Kellogg School of Management

Northwestern University
FINC 448: M&As, LBOs and Corporate Restructuring
Section 80
Winter 2018

José María Liberti

COURSE SYLLABUS
[Draft Version – Similar to Spring 2017]

A. Aims and Objectives

The course involves analysis of corporate restructuring strategies including mergers,
acquisitions, and takeovers, financial re-capitalization, leveraged buyouts, management buyouts,
going private, and reorganization under bankruptcy. The course integrates the corporate
governance and agency dimensions, financial and strategic management aspects, and legal and
accounting considerations into a unified framework for investigating issues such as, pre-merger
planning, fact-finding, accounting and tax implications, anti-trust problems, post-merger
integration, and short-term and long- term shareholder wealth consequences of financial and
organizational restructuring transactions. The course combines applied theoretical approach with
the case study method through detailed analysis of domestic and global restructuring cases. The
focus will be on fundamental concepts of valuation and analytical tools of corporate finance
related to restructuring.

The aim of the course is for the students to understand the motivations, decision processes,
transaction execution, and valuation consequences of financial, business, and organizational
restructuring by corporate units. The course facilitates developing ability among students to
plan, evaluate, and execute corporate restructuring strategies using financial modeling and
quantitative techniques. In addition, objective of this course is to enable students to appreciate
the fundamental issues involved in the structure and functioning of market for corporate control
within the framework of finance theory. The course is designed so as to create an interface or
link between the academic and the practitioner perspectives of various dimensions of corporate
restructuring process.

Who Should Take This Course? The course is aimed at students planning to work for
investment banks and corporate advisory firms involved in business restructuring and
turnarounds, mergers and acquisitions, and financial reorganization transactions. The course
offers a comprehensive strategic perspective, a framework of conceptual and theoretical
paradigms, and applied tools for deal design and corporate valuations that may facilitate students
establishing their own consulting and advisory services.

At the completion of the course the students will have developed a capability to accomplish the
following:
 Master the language and processes of M&A. Basic knowledge about the field of M&A is the
 foundation for effective work in a wide range of fields including corporate development,
investment banking, consulting, and advising senior management. Class case discussions, the
books and articles, the lecture slides and the practical experience of the instructor will help
you master the basics.
 Identify M&A issues worth of attention. For example, in today’s environment Corporate
Restructuring, Corporate Reorganization, Private Equity and Leveraged Buyouts seem to be
the most relevant. The next stage of professional competency is to develop an instinct for the
problems and opportunities in an M&A situation. This course highlights elements in the
structure and process of every M&A transaction that deserve professional scrutiny.
 Analyze both M&As and LBOs transactions rigorously. Valuation analysis is the core skill in
M&A and is supplemented by analyses of strategy, dilution, financing, and risk management.
The course will exercise analytics in these areas.
 Develop a concept and design deals. All transactions begin with the spark of an idea.
Translating that idea into a concrete proposal takes hard work. Doing so teaches a lot about
the drivers of M&A success, where value will be coming from (the asset side or liability side
of the balance sheet) and the elements of deal design. Designing a transaction requires skills
of analysis and negotiation. We will survey a number of analytic tools, and then exercise
them. Solving and modeling each case will teach you a great deal about the design process.
We will survey some strategic frameworks useful in M&A, and the steps necessary to
translate a concept into a solid proposal.
 Form an opinion about a proposed deal. The key aim of the course is to create an ability to
think critically, rather than becoming specialists of one particular area of M&A and Private
Equity. Training in M&A should settle for nothing less. We will review a framework about
deal design, and apply it to several cases.

The subject is complex, competition in M&A and Private Equity is intense, and the
consequences of error are large. If you tackle this course earnestly, you will learn a great deal. At
the same time, your learning will be deeper and more effective if you engage the course in the
spirit of invention and curiosity rather than for the sake of a “grade.” The course will argue that
deal design is fundamentally a creative effort. The best creativity happens in an environment that
is both demanding and fun. I will intend and do my best to promote this; you should too.

B. Learning Outcomes
The learning goals of the course are given by the following:
 Develop an all-inclusive analytical framework for planning corporate restructuring
transactions:
o Explain the structure and functioning of market for corporate control.
o Identify major market forces generated and corporate specific opportunities for
creating value through corporate restructuring transactions.
o Evaluate the objectives and motivations of various stakeholders: shareholders,
managers, bondholders and employees among others behind restructuring activities.
o To be able to utilize forecasting tools to quantify future cash flows and capital needs.

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 o To be able to identify and estimate value of operational, financial, and managerial
synergies and incorporate those into the deal value calculations.
o Demonstrate knowledge of deal negotiation process and deal documentation.
o From an investor perspective, be able to negotiate with other players pre- and post-
deal structuring.
o Identify and resolve conflicting issues in the target/acquirer relationship.
o Understand how corporate restructuring creates value; when it makes sense for a
company to restructure; and what kind of most restructuring is most appropriate for
dealing with a given problem.
o To be able to identify what issues and challenges managers have to deal with when
implementing a restructuring and to ensure the goals of the restructuring strategies are
achieved.
 Explain various legal and regulatory provisions as they impact the choice and performance
implication of various restructuring transactions.
o Evaluate available alternatives- deal structures and terms- for various corporate
combinations to achieve positive value consequences given the US and global
regulatory parameters.
o Analyze implications of tax, fair trade practices, and securities laws for deal design
and implementation.
o Be able to design a “Win-Win” deal for both the parties involved in a corporate
combination transaction.
 Be able to conduct valuation of the mergers, acquisitions, and corporate divestitures.
o Use due diligence process to identify and strategically evaluate a target or an
acquisition offer.
o Apply various valuation methodologies to quantify the financial impact of
restructuring transactions.
o As an acquirer, conduct comparative valuation of various targets to arrive at different
offer price scenarios.
o From a target perspective, apply well accepted finance concepts like risk-return trade-
off, cost of capital, capital structure, equity risk premium, and CAPM framework to
evaluate acquisition proposals.
o Quantify value implications of various financing alternatives and payment methods.
 Analyze various corporate governance structures and agency conflicts and their implications
for corporate investors and hence market value of the firm in question.
o Identify variety of exit modes for incumbent managements and boards of target firms.
o As an acquirer, design various takeover tactics in a manner so as to minimize value
loss to either the target, or the acquirer or the combined post-merger entity. Be able to
minimize adverse impact of takeover defense provision in the target firm.
o As a target, evaluate and redesign existing takeover defense mechanisms to maximize
positive value consequences of a particular deal.

 Design and implement going private/ leveraged buyout transactions including being able to
identify alternative sources of capital and planning post LBO reorganization plan.
o Learn how to calculate IRR to sponsors.

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 o Using the LBO model as a backward induction tool, determine the maximum amount
of equity that a Private Equity firm may be willing to offer in an LBO transaction.
 Explain various factors leading to financial distress and be able to evaluate alternatives
available to restore to financial health.
o Evaluate pros and cons of Chapter 11 (Reorganization) and Chapter 7 (Liquidation)
restructuring options and their wealth consequences for varios stakeholders in the
firm.
o Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of “363 sales” in fraud-driven
bankruptcies.
o Explore the role of controlling and minority shareholders in closely-held firms and
the extraction of private benefits of control.
 Be able to analyze financial and legal aspects unique to cross-border restructuring transactions
and incorporate those aspects into deal design and implementation.

C. Focus of Study: Scope of Ideas and Topics

M&A will draw on cases and examples with the following leanings:
o The large publicly held corporation headquartered in the U.S. and abroad.
o Mainly oriented to finance, though the course will draw in contributions from accounting,
law, business strategy, organizational behavior, and the role of incentives of each of the
players involved in the transaction.
o Primary attention will be given to U.S. laws and regulations.
o Mainly oriented to transaction design, rather than the development of long-term policies.

Success in M&A is defined first and foremost in the creation of economic value or unlocking
value. This value may come from different sources, such as, enhanced financial stability,
improved competitive position, strengthened organization, enhanced reputation, and observance
of the letter and spirit of laws and ethics, among many others.

These kinds of outcomes are the fruits of two important influences:

o Structure of the Environment in Which the Deal Takes Shape. This includes the nature of
the economic opportunity, the strategic setting of the buyer and target, the nature of the
organizations of the buyer and target, the reputation and incentive of the players, and the
matrix of laws and ethical norms surrounding the firms.
o Conduct of the Players. Given the constraints and opportunities in the environment, how
you play the M&A game significantly shapes outcomes. We will explore the influence of
conduct in areas such as acquisition search, due diligence, negotiation and bidding,
dealing with laws, regulations, and the judicial system, deal design, post-merger
integration, communication, and management of the deal development process.

In short, the course presents a considerably richer view of M&A than you will have seen in
previous courses and newspaper or magazine articles.

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We will use the case method to motivate our discussion to close the gap between rigorous
finance theory and its application to practical problems in corporate finance, and the thought-
process required when faced with this gap. The course is roughly divided into 5 core topics.

Part A: Valuation Methods Review. Where Is Enterprise Value Coming From?

Valuation Methods and Techniques
o Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC)
o Unlevering and Relevering Betas
o Discounted Cash Flows Modelling
 Free Cash Flows or Unlevered Cash Flows
 Capital Cash Flows or Levered Cash Flows
 Equity Cash Flows or Residual Cash Flows
o Adjusted Present Value (APV)
 The Relation Between APV and CCF
o Relative Valuation Analysis: Transaction and Trading Multiples
o Developing Break-Up Analysis
o Sensitivity Tables

Part B: Traditional M&A Topics and Transactions

Hostile Takeovers and Friendly Acquisitions. Strategic and Financial Aspects
o Tender Offers: Hostile vs. Friendly Takeovers
o Defense Tactics: Pre-Emptive Defenses vs. Post-Offer Defenses
 Deal Agreements and Deal Protections
 Structural Defenses vs. Non-Structural Defenses
 “The White Knight”
 Poison Pills: Flip-In vs. Flip-Over
 “Vote” vs. “Value” vs. “Board” Related Defenses
o Why Perform Accretion/Dilution Analysis?
o Why Perform Contribution Analysis?
o Acquisition Currency: Cash vs. Stock
o One vs. Two-Tier Offers
o Merger of Equals: How to Split the Firm?
o The Diversification Discount. Is it a Myth?
o The Market for Corporate Control
 Delaware vs. Pennsylvania Courts
 Fiduciary Duties of Board of Directors

Part C: The Role of Corporate Raiders and Activists in Disciplinary Takeovers

o Shareholders activism as a corporate governance mechanism.
 Are Corporate Raiders “good” or “bad”? For whom?
 Are Corporate Raiders or Activist Shareholders necessary?
o Corporate Raiders as a disciplinary takeover mechanism.
 Why are disciplinary takeover the most successful?
o The Role of Proxy fights
o Staggered boards as defense mechanism to hostile takeovers.

