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• Case | HBS Case Collection | 2013 (Revised from original 2012 version)

  TerraPower

  William A. Sahlman, Ramana Nanda, Joseph B. Lassiter III and James McQuade

  John Gilleland, CEO of TerraPower, returned to his office after a lengthy meeting with potential investors. It was October 2012, and TerraPower was in the process of raising a $200M Series C round to finance the ongoing development of its next-generation nuclear reactor. Though early in the fundraising process, Gilleland noted that this most recent conversation was similar to conversations with other interested cleantech growth equity investors. The conversations circled around a common theme: "This is the biggest idea that's ever been presented at our partners' meeting. We love what you're doing, but it's not right for us as an investment." Outside of raising money from typical growth equity and infrastructure funds, Gilleland could partner with a government and/or form a joint venture with an existing nuclear power player. Reliance Industries as an investor in TerraPower could provide an entry point into the fast growing Indian market. At the same time, Gilleland and Gates had talked with China National Nuclear Corp. about a possible cooperation with TerraPower. Whom should Gilleland call next?

  Keywords: nuclear power; entrepreneurial finance; venture capital; Financing and Loans; Energy Industry; United States; China; India;

  Citation:

  Sahlman, William A., Ramana Nanda, Joseph B. Lassiter III, and James McQuade. "TerraPower." Harvard Business School Case 813-108, April 2013. (Revised from original November 2012 version.)

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• Background Note | HBS Case Collection | 2013 (Revised from original 1987 version)

  Note on Free Cash Flow Valuation Models

  William A. Sahlman

  Explores some of the issues involved in valuing cash flow streams. A simple model is presented that reveals the effect on value of changing assumptions about the appropriate discount rate, the level of profitability, the growth rate of sales, the asset intensity ratio, and the leverage ratio. Helps students address some of the following issues: 1) What is the definition of cash flow? 2) What effects do changes in the discount rate have on valuation? 3) How sensitive is value to changes in assumptions about the underlying characteristics of the cash flow stream? 4) How does growth affect value? 5) How does the use of leverage affect value? 6) What are price-to-earnings ratios? and 7) What factors affect price-to-earnings ratios?

  Keywords: Cash Flow; Valuation;

  Citation:

  Sahlman, William A. "Note on Free Cash Flow Valuation Models." Harvard Business School Background Note 288-023, January 2013. (Revised from original October 1987 version.)

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• Case | HBS Case Collection | 2012 (Revised from original 2012 version)

  Foro Energy (A)

  Joseph B. Lassiter III, William A. Sahlman, James McQuade, Joseph B. Lassiter III, William A. Sahlman and James McQuade

  Foro Energy developed proprietary and patent-pending fiber-laser technologies that could disrupt existing processes and services for the exploration and production of oil and natural gas. These breakthrough laser technologies were protected by a strong intellectual property (IP) portfolio, which provided Foro with the flexibility to pursue a number of different business models. The market potential for oilfield applications was large, as global spending in the O&G E&P industry was expected to approach $600 billion in 2012.

  Keywords: Disruptive Innovation; Growth and Development Strategy; Entrepreneurship; United States;

  Citation:

  Lassiter, Joseph B., William A. Sahlman, and James McQuade. "Foro Energy (A)." Harvard Business School Case 812-136, August 2012. (Revised from original March 2012 version.)

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