Business Analysis and Valuation: Using Financial Statements, Text and Cases

Krishna G. Palepu; Paul M. Healy

Book | 2013

Business Analysis and Valuation: Using Financial Statements, Text and Cases

Abstract

This book provides a framework for business analysis and has been used by business schools throughout the world. It provides a foundation for analysis using four key steps: 1) Strategy analysis: Identifying a firm's strategy and understanding sources of its competitive advantage; 2) Accounting analysis: Assessing how a firm's financial statements reflect its economics and determining whether any adjustments are needed. This new edition (5th ed) specifically covers measurement questions for firms reporting under US GAAP and International Standards; 3) Financial analysis: Evaluating a firm's performance using ratios and cash flow data; and 4) Forecasting future performance and estimating its value. These steps are applied to a variety of business contexts, including securities analysis, credit analysis, merger & acquisition decisions, and governance. The book includes a broad range of classic and new HBS cases to illustrate the concepts and applications.

Keywords: Governance; Debt Securities; Valuation; Performance Evaluation; Financial Statements; Credit; Business Ventures; Strategy; Financial Condition; Mergers and Acquisitions; Forecasting and Prediction;

Format: Print

ISBN: 1111972281

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Citation:

Palepu, Krishna G., and Paul M. Healy. Business Analysis and Valuation: Using Financial Statements, Text and Cases. 5th ed. Cengage Learning, 2013.

Tesla’s board of directors proposed an unusual compensation plan for the company’s CEO Elon Musk. The plan payouts were entirely contingent on achieving very ambitious market value, sales, and EBIT targets over the next ten years. If all the targets were achieved, Tesla would be one of the most valuable companies in the world, and Musk would receive the highest compensation of any CEO in US corporate history. If the targets were not achieved, Musk would receive nothing. Proxy advisors (ISS and Glass Lewis) expressed serious reservations about the plan and urged shareholders to vote against it. Should shareholders approve or reject the plan?

This case centers around the Air Products' hostile takeover attempt of Airgas in 2010. Air Products argued that its offer of a 38% premium is generous given Airgas' poor performance, which Air Products attributed to underperforming and entrenched managers at Airgas. On the other hand, Airgas' management argued that the company's recent struggles are cyclical and that Air Products' offer grossly undervalues Airgas' long-run potential. How might Airgas' management credibly communicate its conviction to shareholders? Should Airgas shareholders side with Air Products and accept a certain short term return, or should they side with Airgas' management and accept an uncertain but potentially higher long-term outcome? How should the Airgas board balance its responsibilities to short-term versus long-term shareholders?

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Business Analysis and Valuation: Using Financial Statements, Text and Cases

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