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Part D: Creating Value through Corporate Restructuring
o Corporate Reorganization Strategies
 Spin-Offs, Carve-Outs, Target Stock and Divestures
o Financial Distress & Bankruptcy
 Chapter 11 (Reorganization)
 Chapter 7 (Liquidation)
 Out-of-Court Restructuring vs. On-Going Concern
o Net Operating Losses (NOLs and Capital Losses)
o The Role of Private Equities in Value Creation

Part E: Private Equity and Leveraged Buyouts (LBOs)

o The Role of Private Equity Firms: Screening for Candidates
 Strategic and Financial Sponsors
 Pros and Cons of Different Sponsors
o Financial Modeling of LBOs
 The Problem of Changing Capital Structure
 Capital Cash Flows vs. Equity Cash Flows
 The Method of Backward Induction
 The Role of a Target IRR
 Maximum Equity vs. Debt Capacity

Part F: The Role of Risk “Arbs”

Managing M&A Risk: Collars, Earn-Outs and Contingent Value Rights
o The Role of Arbitrageurs in the M&A scenario.
 Interpreting arbitrage spreads.
 Calculating the probability of success of a transaction from the
arbitrage spread.
o Managing M&A Risk with Collars, Earn-Outs and CVRs
o Two classes of M&A risk:
 Pre-Closing: Fluctuations in bidder’s and target’s stock prices.
 Post-Closing: Failure of target to perform to expectations.
o Pros and Cons for bidder and target shareholders of using Fixed Collar
Offers vs. Floating Collar Offers.

Part A acts as reference material. We will go back and forth to the material in Part A throughout
the course. In addition to analyzing the specific financing problems or issues, we will consider
how those issues relate to the strategic and business objectives of the firm. It will be important to
examine the “big picture” assumptions that are used in the numerical calculations. This course
also places emphasis on presentation and discussion skills. It will be important to explain your
positions to each other and to argue convincingly for your recommendations.

Part D, E and F are very important in today’s economic environment. I teach the course from the
perspective that corporate restructurings —far from being a rare or episodic event that happens to

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“someone else”— is a common and important event in the professional lives of many managers.
The reach of Corporate Restructuring, Private Equity and LBOs is far greater than any statistic
may show. The course also emphasizes that the scope of corporate restructuring has become
increasingly global, as heightened competition in international product, capital and labor markets
puts tremendous pressure on companies worldwide to increase, their competitiveness and
maximize their market value.

D. Course Material
The reading material for the course is contained in:

 A digital case and article packet which is available at Study.Net (www.Study.Net). The
digital package contains all the cases and copyrighted material you will need to purchase for
the class during the quarter. All the other necessary material including slides, lecture notes
and articles will be uploaded in Dropbox. I will not distribute this material in class, so you
should therefore print this material or just read the material on-line before class and for each
assignment. I will only distribute in class the case solution(s) for the case(s) we are
discussing and solving in that specific session.

 Bruner, R.F. (Bruner), “Applied Mergers & Acquisitions,” First Edition, John Wiley & Sons,
Inc., 2004. You may want to by the edition without the CD-ROM.

 Castillo, J.J. and Peter J. McAniff (CA), “The Practitioner’s Guide to Investment Banking,
Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate Finance,” First Edition, Circinus Business Press, 2007.

 Kim, K.A. and John R. Nosfinger and Derek J. Mohr, (KNM) “Corporate Governance,”
Third Edition, Prentice Hall, 2010.

I highly recommend a small, practical and inexpensive but surprisingly comprehensive

dictionary defining over 5,000 terms:

 Downes, J. and Jordan Elliott Goodman, “Dictionary of Finance and Investment Terms,”
Ninth Edition, Prentice Hall, 2014.

As reference material for basic corporate finance topics you may want to use any of the usual
graduate textbooks:

 Berk. J. and Peter DeMarzo (BDeM), “Corporate Finance,” Second Edition, Pearson Addison
Wesley, 2010. You can also use any other textbook you used in your core corporate finance
classes.

 Brealey, R., Stewart Myers and Franklin Allen (BMA), “Principles of Corporate Finance,”
9th Edition, McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2007. This is another textbook you may find useful in case
you want to review core topics that were taught in your corporate finance classes.

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 Grinblatt, M and Sheridan Titman, “Financial Markets and Corporate Strategy”, 2nd Edition,
Irwin/McGraw Hill, 2001.Use this textbook as a more advanced reference book.

In addition (most of) the material will also uploaded in Dropbox during the term (subject to
copyright regulations). I will also hand out during the course teaching slides and additional
reading material as well as case solutions. In some cases I will e-mail my valuation model, so
you can follow in class how my solution looks like relative to the one your group produced. All
material I distribute in class will also be uploaded in Dropbox, except for the solutions of the
cases. If you are missing any material, you should contact me via e-mail. I will be happy to
provide it.

There are several other books on the market covering Mergers & Acquisitions, The Market for
Corporate Control and the Role of Private Equity to various degrees of depth. We will not use
these books in this course, but if you nevertheless wish to consult other books occasionally, here
are some good useful books. In some cases I will upload in Dropbox some of the chapters of
these books according to the topics we cover each week. You should also feel free to ask me for
book recommendations in other topics if you are interested.

 Adolph, G., Justin Pettit and Michael Sisk, “Merge Ahead: Mastering the Five Enduring
Trends of Artful M&A,” First Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2009. The book contains the most up-
to-date information available on recent mergers and trends in the world of M&A. It conveys
critical information in concise and fast-paced language, providing a hands-on resource that
won’t bog you down.

 Arzac, E.R., “Valuation for Mergers, Buyouts and Restructuring,” Second Edition, John
Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2008.

 DePamphilis, D.M., “Mergers, Acquisitions, and Other Restructuring Activities,” Fourth

Edition, Academic Press, Elsevier Inc., 2008.

 Gaughan, P.A., “Mergers, Acquisitions and Corporate Restructurings,” Fourth Edition, John
Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2007.

 Gaughan, P.A., “Mergers: What Can Go Wrong and How to Prevent It,” John Wiley and
Sons, Inc., 2005.

 Gilson, S.C., “Creating Value Through Corporate Restructuring: Case Studies in

Bankruptcies, Buyouts and Breakups,” John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2001.

 Hunt, P.A., “Structuring Mergers & Acquisitions: A Guide To Creating Shareholder Value,”
Third Edition, Wolters Kluwer, Law & Business, Aspen Publishers, 2007.

 Lajoux, A.R. and Charles M. Elson, “The Art of Due Diligence,” McGraw-Hill, First
Edition, 2000. Drawing on the experience of 100 experts, the book shows non-lawyers how
to navigate due diligence and how to uncover data that can break a deal. Featuring global

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 perspectives and special insights for small businesses, manufacturers, and service companies,
this primer is essential for everyone involved in M&As.

 Lajoux, A.R. and H. Peter Nesvold, “The Art of M&A Structuring: Techniques for
Mitigating Financial, Tax, and Legal Risk,” McGraw-Hill, 2003.

 Reed, S.F., Alexandra Lajoux, and H.Peter Nesvold, “The Art of M&A: A Merger
Acquisition Buyout,” Fourth Edition, McGraw-Hill 2007. This is a classic book with vital
information on the process of M&As: Getting Started; Planning and Finding; Valuation and
Pricing; Financing and Refinancing; Structuring Deals; Due Diligence Practices; Negotiation,
Agreements and Letter of Intent; Post-Merger Integration Issues, Workout, Bankruptcies and
Liquidations and Structuring Transactions with International Aspects.

 Schweiger, D., “M&A Integration: A Framework for Executives and Managers,” First
Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2002. Studies of Fortune 500 executives found that post-merger
integration issues such as culture clashes, style, ego, and management changes are the most
common pitfalls that can derail otherwise successful mergers or acquisitions. The book
provides a practical framework for integrating acquisitions while helping managers direct
each step in the volatile and uncertain post-merger integration process.

For valuation purposes four good references are:

 Castillo, J.J and Peter J. McAniff, “The Practitioner’s Guide to Investment Banking, Mergers
& Acquisitions, Corporate Finance,” First Edition, Circinus Business Press, 2007.

 Damodaran, A., “Damodaran on Valuation: Security Analysis for Investment and Corporate
Finance,” Second Edition, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2006.

 Damodaran, A., “Investment Valuation: Tools and Techniques for Determining the Value of
Any Asset,” Second Edition, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2002.

 Koller, T., M. Goedhart and D. Wessels “Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of
Companies”, Fourth Edition, McKinsey & Company Inc., John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2005.

 Rosenbaum, J. and Joshua Pearl, “Investment Banking: Valuation, Leveraged Buyouts, and
Mergers & Acquisitions,” John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2009.

They are generally pretty expensive books, so feel free to consult me before buying any of them.
I can lend them to you so you can browse through them and check whether you feel they may be
useful for your future careers or current jobs. I highly recommend the two valuation books since
they are unique source of reference when dealing with particular topics in valuation.

The following list of books is those which I have found interesting as well as informative. They
are more like bed-time reading. If after my class you are interested in additional reading, please,

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let me know. This list is meant to be my suggestions of where you can start looking.

 Anders, G., Merchants of Debt: KKR and the Mortgaging of American Business, Beard
Books, 2002. An insider Wall Street Journal reporter explores the leveraged-buyout
operations of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts. The LBOs of Safeway, Beatrice, Duracell and RJR
Nabisco are explained in an easy way.

 Bernstein, P., Capital Ideas: The Improbable Origins of Modern Wall Street, Wiley, 2005.
This book is a history of modern finance. If you read this book you will notice how closely
academic and practical finance are intertwined.

 Chew Jr., D.H., The New Corporate Finance. Where Theory Meets Practice, McGraw-Hill
Irwin, 3rd Edition, 2001. This is a good source of readings on applied corporate finance
classic papers.

 Koller, T. Marc Goedhart, and David Wessels, Valuation: Measuring and Managing the
Value of Companies, McKinsey & Company, 4th Edition, 2005. A reasonable reference on
valuation, more practical and less analytical than BMA and GT. This is a practitioner guide
to valuation, and is on the whole correct.

 Milgrom, P. and John Roberts, Economics, Organization & Management, Prentice Hall,
1992.

 Schwager, J.D., The New Market Wizards: Conversations with America’s Top Traders,
Harper, 1994. This book is a series of interviews with very successful traders. These are
people who have beaten their respective markets.

E. Course Procedures: Group Case Write-Ups

Deadlines for the class are non-negotiable. If you have a question about a deadline, you should
resolve it prior to the deadline. Under special circumstances, you may arrange to turn in your
work early. Submissions will not be accepted after the due date and exams may not be taken late.
Late submissions or taking an exam later than your scheduled time may provide a student with
unfair advantage over other students. In the interest of fairness, all students must face the same
set of deadlines.

