Water
Fairchild, Gregory B.; Lipson, Marc L.; Loutskina, Elena; Gupta, GauravCase DARDEN-F-1811-EFinanceThis case introduces Ron Snyder, CEO of Crocs, Inc., in 2007, a few years after Crocs went public on the NASDAQ in the largest shoe offering ever. Investor excitement at the time had been palpable - the company had garnered a 48% premium above its initial offer price. Since that time, the stock had grown sixfold to its high just last month, at the end of October. Only a week ago, on November 1, the company’s stock price had plummeted, declining ...Starting at €8.20
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Charter Communications: Ensuring the Right Path Forward
Loutskina, ElenaCase DARDEN-F-1814-EFinanceThis case explores the considerations of an executive compensation analyst as he finalizes a report to the compensation and benefits committee of Charter Communications (Charter), a leading broadband and communications company, on the appropriate compensation structure for Charter's CEO, Thomas Rutledge. Charter's board clearly wanted to retain Rutledge, but in the world of executive compensation, it was not enough to have the biggest payment p...Starting at €8.20
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Fannie Mae's Data Dynamics
Lichtendahl, Kenneth C. Jr.; Loutskina, Elena; Grushka-Cockayne, Yael; Yemen, Gerry; Boatright, BenjaminCase DARDEN-QA-0903-EDecision AnalysisThis case uses one of Fannie Mae’s credit-risk transfer instruments (CRT) to explore its data set platform and predict loan defaults through machine learning algorithms. The CRT, called Connecticut Avenue Securities (CAS), issued bonds valued on the performance of preselected pools of mortgages. The material works well to unfold natural language processing using Python. Through a three-class series, students will learn to wrangle data, experience...Starting at €8.20
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AB InBev’s Dividend Decision
Loutskina, Elena; Bickwit, GrantCase DARDEN-F-1907-EFinanceIn 2018, AB InBev faced a difficult decision: whether to keep its $8 billion dividend program or cut dividends either partially or in full. This case facilitates a theoretical discussion and practical application of dividend policies and their role in value creation for firm stakeholders. Students gain experience formulating a dividend policy and understanding its effects on debt, cost of capital, and company valuation. A widely recognized globa...Starting at €8.20
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Citrix Systems, Inc.: A Fight Worth Fighting?
Loutskina, Elena; Shah, JigarCase DARDEN-F-2049FinanceIn December 2021, Valiant Capital Partners (VCP) is in the middle of bidding for Citrix Systems, Inc. (Citrix), to take the company private via a leveraged buyout (LBO). The auction of the renowned desktop-as-a-service (DaaS) company had attracted a number of bidders. VCP's initial bid of $15 billion ($92 per share) had allowed the fund to move to the final bidding round. Now with broader access to the company and its management, VCP has to revis...Starting at €8.20
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Should udu a Convertible Note?
Loutskina, Elena; DeVito, DamonCase DARDEN-F-2025-EFinanceIn this field-based case, the founders of udu, Inc. (udu—pronounced "you-do"), a company whose proprietary technology helped private equity clients source deals by identifying target companies and overlooked opportunities, and by shortening the business-development cycle. Clients who had found success with udu's help raved about the technology, but despite their product's promise, the founders were still struggling to find a scalable and profitab...Starting at €8.20