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Arvind Mills incurred a loss of Rs.316 crores in the year 1999-2000 after a period of declining profits in spite of increasing sales. In January 2001 lenders to Arvind Mills received the Information Memorandum on Debt Restructuring which offered several alternative schemes. They had to decide whether they should accept the proposal and if they accept which specific scheme they should choose.

Macro-Economics.

Undergraduate and MBA.

The COVID 19 pandemic-related restrictions devastated South Africa’s economy in 2020 and although the restrictions were generally less damaging than in 2020, the government had to budget for vaccinations and rebuild the economy. Public service unions had just announced that they were demanding an increase of 4% above inflation for their members and that they were preparing for a strike. They were bitter about the fact that the South African Government had withdrawn from the last year of a three-year wage agreement in February 2020 and their members had not received an increase for the two years. These demands and Finance Minister Mboweni’s response to them had to consider the structural and cyclical impact on the fiscus and economy.

The learning outcomes are as follows: understand the general objectives of fiscal policy and stakeholders’ interests; understand the tradeoffs in fiscal policy and the implications of taking a position; and make recommendations based on reasoned judgements about those recommendations.

Undergraduate and MBA level courses on Macro Economics.

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

CSS 10: Public Sector Management.

The learning outcomes are as follows: to be able to evaluate early warning signs/red flags through financial statement analysis; to be able to analyse company’s credit or debt servicing using a thorough process of fundamental analysis; to be able to analyse and decode the financial health of an organization through different financial tools applicable according to the industry such as default probability and financial ratios; and to be able to synthesize credit rating framework and role of credit rating agencies in the bond market.

In late January 2019, the allegation by an online investigative portal about the misuse of the Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Ltd. (DHFL) money by its promoter for buying asset abroad was the start of the fall of the non-banking finance company giant. This was followed by a series of downgrade by credit rating agencies on its debt and eventual default on its interest payment on 4 June 2019 which upset multiple portfolio investors and the regulators. Investors became sceptical about the regulator’s policy and inefficiencies of credit rating agencies in predicting the default along with asset management houses which were expected to guard investors’ interest. One investor, Shikhar Pachori, decided to scrutinize all hidden information on DHFL to investigate if DHFL crisis arises because of unknown factors which was not in control of management or if it a clear negligence on the part of all involved parties. The case tries to emphasize the aspect of Asset-Liability Management and process of credit analysis while looking for red flags which aids in identifying any stress in company’s financial or any potential default by company.

This case can be used in the advance level of post-graduate finance course or MBA program for elective/specialization courses such as Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Institutions and Market and Fixed Income.

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

CSS 1: Accounting and Finance

Students are exposed to debt and equity financing; analysis of company affairs using selected financial statement information; use of ratios in financial analysis; the impact of adequate financing on company performance; and trade-offs companies must make in their day-to-day operations.

Jetcon Corporation’s business model involved the importation of pre-owned cars from Japan for re-sale in Jamaica. It was a fiercely competitive business as there were over 100 companies involved in this sector. There was also a vibrant new-car sector. Jetcon focused on importing mid to low price Japanese pre-owned models, which were already common on Jamaican roads, and which would be affordable to the larger segment of buyers. Like most small businesses, it experienced difficulty raising financing in the amounts and cost that is required and this contributed to its decision to raise equity capital through an initial public offer. It was the first used-car dealer to list on the Jamaica Stock Exchange.

This case is suitable for final-year undergraduate students in finance. By that time they should already have been exposed to debt, equity and stock markets. It helps students to explore some of the issues involved in financing a company’s operations.

Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.

In February 2015, Suzlon had just completed its financial and asset restructuring, following financial default after rapid growth through debt financed acquisitions in the financial boom ending in 2008. The restructuring resulted in a significant decrease in the promoter's equity stake. Suzlon now has to decide how to respond to an offer by the DilipSanghvi Group, promoters of Sun Pharma, to acquire a large equity stake in Suzlon for Rs. 1,800 crore. If Suzlon were to accept the offer then both the existing promoters and the DilipSanghvigroup would have the same stake of about 22% each. The case will help students examine the need to align financing and business strategy on the same plane. It will also help them understand details about restructuring of financial and business strategy in the face of financial distress.

Fixed Income markets, Financial Markets and Institutions.

This case can be used in a postgraduate finance course such as an MBA and executive program for courses such as Fixed Income Markets and Financial Markets and Institutions.

In late August 2015, the sudden downgrade and eventual default of Amtek AUTO Ltd (Amtek) on its debentures upset mutual fund investors and regulators. Questions were raised about the credit rating agencies and their lack of timely action as well as about the independent credit analysis followed by fund houses to protect the interests of investors. One such investor, Suresh Nair, decided to gather all possible available information on Amtek to determine whether it was sheer negligence on the part of all parties involved or if Amtek was in fact in a situation of sudden distress. The case seeks to highlight the credit analysis process, while looking out for red flags to identify potential default or financial stress in a company.

