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  • May 2004 (Revised April 2006)
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Ultra: The Quest for Leadership (A)

By: Dwight B. Crane and Ricardo Reisen de Pinho
  • Format:Print
  • | Pages:29
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Abstract

Ultra is one of a small group of competing Brazilian petrochemical companies, each of which buys raw material and is a minority owner of Copene, a "cracking" company that provides ethylene and other materials. Because of an industry restructuring, an auction of shares is being held that would provide a controlling position in Copene if Ultra was successful with its bid. Students must decide what Ultra should bid for this controlling position. The case provides cash flows and cost of capital information for estimating the present value of the company. Estimating the amount to bid is complicated by several factors. First, one of the competing owners is a likely bidder in the auction. Thus, if Copene did not win, it would end up with an illiquid minority position in a key supplier that was owned by a competitor. In addition, the valuation must take into account the uncertain Brazilian economic environment. Finally, the CEO and other senior decision makers have an ownership stake in Ultra, so they have a significant incentive not to overpay and destroy shareholder value.

Keywords

Capital; Capital Budgeting; Investment; Risk and Uncertainty; Risk Management; Industry Structures; Cash Flow; Cost of Capital; Valuation; Bids and Bidding; Economy; Ownership Stake; Chemical Industry; Brazil

Citation

Crane, Dwight B., and Ricardo Reisen de Pinho. "Ultra: The Quest for Leadership (A)." Harvard Business School Case 204-146, May 2004. (Revised April 2006.)
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About The Author

Dwight B. Crane

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Related Work

    • May 2004 (Revised August 2004)
    • Faculty Research

    Ultra: The Quest for Leadership (B)

    By: Dwight B. Crane and Ricardo Reisen de Pinho
    • May 2004 (Revised August 2004)
    • Faculty Research

    Ultra: The Quest for Leadership (C)

    By: Dwight B. Crane and Ricardo Reisen de Pinho
Related Work
  • Ultra: The Quest for Leadership (B) By: Dwight B. Crane and Ricardo Reisen de Pinho
  • Ultra: The Quest for Leadership (C) By: Dwight B. Crane and Ricardo Reisen de Pinho
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