There will be 11/12 group case write-ups/assignments depending on the availability and
feasibility of time as the course progresses. Case write-ups must be submitted on time before the
beginning of each lecture. No credit will be given for late cases. I will grade the cases on a scale
of 0 to 5 (including decimals places) and give you as much feedback as possible in the
corrections. I have a very particular way of grading, it is tough but it is very detailed and, most
important, you will learn from the mistakes. The Case-Study Questions for each of the 13 cases
will be available on Dropbox a week in advance. Note that the Mini-Cases in the Course Outline
are not graded. These cases and material will be covered in class.

You are allowed and encouraged to meet in groups outside of class to discuss and analyze the

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cases. In the past, students have found that these groups complement the class discussion well. I
encourage you to collaborate on cases. Groups should be composed by exactly 5 students. If you
have any problems in finding someone to work with, please e-mail me and let me know. I will be
happy to assist you in finding a group.

Diversity in group composition will be rewarded (strong and weak finance students, men and
women, single and married…) and you can describe on the cover page along which dimension
your group is diverse. You are allowed to change groups during the term (although I do not
prefer this situation). Also, bear in mind that it may be helpful to choose groups according to the
specific home addresses of the group members since most likely you will be meeting during the
week-ends to solve and discuss the cases.

Regarding the cases, each group will submit a three-page (and NOT a single page more)
memorandum of analysis and recommendations covering the case study questions plus any
accompanying tables, models, graphs and exhibits you wish to include as appendices. Tables
should be well organized and labeled. Include whatever exhibits you deem necessary, but I
suggest not to waste the reader’s time with exhibits that do not add significant value to the
analysis. For example, do not use two similar exhibits that do not add much to the analysis and
understanding of the case, or do not repeat what is written on the case. Be sure to indicate how
you arrived at your conclusions. I care about the thinking process and the logic behind the cases
rather than the correct or incorrect answer. I will accept one memorandum from the group and
count it for all students in the group. Write these as if you were writing a recommendation for the
CEO or major decision maker in the case. Be sure to address in each paragraph of the
memorandum the questions you are being asked in the case-study questions. I urge you to start
each paragraph with a number referring to the question you are answering. For your
convenience, I will also post some of the relevant data for each case in a worksheet on Dropbox

Each group should also submit (via e-mail) the excel file that contains the (professional, neat,
complete, and clear) analysis. This way is easier for me to grade your quantitative analysis. The
excel file should be named FirstName_LastName_CASENAME.xls. The first and last name
can correspond to any member of the group.

For your convenience, I will also post some of the relevant data from each case in an Excel
worksheet on the corresponding week in Dropbox.

The main point of the cases is to help you learn by ensuring that you prepare for class and think
about the material to cover each week. Reading the material assigned for each week is crucial
and preparing for the cases is the best way to enjoy and learn from this course. My advice about
the cases is: do your best in working through them, but recognize that they are hard and you will
not always get it right. They will get harder and harder as the course progresses.

Brevity is a virtue for case write-ups. Do not repeat the facts of the case. You should turn in your
memo at the beginning of the class on the due date. You are expected to have read the case and
prepared your answers. Keep a copy of your answers as you will be expected to contribute to the
class discussion based on your written answers. I expect the answers to be well-reasoned. The
cases are your opportunity to apply the concepts you have learned thus far to messy, not-so-clear,

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and complex real-world problems. Understanding the ideas is important and being able to
explain them to your boss and co-workers is equally important. Thus, your case write-ups will be
graded both on your answers as well as how well you defend your proposed solution.

The readings and articles, which I have assigned and will hand out as the course progresses or
post in Dropbox, are largely non-technical in nature and summarize the findings of academic and
business research in corporate finance in the recent past. These articles are meant to be
background material, which will help you to analyze the cases. The readings should not
necessarily be cited in the case discussion; I do not want a summary of my reference material!
You should try to argue as if you were in a corporate boardroom rather than in a doctoral
seminar. The goal is to have an open and interactive class-case discussion, where the process of
arriving at the answer is as important as getting the answer.

Because of the nature of this course (and its grading criteria), it is extremely important that you
attend every class, arrive on time, and are prepared to participate. To help me remember who
said what, it is important that you always sit in the same places. Also, if your picture is not in the
Kellogg directory/roaster face book, I recommend that you come and introduce yourself to me on
the first day of class.

F. Grading
The weighting for the final grade is given by:
Class Participation 25%
Group Case Write-Ups 55%
Peer Review Evaluation 20%

As a strict rule, there is no make-up days for material due. It is your responsibility to schedule
the rest of your activities such that you are able to attend comply with the rules of the class.

Class Participation: By design, this is a case-based course. Given the format, class participation
is an indispensable part of the learning experience. I will judge your performance based both on
the quality and the number of your comments. Because so much of the learning in this course
occurs in the classroom, it is very important that you attend every class. Low class participation
combined with several absences can lead to a lower grade. If you are uncomfortable with such a
heavy weight on class participation, this class may not be for you. I will grade for each case your
class participation using a discrete scale of 1, 2 and 3. For the best (or bests) student(s) in terms
of class participation for each session, I will assign only one numerical value of 5 per class. I will
post in Dropbox each night (after class) the class participation grades for that day so you can
check the performance for that particular session.

Group Case Write-Ups: As mentioned in Section E, this grade will be based on the 11/12 group
case write-ups. Grading is very seriously done and I expect from all the groups high-quality
write-ups.

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Peer-Review Evaluation: During Week X, I will distribute and post a peer-review evaluation
which you will have to complete individually evaluating each member of the group. In addition
you may submit an attached hard-copy letter to the peer-review evaluation describing each team
members’ performance and contribution to the group, and an assessment of “how the process
went.” Please, remember to put your name on the letter. I recommend you hand me in the peer-
review evaluation and your letter in a sealed signed envelop in class on the last class of the
quarter.

G. Access to Dropbox
The class webpage on Dropbox is intended as the main information dissemination mechanism.
When you have a question, you should consult Dropbox first, as in most cases; you will find the
answer there. If it is not the case, then contact me. In particular: lecture notes, teaching slides,
handouts, announcements, frequently asked questions (and their answers) and supporting
material will all be posted on Dropbox.

From Dropbox you will be able to download excel spreadsheets and case questions for the 12/13
graded cases. Each workspace, in turn, contains one or more of the exhibits in the case. This will
make it easier for you to spend time on the analysis, rather than punching in numbers. From the
portal you will also be able to download most of the handouts I supply throughout the course as
well as teaching material and slides. Anything I hand out in class will also be put on the home
page (unless it is copyright material).

H. Office Hours and Contact Information

The best way to get in touch with me is via email: [email protected] . I follow
an open door policy. You can also call, come to my office, or put a note in my mailbox. You
can call at my office number. My office is located at the Finance Department, Global Hub 4371.
I will also be available for individual meetings by appointment at times that are mutually
convenient. Please e-mail me to make appointments. If you come, I will stay until student
exhaustion or midnight whichever comes first.

As a rule to follow, I will NOT discuss any question related to the cases before they are solved in
class. After they are solved I will be more than happy to discuss them with you. I am happy to
discuss anything you want regarding the course material, job offers, projects, careers, etc.

I. Finance Review and Reference Material

One of the challenges of Corporate Restructuring, LBOs and Private Equity is that students’
background is generally very different, specifically coming from different programs and careers
and having taken different courses at different times in their MBAs careers. For some of you
some of the finance material will be fresh, but for some others it will be rusty (or eve very rusty
since the last time you took a finance course was at College). For those of you who feel you
need to review some of the “old” material I am providing you with some of material from core
corporate finance courses (FINC 430/440/441). I have been writing these notes during the last 5
years now. I am still updating them. Feel free to let me know about typos or things that are

13
unclear. I will be more than happy to correct them. You will NOT need the 15 chapters for this
class. I will let you know which the relevant chapters are for each session. You should check the
Reading Material for that particular week.

Feel free to browse the specific issues and chapters for each of the relevant cases as indicated in
the assigned Weekly Readings. I will assume that you are acquainted with this material; I will
NOT lecture this material during the course. Use these slides as a reference material in case you
need so, and obviously feel free to download them as reference material for upcoming courses.

J. First Week Class Assignment

In Week I, Tuesday, March 28 we will go over some basic valuation review concepts including
different types of cash flows (Free Cash Flow, Capital Cash Flow, and Equity Cash Flows),
WACC, Adjusted Present Value (APV), the concept of the optionality of equity and
understanding Where is Enterprise Value Coming From? Show up in class, happy, rested and
ready to work! You may want to read/skim the material under Week 0: Introduction: Does
M&A Pay? and Why Do We Follow M&A Transactions? This is mostly “chit-chat” material.

K. Workshops
There will be two Workshops according to the Course Outline. Workshop A will take place on
Saturday, April 1 in Global Hub 4371 and will cover Valuation Techniques (mid-morning) and
Affordability Analysis (afternoon). Workshop B will take place on Friday, May 19 in Global
Hub TBD and will cover Valuation of Leveraged Buyouts and Financial Modelling of LBOs.

L. Review Sessions/Tutorials/Workshops
I will conduct an open class Q&A Session every Wednesday between 1:30P and 4:30PM,
respectively. Please check the course outline for the topics of each Q&A Session.

M. Tips On How To Engage The Course

Diversify. The course offers a number of learning modes. Engage them all! The plan for the
course shows that regular case studies will be the focus of 11 of the class meetings.

Follow Your Interest. This is a “self-tailoring” course in that it leaves much of the technical
reading to the discretion of the student. The two books, articles and slides will give you the
framework of terminology and tools in M&A. Consider reading carefully where you find
interesting topics.

Join a Learning Team to Prepare For Class. The ideas in the cases and readings for class are
deep; the analysis can get complex. You will learn more from the course, and perform better in
class participation by discussing these cases together in a learning team. I will serve as a
clearinghouse for those students who have been unable to join a learning team.

14
Commit to Your Write-Ups and Learning Teams. Team-based work makes a large contribution to
the course. The Group work accounts for 40% of the final grade. High performance teams show
a number of common attributes:
o Members commit to the success of the team.
o The team plans ahead, leaving time for contingencies.
o The team meets regularly.
o Team members show up for meetings and are prepared to contribute.
o There may or may not be a formal

N. Academic Integrity Policy

As a condition of their enrollment in this course, all students enrolled in a course offered by the
Kellogg School of Management agree to abide by the Kellogg Honor Code as outlined in
http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/stu_aff/policies/honorcode.htm. A violation of the Honor
Code will result in sanctions, including a failing grade for the course.

O. Course Reading List and Course Outline

The course reading list is divided by Weeks and classified in Required Readings, Business
Readings and Supplementary Readings. You do not need to read the Supplementary Readings.
This supplementary material is provided to expand you knowledge in the particular topic we are
covering. It is more to suffice your curiosity in the specific topic we are covering that day. If
you want any additional information please do not doubt to let me know. I will be happy to
provide you with any additional material or readings.