To understand the credit analysis process through a fundamental analysis process. To analyze and interpret the financial position of the company through various financial ratios. Identifying “red flags” while evaluating a potential credit that pose as “risks” to credit assessment. Understanding the role and relevance of credit rating agencies in the bond market.

Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

CSS 1: Accounting and Finance

The case provides an opportunity to the students to learn some of the analytical processes in making a credit decision, including interpretation of financial ratios for credit analysis, forecasting a stress scenario, analysing cash flow adequacy, assessment of financial flexibility and, finally, recommend a credit decision.

The case discusses the analytical challenges facing a bank credit officer while assessing the credit quality of Kwality Ltd., an India-based dairy product manufacturer. Kwality Ltd. had undertaken a significant capacity expansion and business transformation to strengthen its market position in value-added dairy products business and improve its profit margins. The capacity expansion had recently been completed and the management, credit rating agency, equity analysts and investors appear to be optimistic regarding the company’s prospects. However, the capital investment had been almost entirely debt-funded and large long-term debt repayments would have become due shortly. The company had also built up large trade receivables. The banker had to assess if Kwality would be in a position to repay its debt and should his bank increase working capital disbursement to the company.

Complexity: Academic level. Applicability: MBA, Executive MBA.

Teaching Notes are available for educators only.

CSS1: Accounting and Finance.

Jonathan Miller appeared in September 2009 on “Shark Tank,” the ABC television reality show featuring entrepreneurs versus angel investors in a discussion of the business value proposition and to win a negotiation for an investment from one of the 4 Sharks. The company he founded, Element Bars, a maker of custom energy bars, needed investment capital. Prior to appearing on the show, Miller had considered several financing options available to entrepreneurs: loans and other debt capital and equity capital, each of which are evaluated in the case. Miller had a good feel for the different types of capital to use for this new venture, having started several ventures in the past and winning the Kellogg School of Management business plan competition, the Kellogg Cup, in 2008. The case includes Miller's decision to forego the investment offer he won on television, instead he pursued lower cost of capital equity.

Students several aspects of raising capital, including raising equity and debt capital. Students need to learn to know as much or more about fundraising as the professionals who provide the capital-in fact, entrepreneurs have to understand the interaction among combinations of capital within their enterprise-whether debt and/or equity in different combinations. Often, teaching about equity relates to teaching how venture capital investment professionals look at deploying funds. Receiving equity into the entrepreneurial firm has much different attributes and issues. Teaching about debt often occurs at much higher volumes in typical MBA courses; this entrepreneurial debt must occur at a much smaller dollar value. This protagonist, Jonathan Miller, has exceptional preparation habits, which teaches students the value of the skills to prepare themselves and their businesses for investment.

This case examines issues surrounding the choice of financing arrangements for the acquisition of Radiologix in July 2006. The case follows Mark Stolper, the CFO of RadNet, as he considers how to raise the $363 million in funds necessary to finance the acquisition. When completed, the combined firms will be the largest private diagnostic-imaging provider in the United States. When Stolper joined RadNet in 2003, he confronted a company with “too much debt, and the wrong kind of debt.” His goal is to finance the acquisition in a way that further enhances the financial strength and operating flexibility of the company. Given the large size of funding required, the firm is unlikely to be able to fund the entire transaction with first-lien or bank debt. His financial advisors differ in their recommendations for how to raise the remaining funds—one suggests using second-lien debt, and the other, high-yield debt.

The purpose of the case is to familiarize students with frequently encountered types of debt financing that are used to finance mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions. The case provides information on the distinctions among first-lien, second-lien, and high-yield debt in relation to their price, availability, flexibility of covenants, repayment ease, and composition of likely investors. The case is designed for use in courses that cover corporate financing, M&As, and debt financing.

On completion of analysis of this case, students would be able to: appreciate the context of a typical delisting decision of a public company that is part of a large business group; analyze the complex nature of the relationships among the promoter shareholders, minority shareholders, government-controlled financial institutions, independent directors and executive directors in such a situation of transfer of value; and develop the best possible course of action for the promoters, independent directors and public shareholders, keeping into consideration the principles of corporate governance and the objective of shareholders’ wealth maximization.

The case presents an opportunity to examine the corporate restructuring and governance issues associated with the delisting attempt of India-based mining company Vedanta Ltd., by its London-based parent company, Vedanta Resources. The case focuses on the conflict of interests between the promoters of a business group and the public shareholders of a subsidiary, and the pivotal roles independent directors and proxy advisory firms play in supporting the public shareholders.

The case can be discussed in a graduate-level corporate strategy course that deals with restructuring and governance issues in companies, especially large group companies. It can also be discussed in a course of corporate governance where students have the opportunity to understand the potential conflict between promoters and other shareholders, and the moderating roles the independent directors and institutions may play in resolving such conflicts.

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

CSS 11: Strategy.