General Motors, Considering Exiting Europe, Talks About Selling Opel

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Growth & Valuation, Personal Finance.

Description: FRANKFURT — General Motors floated the possibility on Tuesday that it could exit the large but troubled European market by selling its chronically unprofitable Opel unit to the French maker of Peugeot and Citroën cars. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Feb 14, 2017 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/14/business/dealbook/general-motors-peugeot-opel.html?ref=business Questions for Discussions: Summarize the reasons for GM’s thinking. Do you… Read more »

OpenText has been on a US$3 billion buying spree, and its CEO says it’s not done yet

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

Description: Canada’s largest software company expects to get even bigger. Source: FinancialPost.ca Date: Feb 09, 2017 Link: http://business.financialpost.com/fp-tech-desk/opentext-has-been-on-a-us3-billion-buying-spree-and-its-ceo-says-its-not-done-yet?__lsa=e4f5-f69a Questions for discussion: What is OpenText’s strategy for growth? Have investors done well with this stock? What advice would you give investors today?

For Non-Tech Companies, if You Can’t Build It, Buy a Start-Up

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

Description: Companies announced $3.6 trillion worth of deals in 2016, a decline of 16.6 percent from the previous year. Still, it was the third biggest year on record for mergers and acquisitions globally, after 2015 and 2007. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Jan 02, 2017 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/02/business/dealbook/mergers.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FInitial%20Public%20Offerings&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=collection Questions for discussion: What does the report say about M&A?… Read more »

Six Reasons Tesla Wants to Take Over Your House

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

Description: Elon Musk is about to unveil a home solar system that could transform electricity. Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: Oct 28, 2016 Link: http://bloom.bg/2dLWLHq Questions for Discussions: What are the concerns about the merger, as expressed in the video clip? Do you think this deal is good for shareholders?

AT&T Mulls Reinvention for Web With $86 Billion Time Warner Deal

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

Description: Time Warner Inc. and AT&T Inc. have survived the evolution of color TV and cable over the decades. Now, they’re contemplating a merger to adapt to the latest technological shifts: smartphones and streaming. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Oct 22, 2016 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-22/at-t-mulls-reinvention-for-web-with-86-billion-time-warner-deal Questions for Discussions: What is the rational behind the merger? Do you think… Read more »

Twitter Is Said to Be Discussing a Possible Takeover

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

Description: Twitter has long positioned itself as a global town square where anyone — celebrities, politicians, athletes, and you and me — can chat in 140-character messages and find out about whatever is happening in the moment. Source: NYTimes.com and CNBC.com – video report Date: Sep 24, 2016 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/24/business/dealbook/twitter-sale.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FMergers%2C%20Acquisitions%20and%20Divestitures&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=3&pgtype=collection Questions for discussion: What does… Read more »

Walmart Inks $3.3 Billion Deal For Jet.com In Biggest U.S. E-commerce Acquisition Ever

Posted by & filed under Company Analysis, Financial Planning, Industry Analysis.

Description: Walmart agreed to purchase Jet.com for $3.3 billion, papering what would be the most expensive U.S. e-commerce acquisition of all time. Source: Forbes.com Date: Aug 08, 2016 Link: http://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2016/08/08/walmart-inks-3-billion-deal-for-jet-com-in-biggest-u-s-e-commerce-deal-ever/#1d29af9b94eb Questions for discussion: Do you think the acquisition makes sense from a financial point of view? How would Walmart’s results be expected to change going… Read more »

A Breakup Fairy Tale for Disney

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

Description: If the Magic Kingdom wants to find its next ruler, it might help if it weren’t quite so sprawling. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: May 11, 2016 Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/gadfly/articles/2016-05-11/why-disney-should-split-off-espn-abc Questions for Discussions: What are the concerns facing Disney, according to the report? What are some possible scenarios?