15
 Week 0
[Before First Meeting]

Introduction:
Does M&A Pay?
The M&A Environment: 1990-2016

Recommended Readings

 Annema, A., Roerich Bansal and Andy West, “M&A 2014: Return of the Big Deal,”
McKinsey on Finance, Number 53, Winter 2015.

 Bruner, R., “Applied Mergers & Acquisitions,” Chapter 3: Does M&A Pay?

 Bruner, R., “Where M&A Pays and Where It Strays: A Survey of Research,” Journal of
Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 16, Number 4, Fall 2004.

 CA, “The Practitioner’s Guide To Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate
Finance,” Part I: The Basics, Chapters 4 (Strategic Transactions), 5 (Introduction to M&A), 6
(Analyzing Strategic Acquisitions) and 7 (Screening for M&A Transactions).

 Jain, R., Bin Jian and Tim Koller, “What’s Behind This Year’s Buoyant Market,” McKinsey
on Finance, October 2014.

 Liberti, J., “Why Follow M&A Transactions?” Note, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

 Liberti, J., “The M&A Environment: 1990-2015,” Lecture Slides, Kellogg School of
Management, 2017.

 Rhem, W. and Andy West, “M&A 2015: New Highs, and a New Tone,” McKinsey on
Finance, December 2015.

 University of Rochester Roundtable on Corporate M&A and Shareholder Value, Journal of

Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 17, Number 4, Fall 2005

Supplementary Readings on the Current Status of the M&A Market

Given the chaos in the financial economy, it should come as no surprise that M&A activity fell
sharply in the fourth quarter of 2008. Since 1980, US recessions have led to steep declines in the
value of global M&A activity—typically, of around 50% during the first year. That fall-off
results from factors we see in the current downturn as well, including lower deal values in
sinking equity markets; difficulties with financing, particularly for very large transactions; and a
general fear about the economic outlook, which forces acquirers to put plans on hold. Moreover,
in December 2008 stock markets were down 40 to 50 percent from their January levels.

16
 Baghai, M., Sven Smit and S. Patrick Viguerie, “M&A Strategies in a Down Market,” The
McKinsey Quarterly, Corporate Finance, September 2008.

 Capaldo, A., David Cogman, and Hannu Suonio, “What’s Different About M&A in this
Downturn,” McKinsey on Finance, Number 30, Winter 2009.

 Capaldo, A., Richard Dobbs, and Hannu Suonio, “Deal Making in 2007: Is the M&A Boom
Over?,” McKinsey on Finance, Number 26, Winter 2008.

 Cogman, D. and Carsten Buch Sivertsen, “A Return to Deal Making in 2010,” The McKinsey
Quarterly, January 2011.

 Dobbs, R. and Timothy M. Koller, “The Crisis: Timing Strategic Moves,” McKinsey on
Finance, Spring 2009.

 Jiang, B. Timothy M.Koller and Zane D. Williams, “Mapping Decline and Recovery Across
Sectors,” McKinsey on Finance, Winter 2009.

 Melwani, A. and Werner Rehm, “A Singular Moment for Merger Value,” McKinsey on
Finance, Summer 2000.

 Rehm, W., Robert Uhlaner and Any West, “Taking a Long-Term Look at M&A Value
Creation,” McKinsey Quarterly, January 2012.

 Rehm, W., Carsten Buch Sivertsen, “A Strong Foundation for M&A in 2010,” McKinsey on
Finance, Number 34, January 2010.

 Siverstsen, C. B., “A Mixed Year for M&A,” McKinsey Quarterly, January 2012.

Business Reading
 “In a Record Year for Deals, Success and a Few Missteps,” Dealbook New York Times,
December 22, 2015.

 “What Drives Mergers, Really?,” Financial Times, October 10, 2014.

 “M&A Deals Lift Wall Street Shares Nearer a Record High,” Reuters, February 19, 2013.

 “Shopping Spree for Wall Street,” The Wall Street Journal, February 14, 2013.

 “Faceless Shareholders to Drive M&A Action,” Financial Times, January 10, 2010.

 “Deals Return in Q3, But Outlook Still Cautious,” Reuters, September 24, 2010.

 “M&A Cycle Turns,” Financial Times, December 20, 2009.

17
 “M&A Springs Back To Life,” Financial Times, April 20, 2009.

18
 Week I/Workshop A
[March 28/April 1]

Valuation Methods Review

Where Is Enterprise Value Coming From?
Reconciliation of Valuation Methods

Recommended Readings

Required Readings on Valuation

 CA, “The Practitioner’s Guide To Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate
Finance,” Part II: Valuation, Chapters 8 (The Role of Valuation) and 11 (Discounted Cash
Flow Analysis).

 Kaplan, S., “A Note on Discounted Cash Flow Valuation Methods,” University of Chicago,
Booth School of Business, 2004.

 Liberti, J., “Valuation Methods: Discounted Cash Flow Analysis. Risk of Tax Shields:
WACC vs. APV,” Lecture Slides, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

 Liberti, J., “Capital Budgeting: Types of Cash Flows. Free Cash Flows, Capital Cash Flows
and Equity Cash Flows,” Reference Material: Chapter I, Kellogg School of Management,
2017.
[Concentrate on the 2 basic Cash Flows: FCF and CCF. This chapter is already in the set of slides I distributed in class!]

 Liberti, J., “Capital Structure I: Modigliani Miller Irrelevance Theorem. Estimating Cost of
Capital,” Reference Material: Chapter IV, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

 Liberti, J., “Capital Structure II: Corporate Taxes. Estimating Cost of Capital. Valuation
Techniques,” Reference Material: Chapter V, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

 Liberti, J., “Summary Tables: Constructing Cash Flows EBIT and Net Income Version,”
Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

 Liberti, J., “Valuation Techniques: Summary of Formulae and Concepts,” Note, Kellogg
School of Management, 2017.

 Luehrman, T., 1997, “Using APV: A Better Tool For Valuing Operations”, Harvard
Business Review, Volume 73, Number 3, 1997.

19
Required Readings on Reconciliation Methods
 Liberti, J., “Mini-Case: Valuation Using WACC and APV – GM’s Bid For Hughes Aircraft
Corporation”, Lecture Slides, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

Required Readings on Capital Structure

 Heine, R., and Fredric Harbus, “Toward a More Complete Model of Optimal Capital
Structure,” Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 15, Number 1, 2003.

 Liberti, J., “How To Come Up With a Capital Structure Policy? Overview/Summary,” Note,
Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

Required Readings on Transaction and Trading Multiples

 CA, “The Practitioner’s Guide To Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate
Finance,” Part II: Valuation, Chapters 9 (Comparable Company Analysis) and 10
(Comparable Transaction Analysis).

 Chadda, N., Robert S. Mc Nish and Werner Rehm, “All P/Es Are Not Created Equal,”
McKinsey on Finance, Spring 2004.

 Goedhart, M., Timothy Koller and David Wessels, “The Right Role for Multiples In
Valuation,” McKinsey On Finance, Spring 2005.

 Liberti, J., “The Market Approach to Value: Relative Valuation Techniques,” Lecture Slides,
Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

Supplementary Readings on Valuation

 BdeM, “Corporate Finance,” Chapter 18 and 19 (Part VI: Valuation).

 BMA, “Principles of Corporate Finance,” Chapter 17, 18 and 19 (Financing and Valuation).

 Kaplan, S. and Richard S. Ruback, “The Market Pricing of Cash Flow Forecasts: Discounted
Cash Flow vs. The Method of Comparables”, Journal of Applied Corporate Finance,
Volume 8, Number 4, Winter 1996.

 Schroeder Salomon Smith Barney, European Credit Research, “Bond and Credit Valuation
Criteria”, November 2002.
[Concentrate on Pages 11-28: Measuring Cash Flows and Free Cash Flow: A Better Measure.]

 Sloan, R.G., “Using Earnings and Free Cash Flow To Evaluate Corporate Performance”,
Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 9, Number 1, Spring 1996.

20
Supplementary Readings on Transaction and Trading Multiples
 Esty, B., “What Determines Comparability When Valuing Firms With Multiples?,” Journal
of Financial Education, Fall 2000.

Supplementary Readings on Capital Structure

 Myers, S.C., “Still Searching for Optimal Capital Structure,” Journal of Applied Corporate
Finance, Volume 6, Number 1, 1993.

 Opler, T., Michael Saron, and Sheridan Titman, “Designing Capital Structure to Create
Shareholder Value,” Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 10, Number 1, 1997.

Supplementary Readings on Sensitivity Tables

 Ecklund, P., “Introduction to Data Tables and Data Table Exercises,” Tools for Excel
Modeling, Duke, The Fuqua School of Business, Excel Review 2001-2002.

21
 Workshop A
[April 1]

Merger Consequences Analysis:

Affordability Analysis
M&A Analysis

In the first lecture and workshop you will learn how to perform the mechanics of merger
consequences analysis, which are often called affordability analysis. This includes using
accretion/dilution analysis to determine how the proposed transaction will affect the acquirer’s
earnings per share (or EPS), and using credit analysis to determine how the proposed transaction
will affect the acquirer’s credit rating. We will also discuss the fundamentals of purchase
accounting, the concept and creation of goodwill and asset-write ups and how to determine fixed
exchange ratios using relative contribution analysis.

Using Hershey Foods Corporation's (HFC) 10-Q financial reports from March 31 2002, we value
HFC as a potential target for an acquirer. Why is it a potential target? Using financial and
qualitative information available in the 10Qs we compute the Intrinsic Enterprise and Equity
Value and comparing them to the market sock price. Is HFC undervalued? Overvalued? Does it
have a fair price? In doing so we use WACC, Transaction & Trading multiples. We will finally
go over the merger consequences analysis for Wrigley’s acquisition of Hershey.

Recommended Readings

 CA, “The Practitioner’s Guide To Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate
Finance,” Part I: The Basics, Chapter 4 (Strategic Transactions) and Chapter 5 (Introduction
to M&A), Chapter 6 (Analyzing Strategic Transactions) and Chapter 7 (Screening for M&A
Transactions).

 Hershey Foods Corporation, Form 10-Q, March 31, 2002.

 Hershey Foods Corporation, Management’s Discussion and Analysis.

 Liberti, J., “Merger Consequences Analysis – Affordability Analysis,” Lecture Slides,

Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

22
 Week II
[April 4]

Mergers and Acquisitions:

Valuation of Hard and Soft Synergies
Multiples in Practice
Break-Up Analysis:
The Diversification Discount: Is It a Myth?
Take-Over Defenses and Bidding Strategies
Implementing Structural Defenses
Structuring Acquisition Offers

Recommended Readings

Required Readings on M&As, Takeover Attempts, Tactics and Battles

 BdeM, “Corporate Finance,” Chapter 28.

 BMA, “Principles of Corporate Finance,” Chapters 32 and 34.

