Mobile Master: KakaoTalk Creator Becomes One Of South Korea’s Richest Billionaires

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Growth & Valuation, Industry Analysis.

Description: On KakaoTalk, South Korea’s number one mobile-messaging service, users spend hours crushing candy on popular games, sharing photos and videos with friends, and sending cute emoticons and digital stickers. That’s all thanks to Kakao Corp. cofounder and chairman, “Brian” Kim Bum-Soo, who launched the service in 2010 and ever since has been perfecting a mobile universe inhabited by 93% of domestic smartphone users–or nearly 75% of the country’s 50 million people. KakaoTalk has now made Kim a billionaire.

Source: Forbes.com

Date: Sep 24, 2014

Link: http://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2014/09/24/mobile-master-kakaotalk-creator-becomes-one-of-south-koreas-richest-billionaires/

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the sources of cash flow for the firm.
  • What are some new sources that could contribute to growth?
  • Would you be an investor?

Alibaba Debut Makes a Splash

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial Planning, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation, Industry Analysis, Management Issues.

Description: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. BABA +38.07% , China’s largest e-commerce company, on Friday became a publicly traded technology powerhouse, launching a blockbuster share offering in New York that drew attention world-wide.

Source: WSJ.com – video report

Date: Sep 19, 2014

Link: http://www.wsj.com/video/ratings-pro-alibaba-looks-stronger-than-facebook/9A9B4058-603D-4DE0-AD85-1ACBE286EE76.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • What is motivating purchasers of the Alibaba IPO?
  • How would you evaluate the risk and opportunities for growth?

This is how a stock is born

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Governments & Regulators, Industry Analysis, Management Issues.

Description: As Alibaba goes public, the New York Stock Exchange could see the biggest business transaction in history.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Sep 18, 2014

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2014/09/18/alibaba-how-a-stock-is-born.cnnmoney/

Questions for Discussions:

  • How is a new stock introduced to the trading floor?
  • Do you think this procedure enables a smoother transition to normal trading?

Alibaba IPO: It’s official—Wall Street wins, you will lose

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation.

Description: Alibaba’s IPO pop was stupendous. Wall Street and its favorite clients get billions of dollars in found money. And those who let this happen should be thoroughly ashamed.

Source: Fortune.com

Date: Sep 19, 2014

Link: http://fortune.com/2014/09/19/alibaba-ipo-its-official-wall-street-wins-you-will-lose/

Questions for Discussions:

  • What is the basis for the criticism in this report?
  • Do you agree?

The Dumb Money Is Getting Smarter Every Day 

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial Planning, Growth & Valuation.

Description: In the parlance of Wall Street, there’s the “smart money” and the “dumb money.” The dumb money falls for investing fads, sells into market panics and pays ridiculous fees. The smart money doesn’t.

Source: Bloomberg.com

Date: Sep 17, 2014

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-17/the-dumb-money-is-getting-smarter-every-day-.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the changes taking place in investing, according to the article?
  • Why do think this is happening and what does it mean for the industry?

The Government Keeps Helping People Buy Failing Cold Stone Creamerys

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Economic Analysis, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation, Industry Analysis.

Description: Would you loan someone money to buy a Cold Stone Creamery franchise if you knew that more than a quarter of those loans default? If you’re the U.S. government, the answer is yes.

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: Sep 16, 2014

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-09-16/franchises-the-government-keeps-helping-people-buy-failing-brands#r=nav-fst

Questions for Discussions:

  • Why do you suppose the SBA loans continue to be made?
  • Why would entrepreneurs participate in such risky franchise setups?

‘Apple Pay’ may be safer than plastic

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Governments & Regulators, Growth & Valuation, Management Issues.

Description: Security measures on mobile wallets may make them a safer option than plastic credit cards.

Source: CNNMoney.com – video report

Date: Sep 12, 2014

Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2014/09/11/apple-iphone-apple-pay-safer-than-plastic.cnnmoney/index.html

Questions for Discussions:

  • Do you think Apple Pay will take away business from bank and credit card companies?
  • How much risk does this new technology present to investors in banks and other financial services companies?
  • Can you envision a partnership between Apple Pay and these businesses?
  • How might this technology affect Apple share value?

A deep look at poverty in Asia

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Governments & Regulators, Industry Analysis, Management Issues.

Description: Interview with Shang Jin Wei, Chief economist with Asia Development Bank.

Source: BNN.ca – video report

Date: Sep 11, 2014

Link: http://www.bnn.ca/Video/player.aspx?vid=438737

Questions for Discussions:

Describe the level of poverty discussed in this report.

  • How are governments and businesses dealing with the need to generate wealth?
  • Do you think globally operating businesses are unethical if they pay Asian workers rates that would be a fraction of rates paid in America or Europe?

Square raises $100 million at $6 billion valuation

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial analysis, Growth & Valuation, Industry Analysis, Management Issues.

Description: Square raises another $100 million, and it isn’t done yet.

Source: Fortune.com

Date: Sep 12, 2014

Link: http://fortune.com/2014/09/12/square-raises-100-million-at-6-billion-valuation/

Questions for Discussions:

  • Evaluate the risk associated with this company in light of the competitive environment and costs of building a network of users.
  • Do you believe the company can be made into an attractive acquisition target?

Blackstone’s $26 Billion Hilton Deal: The Best Leveraged Buyout Ever

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Economic Analysis, Financial analysis, Financial Planning, Growth & Valuation.

Description: In the early spring of 2009, with the recession deepening, Christopher Nassetta stood alone in an empty house in Arlington, Va., surrounded by moving boxes and trying not to despair.

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: Sep 12, 2014

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-09-11/blackstones-hilton-deal-best-leveraged-buyout-ever#r=nav-f-story

Questions for Discussions:

  • Summarize the financial highlights in this story.
  • Do you agree with assessment that is expressed in the title?