...Define the issues Infosys is facing. 1. Productivity Infosys’ productivity seems to be competitive compared to U.S. companies on a productivity measurement based on operating profit. Nevertheless, the company performs far behind when looking at revenue per employee. This phenomenon occurs to the whole country, causing the wage differential between India and the United States to be quite significant. [pic] [pic] The solution for Infosys’ performance improvement is to move up the “value chain” of software development in order to remain competitive on a global basis. Refer to Exhibit 6, the company plans to move up from software development to project management with higher margin. To implement this strategy successfully, Infosys had to accomplish the following objectives. a) Increase customer penetration b) Increase brand equity c) Increase the amount of fixed price contracts 2. Globalization As a result of different productivity from Indian and American employees, growth of Infosys is not as favorable as of U.S. companies. Infosys is one of those aiming to be more global and is facing constraint causing by productivity of its employees. 3. Hiring and retaining employees Infosys is planning to grow in rapid pace which demands more responsibility from existing employees. The company is facing a challenge to maintain the spirit of its employees while being able to offer and implant the same spirit...
Words: 4330 - Pages: 18
...Journal Of Financial And Strategic Decisions Volume 10 Number 3 Fall 1997 STRATEGIC ASSETS, CAPITAL STRUCTURE, AND FIRM PERFORMANCE Rahul Kochhar* Abstract Possession of strategic assets is a necessary condition for sustained competitive advantage. This condition is, however, not sufficient. Firms require financial management capability to realize the rents present in their strategic assets. The firm-specific nature of strategic assets implies that they be financed primarily through equity; other less specific assets should be financed through debt. Firms are likely to suffer increased costs and decreased performance if they do not adopt suitable governance structures in their transactions with potential suppliers of funds. INTRODUCTION The recently developed “resource-based view of the firm” seeks to focus the attention of researchers and managers alike on the unique and hard-to-copy strategic assets of the firm [7, 61]. Firms earn economic rents from these assets when there is an initial level of asymmetry in resource endowments, there is imperfect mobility of these assets, the market for these assets is imperfect, and competitors cannot easily obtain similar assets [2, 6, 7, 20, 24, 48]. Strategic assets provide the firm with a source of steady stream of rents so that it gains a sustained competitive advantage over its rivals. While researchers in this area have a general agreement over the characteristics of strategic assets (albeit adopting slightly different terminology...
Words: 8274 - Pages: 34
...Licensed to: iChapters User Eugene F. Brigham UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA Joel F. Houston UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s). Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it. Eugene F. Brigham UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA Joel F. Houston UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s). Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it. Licensed to: iChapters User This is an electronic version of the print textbook. Due to electronic rights restrictions, some third party content may be suppressed. Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. The publisher reserves the right to remove content from this title at any time...
Words: 16711 - Pages: 67
...Company Name: MW Petroleum Amoco Corporation was the fifth largest oil company in United States with 28 billion in operating revenues and 1.9 billion in net income. The low oil prices in the 1980s depressed the profitability of many oil companies and most of which responded with downsizing and other cost cutting measures aimed at overhead expenses. Amoco had already sold more than 750 million worth of small properties, which it felt could be more economically operated by companies with low overhead costs. Amoco conducted an extensive study on capital structure and profitability in 1988 and found that 85% of its margin in United States was provided by 11% of its producing fields and rest had disproportionately high overhead costs and repair costs. Based on this a strategy was formed to divest up to 1.2 billion worth of additional properties. As the spinoff could take almost two years it was decided to assemble the properties in a new free standing E&P company called MW Petroleum. In the 1990s MW was up for sale and Apache expressed interest in the deal. Apache, a Denver based operator of small- medium sized properties was an efficient and cost effective company and the business strategy was to “rationalize and reconfigure”. The strategy involved acquiring and controlling producing properties, and quickly turn around the efficiency. Apache was specifically interested in MW as it was a large company that would more than double Apache’s reserves and was comprised of properties...