[Concentrate especially on Section 32.5: Takeover Battles and Tactics]

 Liberti, J., “Mergers and Acquisitions: The Market for Corporate Control,” Reference
Material: Chapter XII, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

 Liberti, J., “Special Cases in Valuation: Mergers and Acquisitions,” Note, Kellogg School of
Management, 2017.

 Liberti, J. “Stock or Cash? The Trade-offs for Buyers & Sellers in Mergers and
Acquisitions,” Lecture Slides, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

Required Readings on Synergies

 Bekier, M.M, Anna J. Bogardus and Tim Oldham, “Why Mergers Fail?” The McKinsey
Quarterly, Number 4, 2001.

 Christofferson, S.A., Robert S. McNish and Diane L. Sias, “Where Mergers Go Wrong?” The
McKinsey Quarterly, 2004, Number 2.

 Dobbs, R., Mare Goedhart and Hannu Suonio, “Are Companies Getting Better at M&A,”
McKinsey on Finance, Winter 2007.

23
 Dobbs, R., Hannu Suonio and Vincenzo Tortorici, “Maintaining Discipline In M&A,” The
McKinsey Quarterly, Number 2, Commentary, May 2007.

 Goedhard, M., Tim Koller, David Wessels, “The Five Types of Successful Acquisitions,”
McKinsey on Finance, Number 36, Summer 2010.

 Sirower, M.L. and Sumit Sahni, “Avoiding the ‘Synergy Trap’: Practical Guidance on M&A
Decisions for CEOs and Boards,” Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 18,
Number 3, Summer 2006.

Required Readings on the Diversification-Conglomerate Discount

 Caudillo, F., S. Houben and JehanZeb Noor, “Mapping the Value of Diversification,”
McKinsey on Finance, Number 55, Summer 2015.

 Cyriac, J., T. Koller and Jannick Thomsen, “Testing the Limits of Diversifications,”
McKinsey Quarterly, February 2012

 Liberti, J., “M&A Activity. Valuing Conglomerates: The Diversification or Conglomerate

Discount,” Lecture Slides, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

Supplementary Readings on M&As, Structuring Acquisition Offers and Synergies

 Agrawal, A., Cristina Ferrer and Andy West, “When Big Acquisitions Pay Off,” McKinsey
on Finance, Number 39, Spring 2011.

 Andrade, G., Mark Mitchell and Erik Stafford, “New Evidence and Perspectives on
Mergers,” The Journal of Economic Perspectives, Volume 15, Number 2, Spring 2001.

 Holmstrom, B. and Steven N. Kaplan, “Corporate Governance and Merger Activity in the
United States: Making Sense of the 1980s and 1990s,” Journal of Economic Perspectives,
Volume 15, Number 2, Spring 2001.

Supplementary Readings the Diversification-Conglomerate Discount

 Lins, K. and Henri Servaes, “International Evidence on the Value of Corporate
Diversification,” Journal of Finance, Volume 54, Number 6, December 1999.

 Villalonga, B., “Research Roundtable Discussion: The Diversification Discount,” April 24,
2003.
[Available for download at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=402220]

24
 Week III
[April 11]

The Market for Corporate Control:

Delaware vs. Pennsylvania
Structuring Offers: Two-Tier Offers
Avoiding the Free-Rider Problem in M&A Contexts
Takeover Battles and Corporate Defense Tactics
Merger of Equals (MEO)

Recommended Readings

Required Readings on Takeover Defenses, Battles, Tactics and Merger of Equals

 CA, “The Practitioner’s Guide To Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate
Finance,” Part III: M&A Analysis, Chapter 15 (Acquisition Currency), Chapter 18 (Merger
of Equals) and Part IV: Transaction Structuring, Chapter 23 (Corporate Defense).

 Gaughan, P.A., “Mergers, Acquisitions, and Corporate Restructurings,” Fourth Edition, John
Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2007. Chapter 5 (Antitakeover Measures) and Chapter 6 (Takeover
Tactics).
[Read all Chapter 5. For Chapter 6 only read pages 247-249 devoted to Two-Tier Offers.]

 Hunt, P.A., “Structuring Mergers & Acquisitions: A Guide To Creating Shareholder Value,”
Third Edition, Wolters Kluwer, Law & Business, Aspen Publishers, 2007. Chapter 24
(Hostile Acquisitions).

 Liberti, J., “The Market for Corporate Control – M&A Motives, Tactics and Takeover
Defenses,” Class Lecture Slides, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

Supplementary Readings on Strategic Acquisitions and Takeover Defenses

 Bruner, R., “Applied Mergers & Acquisitions,” Chapter 33 (Takeover Attack and Defense).

 Hunt, P.A., “Structuring Mergers & Acquisitions: A Guide To Creating Shareholder Value,”
Third Edition, Wolters Kluwer, Law & Business, Aspen Publishers, 2007. Chapter 23 (Anti-
Takeover Measures).

 Jarrell, G.A., James A. Brickley and Jeffry M. Netter, “The Market for Corporate Control:
The Empirical Evidence Since 1980,” The Journal of Economic Perspectives, Volume 2,
Number 1, Winter 1988.

25
 Ragozzino, R. and Jeffrey J. Reuer, “Mind the Information Gap: Putting New Selection
Criteria and Deal Structures to Work in M&A,” Journal of Applied Corporate Finance,
Volume 19, Number 3, Summer 2007.

 Subramanian, G., “Takeover Defenses and Bargaining Power,” Journal of Applied Corporate
Finance, Volume 17, Number 4, Fall 2005.

Business Readings
 “North American Railways: Stop Me Before I Merge Again,” The Economist, July 20, 2000.

 “Mergers & Acquisitions. Hostile Bids are Back,” Financial Times, February 18, 2004.

 Free-Rider Problem Takes Toll on Restructurings, Financial Times.

 M&A Losers in $10 Trillion Deal Binge Led by McClatchy, Sprint (Bloomberg; August 19,
2011)

 Live-Nation Ticketmaster in $2.5B Merger Deal (MarketWatch; February 10, 2009)

26
 Week IV-A
[April 18]

Hostile Takeovers: Agency Issues

The Use of EVA™
The Role of Corporate Raiders: Hostile Takeovers
How Effective is Corporate Governance?

Recommended Readings

Required Readings on Agency Costs and Benefits of Debt

 Jensen, M., “The Agency Costs of Free Cash Flow: Corporate Finance and Takeovers,”
American Economic Review, Volume 76, Number 4, 1986.

Required Readings on EVA™ and the Role of Governance

 CA, “The Practitioner’s Guide To Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate
Finance,” Part IV: Transaction Structuring, Chapter 20 (Deal Mechanics).

 Kim, K.A. and John R. Nosfinger and Derek J. Mohr, “Corporate Governance,” Chapter 7
(Shareholders and Shareholder Activism), and Chapter 8 (Corporate Takeovers: A
Governance Mechanism?), Third Edition, Prentice Hall, 2010.

 Liberti, J., “Economic Value Added (EVA™) - Executive Compensation,” Class Lecture
Slides, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

 O’Connell, S., Michael Park and Jannick Thomsen, “Divestitures: How to Invest for
Success,” McKinsey on Finance, Number 55, Summer 2015.

Required Readings on Corporate Raiders and Hostile Takeovers

 Davidoff, Steven M., “Gods at War: Shotgun Takeovers, Government By Deal, and The
Private Equity Implosion,” Chapter 8 (Microsoft, InBev, and the Return of the Hostile
Takeover), John Wiley & Sons Inc., 2010.

Supplementary Readings on Corporate Governance

 Jarrell, G.A., James A. Brickley and Jeffrey M. Netter, “The Market for Corporate Control:
The Empirical Evidence since 1980,” The Journal of Economic Perspectives, Volume 2,
Number 1, Winter 1988.

 Shivdasani, A. and Marc Zenner, “Best Practices in Corporate Governance: What Two

27
 Decades of Research Reveals,” Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 16, Numbers
2-3, Spring/Summer 2004.

 Shleifer A. and Robert W. Vishny, “A Survey of Corporate Governance,” The Journal of

Finance, Volume 52, Number 2, June 1997.

Supplementary Readings on EVA™

 Gandhok, T., A. Dwivedi and Jatin Lal, “EVAluating Mergers and Acquisitions – How to
Avoid Overpaying,” Stern Stewart Research India, Volume 3, Issue 8, November 2001.

 O'Byrne, S.F., “EVA™ and Its Critics,” Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 12,
Number 2, Summer 1999.

 Stewart III, G.B., “EVA™: Facts and Fantasy,” Journal of Applied Corporate Finance,
Volume 7, Number 2, 71-84, Summer 1994.

Business Readings
 Cyriac, J., Ruth De Backer and Justin Sanders, “Preparing for Bigger, Bolder Shareholder
Activists,” McKinsey, March 2014.

 J.P. Morgan, Eye on the Market, “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner: Shareholder Activism
and Implications for Investors,” February 18, 2014.

 The Economist, “How Activist Shareholders Turned from Villains to Heroes,” February 17,
2014.

 The Economist, “Corporate Upgraders,” February 15, 2014.

 New York Times, “Poison Pill’s Relevance in the Age of Shareholder Activism,” Dealbook,
April 18, 2014.

28
 Week IV-B
[April 18]

Dynamics of Takeover Attempts: Tactics

Strategic vs. Financial Buyers
The Role of Hedge Funds as Activist Shareholders
The Role of Excess Cash in Valuation

Recommended Readings

Required Readings on Takeover Attempts and Defenses

 CA, “The Practitioner’s Guide To Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate
Finance,” Chapter 23.

Required Readings on Excess Cash and Valuing Control Premium

 Liberti, J., “A Note on Excess Cash: Implications for Valuation,” Note, Kellogg School of
Management, 2017.

 Passov, R., “How Much Cash Does Your Company Need?,” Harvard Business Review,
November 2003.

Business Readings
 De Heer, M. and Timothy M. Koller, “Valuing Cyclical Companies,” McKinsey Quarterly,
Number 2, 2000.

29
 Week V-A
[April 25]

Hostile Takeovers: Dynamics

Defense Strategies
The Logic of Investors and Risk Arbitrageurs

Recommended Readings

Required Readings on Hostile Takeover and the Role of Arbitrageurs

 Bruner, R., “Applied Mergers & Acquisitions,” Chapter 32 (Hostile Takeovers: Preparing a
Bid in Light of Competition and Arbitrage).
[Concentrate on the concept of takeovers as games and EVNT analysis. The Chapter is intended to support this case and
others in the area of takeovers.]

 CA, “The Practitioner’s Guide to Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate
Finance,” Part III: M&A Analysis, Chapter 16 (Stock Deals).
[Concentrate on Sub-Section: Risk Arbitrage [Pages 347-354].

 Eccles, R.G., Kersten L. Lanes and Thomas C. Wilson, “Are You Paying Too Much for That
Acquisition?,” Harvard Business Review, July-August 1999.

