Description: How Brooklinen Went From Kickstarter to $20M in Sales Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: May 23, 2017 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2017-05-23/brooklinen-s-rise-from-kickstarter-to-20m-in-sales-video Questions for discussion: Describe the financing strategies used by management from start-up to the current level of sales. Do you think the company made any errors in judgement or should consider other methods to… Read more »
Posts Tagged: M&A
PrivateBancorp Holders Approve $4.9 Billion CIBC Takeover
Description: PrivateBancorp Inc. investors approved a $4.9 billion takeover by Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce after the Toronto-based lender sweetened its deal twice to win over shareholders. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: May 12, 2017 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-05-12/privatebancorp-holders-approve-4-9-billion-cibc-takeover-offer Questions for discussion: Why is this a good deal for both parties? What are the risks going forward?
Buffett’s $86 Billion Cash Pile Has Some Dreaming of a Huge Deal
Description: Warren Buffett’s career is filled with splashy takeovers that cost billions — as in $10 billion or $20 billion or $30 billion. But $100 billion? Even for Buffett, that’d be an awful lot of money. Yet, that is now the buzz among some investors, analysts and Buffett fans. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: May 01, 2017… Read more »
Ralph Lauren Is Closing Stores and Cutting Jobs
Description: Including its flagship store in NYC. Source: Fortune.ca- video report Date: Apr 05 , 2017 Link: http://for.tn/2nYLziQ Questions for Discussions: What does this report say to investors? Do you think the financial adjustments are sufficient to allow the firm to recover and grow again one day? Would a merger make sense?
Apple’s Journey to Becoming the First Trillion Dollar Company
Description: It has some work to do. Source: Fortune.ca- video report Date: March 30 , 2017 Link: http://for.tn/2odQddI Questions for Discussions: What are the two ways Apple can continue to grow, according to the report? Who would you merge Apple with in order to continue the current growth rate? Do you think the firm can… Read more »
How A College Drop-out Built An $18m Store-Display Business, Lost Everything, And Started Over
Description: With no training in art or design, in 1979 Paul Ruitenberg started a business that moved from decorating store windows to crafting interior displays for thousands of supermarkets, including Giant Foods and A&P. Source: Forbes.com Date: Mar 17, 2017 Link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestreptalks/2017/03/16/how-a-college-drop-out-built-an-18m-store-display-business-lost-everything-and-started-over/#2dd066e61e4c Questions for discussion: Explain how this company was able to grow without much… Read more »
Intel Buys Mobileye for $15.3 Billion in Bid to Lead Autonomous Car Market
Description: In the world of driverless cars, household names like Google and Uber have raced ahead of rivals, building test vehicles and starting trials on city streets. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Mar 13, 2017 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/13/business/dealbook/intel-mobileye-autonomous-cars-israel.html?ref=business&_r=0 Questions for discussion: How is does this deal help both firms go forward? Do you think this technology is the… Read more »
Number of distressed U.S. retailers at highest level since Great Recession
Description: Moody’s says 14% of its retail names are sitting at the lowest level of the credit-rating spectrum Source: MarketWatch.com Date: Feb 27, 2017 Link: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/number-of-distressed-us-retailers-at-highest-level-since-great-recession-2017-02-27?siteid=nwtwk Questions for Discussions: Summarize the financial analysis of the industry as presented in the report. How should investors evaluate these stocks today? Do you foresee opportunities for mergers or… Read more »
Burger King Agrees To Pay $1.8 Billion To Acquire Popeyes
Description: Popeyes’s stock jumped 19% with the announcement. Source: Fortune.com – video report Date: Feb 21, 2017 Link: http://for.tn/2m8wGHU Questions for Discussions: Explain the jump in Popeyes’ stock value. Do you think this acquisition makes sense financially and otherwise?
Warren Buffett Has a Paper Gain of $13.5 Billion From His Bank of America Bet
Description: They don’t call him the Oracle of Omaha for nothing. Warren Buffett’s $5 billion bet on then-struggling Bank of America in 2011 has resulted in around $13.5 billion in gains for Berkshire Hathaway, the investment company he heads. Source: Fortune.com Date: Feb 24, 2017 Link: http://fortune.com/2017/02/24/warren-buffett-bank-of-america/?iid=leftrail Questions for Discussions: What was Buffett’s bet? Do… Read more »
