Description:  Best Buy Co Chief Executive Brian Dunn has left the world’s largest consumer electronics chain, which has struggled against stepped-up competition from internet retailers and discounters. Source: Reuters.com Date: 04/10/2012 Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/10/bestbuy-idUSL2E8FA3ZK20120410 Questions for discussion: Is there a solution to this shopping trend working against Best Buy? Would a merger or acquisition make sense at… Read more »
Posts Tagged: M&A
Instagram’s Systrom Builds $1 Billion Application in Two Years
Description:Â Â Silicon Valley is one of the few places where a 27-year-old Web entrepreneur can parlay a photo-sharing application with no known source of revenue into $1 billion — in two years. Source:Â Bloomberg.com Date: 04/10/2012 Link:Â http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-10/instagram-s-systrom-builds-1-billion-application-in-two-years.html Questions for discussion: Do you think the background experience of these two entrepreneurs had anything to do… Read more »
Avon rejects $10 billion Coty offer
Description:Â Â Beauty company Coty Inc. has submitted an offer to buy Avon Products, Inc. for about $10 billion on Monday, but Avon rejected the offer. Source:Â CNNMoney.com Date: 04/02/2012 Link:Â http://money.cnn.com/2012/04/02/news/companies/avon-coty/index.htm?iid=HP_River Questions for discussion: What do you think of the offer? How would you evaluate the stock value?
Cisco makes $5 billion bet on video
Description: Despite calls from some investors to backtrack from the consumer business, Cisco has bought NDS Ltd., a software maker for set top boxes. Source: CNNMoney.com – video report Date: 03/15/2012 Link: http://money.cnn.com/video/markets/2012/03/15/mkts-bz-cisco-nds.cnnmoney/ Questions for discussion: Do you think this is a good move by Cisco? Do you think investors will be happy with the… Read more »
End of Days for Independent Pharmacies?
Description:Â Â When patients arrive at Woods Pharmacy & Prescription in Mountain View, Ark., pharmacist Dana Woods greets them by name. In a town of 3,000, where Woods has owned the $2 million pharmacy and soda fountain for 26 years, he usually also knows their parents, their children, and their medications. Source:Â Businessweek.com Date: 03/08/2012 Link:Â … Read more »
Diamond Foods Debacle May Crack Open a MAC
Description:Â A rare event occurred late on Wednesday in the deal world. Diamond Foods, the seller of Emerald snack nuts, announced it would restate its financial results for two years. It also placed its chief executive, Michael J. Mendes, and its chief financial officer, Steven M. Neil, on administrative leave. Source: NYTimes.com Date: 02/09/2012 Link:Â … Read more »
Google Backing Israel Entrepreneurs Amid Funding Gap
Description: The Google Inc. (GOOG) executive with his bright yellow vest was impossible to miss in the middle of the Israeli startup owners seeking cash in a rusty boathouse at Tel Aviv’s Jaffa port. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 12/29/2011 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-29/google-backs-israeli-startups-as-local-financing-hits-12-year-low-tech.html Questions for discussion: Describe the way in which venture capital investors find Israeli start-ups. What… Read more »
Yahoo’s big decision should be easy
Description: Yahoo may have a chance to sell its entire business, rather than just a piece. It should accept. Source: Fortune.com Date: 12/01/2011 Link: http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2011/12/02/yahoos-decision-total-or-partial-takeover/?iid=SF_F_River Questions for discussion: Summarize the arguments presented about various possible scenarios for Yahoo. What would your advice be to the firm’s directors?
Groupon Initial Offer May Value Founder Lefkofsky’s Stake at $2.3 Billion
Description:Â Groupon Inc. founder and Chairman Eric Lefkofsky may parlay a $1 million check to co-founder Andrew Mason four years ago into a stake worth $2.3 billion when the daily-deal site sells shares to the public next month. Source:Â Bloomberg.com Date: 10/22/2011 Link:Â Â http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-21/groupon-ipo-may-value-stake-held-by-chairman-lefkofsky-s-at-2-3-billion.html Questions for discussion: Given the information in this report, how should… Read more »
Kodak Weighs Options to Clear Path for Sale
Description: Eastman Kodak Co. (EK), the unprofitable 131-year-old camera maker, is weighing options including a bankruptcy filing because of concerns raised by possible buyers of its patent portfolio, said three people with direct knowledge of the process. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: 10/01/2011 Link:Â http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-30/kodak-said-to-weigh-bankruptcy-filing.html Questions for discussion: Summarize the highlights of this report. What would you… Read more »