 Hunt, P.A., “Structuring Mergers & Acquisitions: A Guide To Creating Shareholder Value,”
Third Edition, Wolters Kluwer, Law & Business, Aspen Publishers, 2007. Chapter 24
(Hostile Acquisitions)

 Ruback, R. “The Conoco Takeover and Stockholder Returns,” Sloan Management Review,
23, 1982.

Supplementary Readings on Hostile Takeover and the Role of Arbitrageurs

 Burrough, B. and John Helyar, “Barbarians at the Gate: The Fall of RJR Nabisco,” New
York, Harper Collins, 1990.

 Jensen, M. and Richard S. Ruback, “The Market for Corporate Control: The Scientific
Evidence,” Journal of Financial Economics, 11, April 1983.

 Ruback, R., “The Cities Service Takeover: A Case Study,” Journal of Finance, May 1983.

 Ricardo-Campbell, R., “Resisting Hostile Takeovers: The Case of Gillette,” Westport,

Connecticut, Praeger Publishers, 1997.

30
 Wasserstein, B., “Big Deal 2000: The Battle for Control of America’s Leading
Corporations,” New York, Warner Books, 2000.

 Wyser-Pratte, G.P., “Risk Arbitrage II,” New York: Salomon Brothers Center for the Study
of Financial Institutions, Graduate School of Business Administration, New York University,
Monograph, 1982.

31
 Week V-B
[April 25]

Agency Issues:
Conflict of Interests between Stake-Holders
Fiduciary Duties of Board of Directors
Event Studies
Corporate Restructuring Strategies:
Spin-Offs, Split-Ups, Carve-Outs, Tracking Stock and Divestures

Recommended Readings

Required Readings on Fiduciary Duties and the Role of Board of Directors

 Liberti, J., “Factors Impacting Deals. Fiduciary Duties” Lecture Slides, Kellogg School of
Management, 2017.

 Liberti, J., “Survey of Key Court Cases,” Note, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

Required Readings on Corporate Restructuring

 Annema, A., William C. Fallon, and Marc H. Goedhart, “When Carve-Outs Make Sense,”
The McKinsey Quarterly, 2002, Number 2.

 Anslinger, P.L., Steven J. Klepper and Somu Subramanian, “Breaking Up Is Good To Do,”
The McKinsey Quarterly, 1999, Number 1.
[Very nice article on how restructuring through spin-offs, equity carve-outs, and tracking stocks can create shareholder value.]

 Fubini, D., Michael Park and Kim Thomas, “Profitably Parting Ways: Getting More Value
from Divestitures,” McKinsey on Finance, February 2013.

 Gaughan, P.A., “Mergers, Acquisitions, and Corporate Restructurings,” Fourth Edition, John
Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2007. Chapter 10 (Corporate Restructuring).

 Liberti, J., “Corporate Restructuring: Spin-Offs, Split-Ups, Carve-Outs, Tracking Stock and
Divestures,” Lecture Slides, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

Supplementary Readings on Corporate Restructuring and Corporate Control

 Anslinger, P.L., Sheila Bonini and Michael Patsalos-Fox, “Doing The Spin-Out,” The

32
 McKinsey Quarterly, 2000, Number 1.

 Anslinger, P.L., Dennis Carey, Kristin Fink, and Chris Gagnon, “Equity Carve-Outs: A New
Spin on the Corporate Structure,” The McKinsey Quarterly, 1997, Number 1.

 Anslinger, P.L., Justin Jenk, and Ravi Chanmugan, “The Art of Strategic Divestment,”
Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 15, Number 3, Spring 2003.

 Finegan, P.T., “A Closer Look at the Value of Split-Ups,” Corporate Finance Review,
March-April 1998.

 Mankis, M.C., David Harding and Rolf-Magnus Weddigen, “How the Best Divest,” Harvard
Business Review, October 2008.

 McKenna, M.R., “Divestitures: Breaking Up Is Hard To Do,” The Stern Journal, Leonard N.
Stern School of Business, Spring 2000.

33
 Week VI
[May 2]

Bankruptcy, Corporate Restructuring and Financial Distress

Chapter 11, Chapter 7, On-Going Concern vs. Private Workouts

Incentives Issues in Corporate Bankruptcy

Recommended Readings

Please refer to the Reference Material on Week I in case you are having doubts on the Capital
Cash Flow Method in order to value Marvel Entertainment Group. In case you are having doubts
you can review (again!):

 Liberti, J., “Summary Tables: Constructing Cash Flows EBIT and Net Income Version,”
Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

 Liberti, J., “Valuation Techniques: Summary of Formulae and Concepts,” Note, Kellogg
School of Management, 2017.

Required Readings on Bankruptcy and Financial Distress

 Ayer, J.D., Michael Bernstein and Jonathan Friedland, American Bankruptcy Institute
Journal, “What Every Unsecured Creditor Should Know About Chapter 11.”

 CA, “The Practitioner’s Guide To Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate
Finance,” Part IV: Transaction Structuring, Chapter 22 (Corporate Restructurings).
[Concentrate on Financial Restructuring [Pages 530-535]].

 Gaughan, P.A., “Mergers, Acquisitions, and Corporate Restructurings,” Fourth Edition, John
Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2007. Chapter 11 (Restructuring in Bankruptcy).

 Gilson, S., “Managing Default: Some Evidence On How Firms Choose Between Workouts
and Chapter 11,” Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 4, Issue 2, Summer 1991.
[This is a must read article!].

 Gilson, S., “Investing in Distressed Situations: A Market Survey,” Financial Analysts

Journal, Volume 51, No. 6, November-December, 1995.

 Liberti, J., “Special Cases In Valuation: Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate
Restructuring,” Note, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.
[Concentrate on Section II: Corporate Restructuring. Section I was covered during Week III (Paramount)].

34
 Liberti, J., “Summary of the Chapter 11 Process – Glossary of Terms,” Note, Kellogg School
of Management, 2017.
[Concentrate on Summary of the Chapter 11 Process [Pages1-7]].

 Liberti, J., “Tax Loss Carry Backs and Tax Loss Carry Forwards. Section 382 and
Bankruptcy Laws,” Note, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

 Liberti, J., “Bankruptcy – Codes and Practices,” Lecture Slides, Kellogg School of
Management, 2017.

 Liberti, J., “Corporate Restructuring in Financial Distress: Private Workouts and

Bankruptcy,” Lecture Slides, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

 Liberti. J., “Corporate Reorganization Primer,” Lecture Slides, Kellogg School of

Management, 2017.

Supplementary Readings on Capital Cash Flow

 Ruback, R., “Capital Cash Flows: A Simple Approach to valuing Risky Cash Flows,”
Working Paper, May 2000.

Supplementary Readings on Bankruptcy and Financial Distress

 Baker, G.P., “Beatrice: A Study in the Creation and Destruction of Value,” The Journal of
Finance , Vol. XLVII, Number 3, July 1992.

 Bris, A., Ivo Welch and Ning Zhu, “The Costs of Bankruptcy: Chapter 7 Liquidation versus
Chapter 11 Reorganization,” The Journal of Finance, Vol. LXI, Number 3, June 2006.

 Franks, J., Kjell G. Nyborg and Walter N. Torous, “A Comparison of US, UK, and German
Insolvency Codes,” Financial Management, Volume 25, Number 3, Autumn 1996.

 Senbet, L.W. and James K. Seward, “Financial Distress, Bankruptcy and Reorganization,”
Chapter 28, R. Jarrow et al., Eds., Handbooks in OR & MS, Volume 9, 1995, Elsevier
Science B.V.

 Sprayregen, J.H.M. and Jonathan P. Friedland, “The Legal Considerations of Acquiring

Distressed Business: A Primer,” Journal of Bankruptcy Law and Practice, Volume 11, 3-26,
November 2002.

 Sprayregen, J.H.M., Jonathan P. Friedland, Shirley S.Cho, “The Zone of Insolvency: What a
Company Entered Into It, And Once There, What Are The Boards’ Duties?”, Kirkland &
Ellis, May 22, 2002.

 Sprayregen, J.H.M., Jonathan P. Friedland and Evan Gartenlaub, “First Things First – A

35
 Primer On How To Obtain Appropriate “First Day” Relief In Chapter 11 Cases,” Journal of
Bankruptcy Law and Practice, Volume 11, 275-312, November 2002.

 Teitelbaum, J., Richard S. Toder and Wendy S. Walker, “A Overview of the 2005
Bankruptcy Act,” Morgan Lewis Counselors at Law, April 2005.

Business Readings
 “A Guide to Bankruptcy, Insolvency Practices in the U.S. and Europe”, Turnaround
Management Association, International News, 18-26, April 2006.

 “Attorneys General Seek “Cram Downs”?, Fierce Finance, October 31, 2010.

 “The Do’s and Do Nots of Navigating Chapter 11 Rough Waters,” Business Presentation
Cooley LLP, 2010.

Supplementary Readings on Corporate Governance

 Jarrell, G.A., James A. Brickley and Jeffry M. Netter, “The Market for Corporate Control:
The Empirical Evidence Since 1980,” The Journal of Economic Perspectives, Volume 2,
Number 1, Winter 1988.

 Shleifer A. and Robert W.Vishny, “A Survey of Corporate Governance,” The Journal of

Finance, Volume LII, Number 2, June 1997.

36
 Week VII
[May 9]

Bankruptcy, Corporate Restructuring and Financial Distress

Chapter 11, Chapter 7, On-Going Concern vs. Private Workouts

Founding Families and Public Shareholders

Exit Modes: “363 Sale”

Recommended Readings

Required Readings on Distressed Investment

 Liberti. J., “Distressed Debt Investment,” Lecture Slides, Kellogg School of Management,
2017.
[Concentrate on the Corporate Restructuring Section and the Prisoner’s Dilemma problem [Slides 16-26]].

 Moyer, G.S., David Martin and John Martin, “A Primer on Distressed Investing: Buying
Companies by Acquiring Their Debt,” Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 24,
Number 4, Fall 2012.

 Stern Stewart, “Roundtable on Preserving Value in Chapter 11,” Journal of Applied

Corporate Finance, Volume 16, Numbers 2-3, Spring/Summer 2004.

 Sprayregen, J.H.M. and Jonathan P. Friedland, “The Legal Considerations of Acquiring

Distressed Business: A Primer,” Journal of Bankruptcy Law and Practice, Volume 11, 3-26,
November 2002.

Required Readings on “363 Sale”

 Brubaker, R. and Charles J. Tabb, “Tabb-Bankruptcy Reorganizations and the Troubling
Legacy of Chrysler,” Presentation.

 Deutsch, D. and Michael G. Distefano, “The Mechanics of a §363 Sale,” American

Bankruptcy Institute Journal, 2011.

 Sable, R.G., Michael J. Roeschenthaler and Daniel F. Blanks, “When the 363 Sale Is the Best
Route,” Journal of Bankruptcy Law and Practice, Volume 15, 2006.

 Walsh, T.W., “Section 363: A Useful Tool for Asset Sales in Bankruptcy,” DLA Piper, 2009.