Words: 1196 - Pages: 5
...-1- Equivalence of the different discounted cash flow valuation methods. Different alternatives for determining the discounted value of tax shields and their implications for the valuation∗ Pablo Fernández PricewaterhouseCoopers Professor of Corporate Finance IESE Business School, University of Navarra Camino del Cerro del Aguila 3. 28023 Madrid, Spain. E-mail: fernandezpa@iese.edu Abstract This paper addresses the valuation of firms by cash flow discounting. The first part shows that the four most commonly used discounted cash flow valuation methods (free cash flow discounted at the WACC; cash flow for equityholders discounted at the required return on the equity flows; capital cash flow discounted at the WACC before taxes; and Adjusted Present Value) always give the same value. The disagreements in the various theories on the valuation of the firm arise from the calculation of the discounted value of tax shields (VTS). The paper shows and analyses 7 different theories on the calculation of the VTS: Modigliani and Miller (1963), Myers (1974), Miller (1977), Miles and Ezzell (1980), Harris and Pringle (1985), Ruback (1995), Damodaran (1994), and Practitioners method. The paper also shows the changes that take place in the valuation formulas when the debt's market value does not match its book value. JEL Classification: G12, G31, M21 October 16, 2008 (First version: July 2, 1999) Another version of this paper may be found in chapters 17, 18, 19 and 21 of the author's...
Words: 11658 - Pages: 47
...2Kashif-Ur-Rehman 1 2 Foundation University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan Iqra University Islamabad Campus, Pakistan Abstract: This study measures the relationship between organizational performance and financial management practices like capital structure decision, dividend policy, investment appraisal techniques, working capital management and financial performance assessment in Pakistani corporate sector. Sample of the study consisted of forty companies operating in Pakistan, related to different sectors and listed at Karachi Stock Exchange. The finance executives and financial analysts of the companies responded to questionnaire that identified through company profiles and references. The questionnaires were self administered to collect the data from respondents. The results show a positive and significant relationship between financial management practices and organizational performance in Pakistani corporate sector. Key words: Corporate sector % Financial management practices % Karachi stock exchange % Organizational performance INTRODUCTION The corporate sector plays a vital role in the economic outlook of any country. Financial literature suggests that capital structure has a greater impact on the economic system [1] and managers should identify the ideal corporate structure for the company [2]....
Words: 3880 - Pages: 16
...FIN 675 - CORPORATE FINANCIAL STRATEGY - 3 CREDITS Instructor Details: Instructor: John Manley, Ph.D. Office: Finance House, 85 Beechmont Drive, New Rochelle, NY Phone: 914 637 2733 Fax: 914 633 2286 Email: jmanley@iona.edu Office Hours: half hour before class and by appointment Prerequisite: MBA 550 – Finance for Managers Course Objective: Upon completion of this course, the student should have an understanding of 1. governance issues of the firm [chap. 1 & lecture] 2. valuation concepts and processes [chap. 3, 5, 8, 9, 29] 3. capital budgeting estimation and decision methods [chap.6, 7] 4. debt, equity and lease financing issues [chap. 14, 20, 21] 5. risk defined and measured in a CAPM setting [chap. 10, 11] 6. variations in the calculation of cost of capital [chap. 13, 18] 7. capital structure and dividend policy decisions [chap. 15, 16, 17, 19] Suggested Other Courses: FIN 644 concerns of short-term financial planning and financing FIN 625 concerns of risk management with derivative securities FIN 620 concerns of multinational financial management Required Text: Ross, S., R. Westerfield, and J. Jaffe, Corporate Finance, current edition, Irwin. Recommended Supplemental Reading: The Wall Street Journal Barron's Value Line Investment Survey Financial Times Major Units of Instruction: Weeks Topics 1 Corporate Governance (extension...
Words: 473 - Pages: 2
...FINC 5000 LESSON NOTES – WEEK 7 CHAPTER 15 Capital Structure Introduction: Capital Structure Theory - Capital Structure refers to the proportion of debt and equity being used to finance a firm’s assets: Assets = Debt + Equity Capital Structure - In this lesson we will examine the notion that capital structure affects the value of the firm. That is, the value of the firm might change with the amount of debt that is present. - This would occur because the cost of financing with debt (AtRd) is normally lower than the cost of financing with equity (Rs), which means the WACC for the firm will be different at different blends of debt and equity financing (which means the value of the firm will be different at different blends of debt and equity financing) You can see the effect in the WACC formula: WACC = Wd(ATRd) + Ws(Rs) (no preferred stock in this example) If AT Rd = 6% and Rs = 12%: At zero debt: WACC = 0(.06) + 1.00(.12) = .12, or 12% At 50/50 debt and equity WACC = .50(.06) + .50(.12) = .09, or 9% - Furthermore, as the amount of debt financing in a firm rises, AtRd and Rs themselves will rise, because of the increasing degree of riskiness present: At zero debt: WACC = 0(.06) + 1.00(.12) = .12, or 12% At 50/50 debt and equity WACC = .50(.08) + .50(.14) = .11...
