Description: Now that it’s selling Nooks to consumers, Samsung Electronics has a new way to compete with Apple and Amazon.com. The Korean company on Wednesday unveiled its new Samsung Galaxy Tab Nook, a 7-inch tablet that uses software for the Barnes & Noble electronic reader. Source: Businessweek.com Date: August 22, 2014 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-08-22/why-samsung-is-hoarding-its-cash#r=hp-ls Questions for… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Management Issues
Why Target will pull out all the stops to save face in Canada
Description: It only took 15 months after Target Corp. made a wildly hyped venture into Canada before someone sounded a death knell for the mass merchant. Source: FinancialPost.com Date: Aug 22, 2014 Link: http://business.financialpost.com/2014/08/22/why-target-will-pull-out-all-the-stops-to-save-face-in-canada/ Questions for discussion: What is the financial damage to Target due to its poor performance? How would you deal with the… Read more »
Zillow CEO: Why Trulia is worth it
Description: Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff explains why he wants to buy Trulia and talks about future growth for the combined company. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: July 28, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2014/07/28/zillow-ceo-trulia-deal.cnnmoney/ Questions for Discussions: Summarize the reasons given for the deal. Do you think they deal is a good one? How will this deal… Read more »
Arrogance Is Good: In Defense of Silicon Valley
Description: Sam Altman sits behind his desk with his knees pulled up to his chest, eating dried apricots. He’s 29, but even the most laissez-faire bartender would card him. His hand is forever grabbing his hair while he thinks, making it stick up in Einsteinian tufts. Source: Businessweek.com Date: August 07, 2014 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-08-07/silicon-valley-tech-entrepreneurs-behind-the-stereotype#p1 Questions… Read more »
Canada’s very own private-equity giant Onex quietly tops returns of big-name U.S. rivals
Description: The best performer of the biggest publicly traded private-equity firms this year won’t be found among U.S. giants such as Blackstone Group LP or KKR & Co. The leader is Canada’s own contender, the dark horse in the race, Gerry Schwartz’s Onex Corp. With a 15% stock gain, Onex is running well ahead of… Read more »
Investors like Amazon 3D phone chatter
Description: The only thing cooler than a 3D phone? A drone delivering it to you. Amazon stock enjoyed a nice pop after announcing (via YouTube) that it will unveil a new product — likely a 3D phone — on June 18. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: June 06, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/06/06/investing-the-buzz-amazon-3d-smartphone-drone-delivery.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions:… Read more »
The ticking time bomb in Europe’s latest economic stimulus
Description: Europe needs to get real about its so-called “zombie bank” problem and take the hits needed to unclog its lending machine. Source: Fortune.com Date: June 06, 2014 Link: http://fortune.com/2014/06/06/europe-economy-banks-lending/ Questions for Discussions: What are the problems facing European banks, according to the report? What are the suggested solutions?
Q&A: Travis Kalanick on Uber’s New $17 Billion Valuation
Description: Uber Technologies, the company that allows people to order taxis and private town cars via a smartphone app, has just raised $1.2 billion in a fundraising round that values the four-year-old startup at an astounding $17 billion. Source: Businessweek.com Date: June 06, 2014 Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-06-06/q-and-a-travis-kalanick-on-ubers-new-17-billion-valuation#r=hp-ls Questions for Discussions: Summarize the risks and potential returns… Read more »
Tesla debt: An electric lemon?
Description: Tesla debt may have gotten a junk bond rating from Standard and Poor due to concerns about its ‘niche’ market status. But investors in Tesla stock still have faith in Elon Musk. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: May 28, 2014 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/investing/2014/05/28/n-tesla-electric-cars-elon-musk-bonds.cnnmoney/index.html Questions for Discussions: Explain the differences in thinking by Tesla bond… Read more »
Ballmer’s $2 Billion Offer Wins Clippers Bidding
Description: Former Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer bought the Los Angeles Clippers for a record $2 billion as the wife of Donald Sterling pushed through the sale without gaining the approval of the embattled owner. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: May 30, 2014 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-05-30/ballmer-s-2-billion-offer-said-to-win-clippers-bidding.html Questions for Discussions: Do you think the price was… Read more »