37
 Week VIII
[May 16]

Valuation of Leverage Buyouts (LBOs)

Private Equity
Strategic vs. Financial
Dealing With Time-Varying Capital Structure
Using Cash Flow Available for Debt Service (CADS)

Recommended Readings

Required Readings on Private Equity & LBOs

 Allen, J.R., “LBOs – The Evolution of Financial Structures and Strategies,” Journal of
Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 8, Number 4, Winter 1996.

 BMA, “Principles of Corporate Finance”, Chapters 33.

[Concentrate on Section 33.1: Leveraged Buyouts and Section 33.2: Fusion and Fission In Corporate Finance]

 Jensen, M., “Eclipse of the Public Corporation,” Harvard Business Review, 1997.
[This is a fantastic article to understand the role of Leveraged Buyouts and other transactions such as takeovers, corporate
break-ups and spin-offs in shaping a new organization during the late 1980s.]

 Kaplan, S. N. and Jeremy C. Stein, “The Evolution of Buyout Pricing and Financial Structure
(Or, What Went Wrong) In The 1980s,” Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 6,
Number 1, Spring 1993.

 Liberti, J., “An Example of a LBO Transaction: Is Debenhams a Potential LBO Candidate?,”
Presentation, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

 Liberti, J., “Leveraged Buyouts (LBOs),” Lecture Slides, Kellogg School of Management,
2017.

Supplementary Readings on LBOs and the Market for Corporate Control

 Acharya, V., Julian Franks and Henri Servaes, “Private Equity: Boom or Bust?,” Journal of
Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 19, Number 4, Fall 2007.

 CA, “The Practitioner’s Guide To Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate
Finance,” Chapter 12.

 Cornell, B. and Kevin Green, “The Investment Performance of Low-grade Bond Funds,” The

38
 Journal of Finance, Volume 46, Number 1, March 1991.
 Denis, D.J., “The Benefits of High Leverage: Lessons From Kroger’s Leveraged Recap and
Safeway’s LBO,” Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 7, Number 4, Winter
1995.

 Harper, N.W.C. and Antoon Schneider, “Private Equity’s New Challenge,” McKinsey on
Finance, Summer 2004.

 Jarrell, G.A., James A. Brickley and Jeffrey M. Netter, “The Market for Corporate Control:
The Empirical Evidence Since 1980,” The Journal of Economic Perspectives, Volume 2,
No.1, Winter 1988.

Supplementary Readings on Limited Arbitrage

 Mitchell, M., Todd Pulvino and Erik Stafford, “Limited Arbitrage in Equity Markets,” The
Journal of Finance, Volume 57, Number 2, April 2002.

Business Readings
 “Forget Formulae and trust gut instinct, advises Buffett,” Financial Times, May, 2003.

 “The Next Warrant Buffett?,” Business Week, November 2004.

[Recommended Pages: Definitely read this article. Fantastic!]

39
 Workshop B
[May 19]

LBO Modeling
CCF and Cash Flow Available to Service Debt (CADS)
Equity Cash Flows and IRRs to Sponsors
The LBO Valuation Model
Target IRR Model

Recommended Readings

Required Readings on Private Equity and LBOs

 CA, “The Practitioner’s Guide To Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate
Finance,” Part II: Valuation, Chapter 12 (Leverage Buyouts).

 Liberti, J., “Private Equity and LBOs: Equity Cash, IRR and the LBO Valuation Model,”
Lecture Slides, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

 Liberti, J., “Note on Equity Cash Flows,” Note, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

40
 Week IX-A/IX-B
[May 23]

Strategic vs. Financial Sponsors

Sources of Value in LBOs
Value Creation in Private Equity
The LBO Valuation Model
CCF, CADS, ECF and IRRs to Sponsors

Required Readings on Private Equity and LBOs

 CA, “The Practitioner’s Guide To Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate
Finance,” Part II: Valuation, Chapter 12 (Leverage Buyouts).

 Davidoff, S.M., “Gods at War: Shotgun Takeovers, Government by Deal, and the Private
Equity Implosion,” Wiley, 2010. Chapter 7 (Jana Partners, Children’s Investment Fund, and
the Hedge Fund Activist Investing) and Chapter 9 (Mars, Pfizer and the Changing Face of
Strategic Deals).

 Gaughan, P.A., “Mergers, Acquisitions, and Corporate Restructurings,” Fourth Edition, John
Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2007. Chapter 7 (Leveraged Buyouts).

 Gompers, P., Steven N. Kaplan and Vladimir Mukharlyamov, “What Do Private Equity
Firms (Say They) Do?,” Working Paper, February 2014.

 Hall, R., “Stapled Finance Packages Under Scrutiny,” Cravath Swaine & Moore, IFLR 1000.

 Heel, J. and Conor Kehoe, “Why Some Private Equity Firms Do Better Than Others,” The
McKinsey Quarterly, Number 1, 2005.

 Kaplan, S. and Per Strömberg, “Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity,” Journal of
Economic Perspectives, Volume 23, Number 1, Spring 2009.
[This is a must read article! The Section: Is Private Equity a Superior Organizational Form? [Pages 130-136] describes in detail
the changes private equity firms apply to the firms in which they are investing in.]

 Kehoe, C. and Robert N. Palter, “The Future of Private Equity,” McKinsey on Finance,
Spring 2009.

 Liberti, J., “Private Equity and LBOs: Equity Cash, IRR and the LBO Valuation Model,”
Lecture Slides, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

41
 Liberti, J., “Note on Equity Cash Flows,” Note, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

 Liberti, J., “Leveraged Buyout Case Studies: Transaction Overview,” Lecture Slides, Kellogg
School of Management, 2017.

 Wruck, K.H., “Private Equity, Corporate Governance, and the Reinvention of the Market for
Corporate Control,” Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 20, Number 3, Summer
2008.

Business Readings
 “Dearborn Partners In Transition,” Crain's Chicago Business; February 9, 2009.

 “Lacking Leverage, Firms Embrace EBOs,” The Wall Street Journal; March 12, 2009.

 “Leveraged Loan Financing Comes Out of Deep Freeze, “ Financial Times; February, 2010.

 Schneider, K., “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Sharia?” Real Deals, November 27,
2008.
[As Islamic financial products become increasingly popular, Kai Schneider of Latham & Watkins explains how to make a fund
Sharia-compliant.]

 Tinlin, A., Markus Rimner and Rajesh Sennik, “Dealing with the Downturn Private Equity:
Private Practices,” Accenture Outlook, 2009.

Supplementary Readings on Private Equity and LBOs

 Acharya, V., Julian Franks and Henri Servaes, “Private Equity: Boom or Bust?,” Journal of
Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 19, Number 4, Fall 2007.

 Allen, J.R., “LBOs – The Evolution of Financial Structures and Strategies,” Journal of
Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 8, Number 4, Winter 1996.

 Butler, P., “The Alchemy of LBOs,” The McKinsey Quarterly, 2001, Number 2

 Denis, D.J., “The Benefits of High Leverage: Lessons From Kroger’s Leveraged Recap and
Safeway’s LBO,” Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 7, Number 4, Winter
1995.

 Gompers, P. and Josh Lerner, “Money Chasing Deals?: The Impact of Fund Inflows on the
Valuation of Private Equity Investments,” Journal of Financial Economics, 55, 281-325,
February 2000.

 Kaplan, S. N. and Jeremy C. Stein, “The Evolution of Buyout Pricing and Financial Structure
(Or, What Went Wrong) In The 1980s,” Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 6,
Number 1, Spring 1993.

42
 Kay, I.T and Mike Shelton, “The People Problem In Mergers,” The McKinsey Quarterly,
2000, Number 4.

 Uhlaner, R.T. and Andrew S. West, “Running a Winning M&A Shop,” The McKinsey
Quarterly, March 2008.

43
 Week X
[May 30]

Sources of Value in LBOs

Value Creation in Private Equity
Corporate Restructuring and Asset Backed Securities
Securitization

Recommended Readings

Required Readings on the Financial Crisis and LBO Market

 Liberti, J., “The Impact of the Financial Crisis on LBOs and Private Equity Activity,”
Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

Required Readings on Asset Backed Securities

 Financial Security Assurance, Inc. (FSA), “A Guide to Insured Backed Securities,” FSA,
2000.

 Gangwani, S., “Speaking of Securitization: Securitization 101,” Deloitte & Touche, Volume
3, Issue 4-1, Special Edition, July 20, 1998.

 Liberti, J., “The Securitization Process: Asset Backed Securities and Mortgage Backed
Securities,” Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

 Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, “Special-Purpose Bankruptcy-Remote Entities,” U.S.

CMBS Legal and Structured Finance Criteria, Chapter 4, The McGraw-Hill Companies,
2003.

Supplementary Readings on Asset Backed Securities

 Kotecha, M.K., “The Role of Insurance In Asset-Backed Securities,” International

Securitization (Chapter 9), 193-207

 Leixner, T.C., “Securitization of Financial Assets,” Holland & Knight LLP, September 1999

 Standard & Poor's Structured Finance, "Global Collateralized Bond and Loan Obligation
(CBO/CLO) Criteria," McGraw-Hill Companies, 1999

44
 Week XI
[May 31]

The Role and Economic Logic of Risk Arbitrageurs (“Arbs”)

Key Value Drivers for Arbs
Sensitivity of Arbs to Returns, Time and Outcomes
Calculating the Value of Offers and Probabilities of Events

Recommended Readings

Required Readings on the Role of Arbs

 CA, “The Practitioner’s Guide To Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate
Finance,” Part III: M&A Analysis, Chapter 16 (Stock Deals).
[Concentrate on Sub-Section: Risk Arbitrage [Pages 347-354].]

 Bruner, R., “Applied Mergers & Acquisitions,” Chapter 32 (Hostile Takeovers: Preparing a
Bid in Light of Competition and Arbitrage).

 Liberti, J., “Note on Excess Cash & Marketable Securities: Implications for Valuation. The
Cost of Excess Cash,” Note, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

Required Readings on Fashion and Handbags

 Morris, J.E., “The Handbag Wars,” American Lawyer, May 1999.

Supplementary Readings on Understanding and Pricing Options

 BdeM, “Corporate Finance,” Part VII: Options, Chapter 20 (Financial Options) and Chapter
21 (Option Valuation).

 BMA, “Principles of Corporate Finance,” Part Six, Chapter 21 (Understanding Options) and
Chapter 22 (Valuing Options).