Words: 1413 - Pages: 6
...11/3/2008 FIN720 | Baitshepi Tebogo| 9302747|MBA | term paper | CAPITAL STRUCTURE AND DIVIDEND POLICY DISCUSSION: How does Standard Chartered Bank Botswana contribute to this discussion? | TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract 3 Historical Background 4 Literature Review 6 Research Objectives 21 Methodology 22 Challenges 23 Methods 24 Data Analysis 25 Conclusion and Recommendations 27 References 28 Appendices 32 ABSTRACT The paper begins by highlighting the historical background of Standard Chartered Bank, and its evolution over the years, and how it eventually got to set up in business in Botswana. After this, the paper delves into the capital structure and dividend policy theories at length. The theories are at first discussed separately, and then meticulously blended as the report progresses. In addition, after a more general discussion, the topic is narrowed down to reflect on the capital structure subsisting under a banking environment. Empirical evidence from Standard Chartered Bank Botswana is then presented to assist future researchers reflect on how it stands against conventional theory. The result of the empirical study shows positive correlation between capital structure and dividend payment; and an even stronger correlation is evident between earnings per share and dividend payment. The paper, however, ends by recommending further studies using larger...
Words: 7155 - Pages: 29
...Part A Fundamental Analysis: Company Overview: Southern skylights Inc. starts its business plan with a new design of prefabricated skylight that could be mass produced and sold profitably at a significant lower cost than custom units. Chris Marcella, an architect and founder of Skylights is planning to construct the capital structure of the company with co-founders. Economy analysis: Investors must make judgments about the financial markets both in the current scenario as well as in the future scenario. Stock prices are one of the leading indicators that typically lead the economy. So we are trying to start by assessing the company’s optimal capital structure that would affect stock prices. In this case, we have seen three types of scenario (Pessimistic, Most likely, Optimistic) have been developed by the financial analyst. From the very beginning the company is concerned about the financing as well as production planning. According to the financial analyst of the company there are two types of production plans (Plan-A & Plan-B) available for the company. On the other hand for initial capital the company is planning for taking debt, issuing share to outside investors ($10 per share). The founders also agree for their initial investments ($0.10 per share). We will analyze how much equity and debt could maximize the firm’s value. We will also analyze what production plan could bring good earnings at tolerable level of risks. Industry analysis: The purpose of industry...
Words: 4116 - Pages: 17
...------------------------------------------------- FI – 516 – WEEK 2 - MINI CASE – ANSWER KEY Assume that you have just been hired as a business manager of PizzaPalace, a regional pizza restaurant chain. The company’s EBIT was $50 million last year and is not expected to grow. The firm is currently financed completely with equity, and it has 10 million shares outstanding. When you took your corporate finance course, your instructor stated that most firms’ owners would be financially better off if the firms used some debt. When you suggested this to your new boss, he encouraged you to pursue the idea. As a first step, assume that you obtained from the firm’s investment banker the following estimated costs of debt for the firm at different capital structures: ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- % Financed With Debt rd ------------------------------------------------- 0% --- ------------------------------------------------- 20 8.0% ------------------------------------------------- 30 8.5 ------------------------------------------------- 40 10.0 ------------------------------------------------- 50 12.0 ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ...
Words: 3189 - Pages: 13
...EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The following report contains a critical analysis of the capital structure strategy employed by Leighton Holdings Ltd during the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) and also an assessment of optimal capital structure Leighton should use to fund future investments. Examination of the changes of the capital structure of the company over pre-GFC and post-GFC period (2004-2010) reveals a range of considerations were deliberated in the financing decision; these include not only the capital market conditions but also the size and urgency of funding required as well as costs and availability of alternate sources of funds. Applying various theoretical hypotheses in conjunction with a comparative study using Peer Firms, the report finds the current debt/equity mix lies in the high range of estimated optimal values. The current structure does compensate for the current volatility by reducing exposure to debt markets but also attempts to efficiently exploit a recent recovery in debt markets. Nonetheless, on the backing of peer analysis, Leighton should reduce its reliance on debt to better position itself against uncertainty and also exploit its advantages in debt markets to refinance debts for longer terms, hence locking in current rates. INTRODUCTION Leighton Holdings Ltd (LEI), the largest construction and contract mining service providers in Australia, has significant exposure both internationally and in a number of diverse markets. It’s core business however, which...
Words: 3260 - Pages: 14
...JB Hi Fi Limited(JBH) | April 17 2011 | The following document is a complete valuation JBH based on DCF and Relative Valuation. All input justifications are provided and a final recommendation is presented. | | Business Summary JB Hi Fi (JBH) has experience unprecedented growth in the past few years in excess of 10% despite the Global Financial Crisis and weak consumer spending environments. JBH is likely to continue its strong growth (although below expectations) through a combination of recovering market conditions, a new era of smart products and with official interest rates likely to be placed on hold by the RBA until the end of 2011. (A) CHOICE OF MODELS ------------------------------------------------- 1. Discount Models Why FCFF Discount Model? DDM would not be a suitable model because JBH paid dividends which are significantly greater than or lower than FCFE to the firm between 2006 and 2010 thereby underestimating or overestimating the value of JBH (dividends less than 80% of FCFE or greater than 110% FCFE) . The debt to equity ratio has been volatile declining from 82.90% in 2003 to 23.73% in 2010 with a spike of 120.96% in 2006. Estimating future debt issues and repayments will prove to be difficult given that changes are expected because JBH has raised their senior debt facility by $105 million expiring by 2014 possibly to finance the roll out of up to 193 new stores by 2014 as well. The recent stock repurchases of $173 million and possible future...
Words: 6977 - Pages: 28
...Kitchenware Questions: 1) Do you believe that Blaine’s current capital structure and payout policies are appropriate? Why or why not? 2) Should Dubinski recommend a large share repurchase to Blaine’s board? What are the primary advantages and disadvantages of such a move? 3) Consider the following share repurchase proposal: Blaine will use $209 million of cash from its balance sheet and $50 million in new debt bearing an interest rate of 6.75% to repurchase 14 million shares at a price of $18.50 per share. How would such a buyback affect Blaine? Consider the impact on, among other things, the family’s ownership interest, and the company’s cost of capital. 4) As a member of Blaine’s controlling family, would you be in favor of the above proposal? Would you be in favor of it as a non-family shareholder? 5) How does the proposal discussed above differ from a special one-time dividend of $4.39 per share? 6) Suppose that Mr. Dubinski has obtained from Blaine’s banker the quotes shown below for default spreads over 10-year Treasury bonds (note that these differ from the more general corporate bond yields shown in Exhibit 4.). What do these quotes imply about BKI’s cost of debt at the various debt levels and credit ratings? Compute BKI’s weighted average cost of capital at each of the indicated debt levels. What do your calculations imply about Blaine’s optimal capital structure? Based on these calculations, how many shares should Blaine purchase...
Words: 253 - Pages: 2
...of a lump sum, an annuity, and a perpetuity. I can also calculate the discount rates along with explaining the differences between simple interest and compound interest. I can now use long term financial techniques and formulate financial forecasting methods. I can also explain and discuss variance and standard deviation as the measures of risk for both securities and portfolios. During this course I have learned to explain diversification can reduce risk for companies. I can explain how beta is used as a measure for risks and how to explain an idea of efficient portfolios, and explaining the capital asset pricing model. I can also calculate asset risk and evaluate the long term financial techniques that we use in finance and analyze the personal brand's career effectiveness. xplain other methods of project evaluation along with their shortfalls. Then I can explain how to make capital budgeting decisions with the limited resources that some companies have. I think by understand how...
Words: 671 - Pages: 3