 Liberti, J., “Understanding Options. Valuing Options,” Reference Material: Chapter X,

Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

45
 Kellogg School of Management
Northwestern University
FINC 448: M&As, LBOs and Corporate Restructuring
Section 80
Winter 2018

José María Liberti

COURSE SYLLABUS
[Draft Version – Similar to Spring 2017]

A. Aims and Objectives

The course involves analysis of corporate restructuring strategies including mergers,
acquisitions, and takeovers, financial re-capitalization, leveraged buyouts, management buyouts,
going private, and reorganization under bankruptcy. The course integrates the corporate
governance and agency dimensions, financial and strategic management aspects, and legal and
accounting considerations into a unified framework for investigating issues such as, pre-merger
planning, fact-finding, accounting and tax implications, anti-trust problems, post-merger
integration, and short-term and long- term shareholder wealth consequences of financial and
organizational restructuring transactions. The course combines applied theoretical approach with
the case study method through detailed analysis of domestic and global restructuring cases. The
focus will be on fundamental concepts of valuation and analytical tools of corporate finance
related to restructuring.

The aim of the course is for the students to understand the motivations, decision processes,
transaction execution, and valuation consequences of financial, business, and organizational
restructuring by corporate units. The course facilitates developing ability among students to
plan, evaluate, and execute corporate restructuring strategies using financial modeling and
quantitative techniques. In addition, objective of this course is to enable students to appreciate
the fundamental issues involved in the structure and functioning of market for corporate control
within the framework of finance theory. The course is designed so as to create an interface or
link between the academic and the practitioner perspectives of various dimensions of corporate
restructuring process.

Who Should Take This Course? The course is aimed at students planning to work for
investment banks and corporate advisory firms involved in business restructuring and
turnarounds, mergers and acquisitions, and financial reorganization transactions. The course
offers a comprehensive strategic perspective, a framework of conceptual and theoretical
paradigms, and applied tools for deal design and corporate valuations that may facilitate students
establishing their own consulting and advisory services.

At the completion of the course the students will have developed a capability to accomplish the
following:
 Master the language and processes of M&A. Basic knowledge about the field of M&A is the
 foundation for effective work in a wide range of fields including corporate development,
investment banking, consulting, and advising senior management. Class case discussions, the
books and articles, the lecture slides and the practical experience of the instructor will help
you master the basics.
 Identify M&A issues worth of attention. For example, in today’s environment Corporate
Restructuring, Corporate Reorganization, Private Equity and Leveraged Buyouts seem to be
the most relevant. The next stage of professional competency is to develop an instinct for the
problems and opportunities in an M&A situation. This course highlights elements in the
structure and process of every M&A transaction that deserve professional scrutiny.
 Analyze both M&As and LBOs transactions rigorously. Valuation analysis is the core skill in
M&A and is supplemented by analyses of strategy, dilution, financing, and risk management.
The course will exercise analytics in these areas.
 Develop a concept and design deals. All transactions begin with the spark of an idea.
Translating that idea into a concrete proposal takes hard work. Doing so teaches a lot about
the drivers of M&A success, where value will be coming from (the asset side or liability side
of the balance sheet) and the elements of deal design. Designing a transaction requires skills
of analysis and negotiation. We will survey a number of analytic tools, and then exercise
them. Solving and modeling each case will teach you a great deal about the design process.
We will survey some strategic frameworks useful in M&A, and the steps necessary to
translate a concept into a solid proposal.
 Form an opinion about a proposed deal. The key aim of the course is to create an ability to
think critically, rather than becoming specialists of one particular area of M&A and Private
Equity. Training in M&A should settle for nothing less. We will review a framework about
deal design, and apply it to several cases.

The subject is complex, competition in M&A and Private Equity is intense, and the
consequences of error are large. If you tackle this course earnestly, you will learn a great deal. At
the same time, your learning will be deeper and more effective if you engage the course in the
spirit of invention and curiosity rather than for the sake of a “grade.” The course will argue that
deal design is fundamentally a creative effort. The best creativity happens in an environment that
is both demanding and fun. I will intend and do my best to promote this; you should too.

B. Learning Outcomes
The learning goals of the course are given by the following:
 Develop an all-inclusive analytical framework for planning corporate restructuring
transactions:
o Explain the structure and functioning of market for corporate control.
o Identify major market forces generated and corporate specific opportunities for
creating value through corporate restructuring transactions.
o Evaluate the objectives and motivations of various stakeholders: shareholders,
managers, bondholders and employees among others behind restructuring activities.
o To be able to utilize forecasting tools to quantify future cash flows and capital needs.

2
 o To be able to identify and estimate value of operational, financial, and managerial
synergies and incorporate those into the deal value calculations.
o Demonstrate knowledge of deal negotiation process and deal documentation.
o From an investor perspective, be able to negotiate with other players pre- and post-
deal structuring.
o Identify and resolve conflicting issues in the target/acquirer relationship.
o Understand how corporate restructuring creates value; when it makes sense for a
company to restructure; and what kind of most restructuring is most appropriate for
dealing with a given problem.
o To be able to identify what issues and challenges managers have to deal with when
implementing a restructuring and to ensure the goals of the restructuring strategies are
achieved.
 Explain various legal and regulatory provisions as they impact the choice and performance
implication of various restructuring transactions.
o Evaluate available alternatives- deal structures and terms- for various corporate
combinations to achieve positive value consequences given the US and global
regulatory parameters.
o Analyze implications of tax, fair trade practices, and securities laws for deal design
and implementation.
o Be able to design a “Win-Win” deal for both the parties involved in a corporate
combination transaction.
 Be able to conduct valuation of the mergers, acquisitions, and corporate divestitures.
o Use due diligence process to identify and strategically evaluate a target or an
acquisition offer.
o Apply various valuation methodologies to quantify the financial impact of
restructuring transactions.
o As an acquirer, conduct comparative valuation of various targets to arrive at different
offer price scenarios.
o From a target perspective, apply well accepted finance concepts like risk-return trade-
off, cost of capital, capital structure, equity risk premium, and CAPM framework to
evaluate acquisition proposals.
o Quantify value implications of various financing alternatives and payment methods.
 Analyze various corporate governance structures and agency conflicts and their implications
for corporate investors and hence market value of the firm in question.
o Identify variety of exit modes for incumbent managements and boards of target firms.
o As an acquirer, design various takeover tactics in a manner so as to minimize value
loss to either the target, or the acquirer or the combined post-merger entity. Be able to
minimize adverse impact of takeover defense provision in the target firm.
o As a target, evaluate and redesign existing takeover defense mechanisms to maximize
positive value consequences of a particular deal.

 Design and implement going private/ leveraged buyout transactions including being able to
identify alternative sources of capital and planning post LBO reorganization plan.
o Learn how to calculate IRR to sponsors.

3
 o Using the LBO model as a backward induction tool, determine the maximum amount
of equity that a Private Equity firm may be willing to offer in an LBO transaction.
 Explain various factors leading to financial distress and be able to evaluate alternatives
available to restore to financial health.
o Evaluate pros and cons of Chapter 11 (Reorganization) and Chapter 7 (Liquidation)
restructuring options and their wealth consequences for varios stakeholders in the
firm.
o Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of “363 sales” in fraud-driven
bankruptcies.
o Explore the role of controlling and minority shareholders in closely-held firms and
the extraction of private benefits of control.
 Be able to analyze financial and legal aspects unique to cross-border restructuring transactions
and incorporate those aspects into deal design and implementation.

C. Focus of Study: Scope of Ideas and Topics

M&A will draw on cases and examples with the following leanings:
o The large publicly held corporation headquartered in the U.S. and abroad.
o Mainly oriented to finance, though the course will draw in contributions from accounting,
law, business strategy, organizational behavior, and the role of incentives of each of the
players involved in the transaction.
o Primary attention will be given to U.S. laws and regulations.
o Mainly oriented to transaction design, rather than the development of long-term policies.

Success in M&A is defined first and foremost in the creation of economic value or unlocking
value. This value may come from different sources, such as, enhanced financial stability,
improved competitive position, strengthened organization, enhanced reputation, and observance
of the letter and spirit of laws and ethics, among many others.

These kinds of outcomes are the fruits of two important influences:

o Structure of the Environment in Which the Deal Takes Shape. This includes the nature of
the economic opportunity, the strategic setting of the buyer and target, the nature of the
organizations of the buyer and target, the reputation and incentive of the players, and the
matrix of laws and ethical norms surrounding the firms.
o Conduct of the Players. Given the constraints and opportunities in the environment, how
you play the M&A game significantly shapes outcomes. We will explore the influence of
conduct in areas such as acquisition search, due diligence, negotiation and bidding,
dealing with laws, regulations, and the judicial system, deal design, post-merger
integration, communication, and management of the deal development process.

In short, the course presents a considerably richer view of M&A than you will have seen in
previous courses and newspaper or magazine articles.

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We will use the case method to motivate our discussion to close the gap between rigorous
finance theory and its application to practical problems in corporate finance, and the thought-
process required when faced with this gap. The course is roughly divided into 5 core topics.

Part A: Valuation Methods Review. Where Is Enterprise Value Coming From?

Valuation Methods and Techniques
o Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC)
o Unlevering and Relevering Betas
o Discounted Cash Flows Modelling
 Free Cash Flows or Unlevered Cash Flows
 Capital Cash Flows or Levered Cash Flows
 Equity Cash Flows or Residual Cash Flows
o Adjusted Present Value (APV)
 The Relation Between APV and CCF
o Relative Valuation Analysis: Transaction and Trading Multiples
o Developing Break-Up Analysis
o Sensitivity Tables

Part B: Traditional M&A Topics and Transactions

Hostile Takeovers and Friendly Acquisitions. Strategic and Financial Aspects
o Tender Offers: Hostile vs. Friendly Takeovers
o Defense Tactics: Pre-Emptive Defenses vs. Post-Offer Defenses
 Deal Agreements and Deal Protections
 Structural Defenses vs. Non-Structural Defenses
 “The White Knight”
 Poison Pills: Flip-In vs. Flip-Over
 “Vote” vs. “Value” vs. “Board” Related Defenses
o Why Perform Accretion/Dilution Analysis?
o Why Perform Contribution Analysis?
o Acquisition Currency: Cash vs. Stock
o One vs. Two-Tier Offers
o Merger of Equals: How to Split the Firm?
o The Diversification Discount. Is it a Myth?
o The Market for Corporate Control
 Delaware vs. Pennsylvania Courts
 Fiduciary Duties of Board of Directors

Part C: The Role of Corporate Raiders and Activists in Disciplinary Takeovers

o Shareholders activism as a corporate governance mechanism.
 Are Corporate Raiders “good” or “bad”? For whom?
 Are Corporate Raiders or Activist Shareholders necessary?
o Corporate Raiders as a disciplinary takeover mechanism.
 Why are disciplinary takeover the most successful?
o The Role of Proxy fights
o Staggered boards as defense mechanism to hostile takeovers.

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Part D: Creating Value through Corporate Restructuring
o Corporate Reorganization Strategies
 Spin-Offs, Carve-Outs, Target Stock and Divestures
o Financial Distress & Bankruptcy
 Chapter 11 (Reorganization)
 Chapter 7 (Liquidation)
 Out-of-Court Restructuring vs. On-Going Concern
o Net Operating Losses (NOLs and Capital Losses)
o The Role of Private Equities in Value Creation

Part E: Private Equity and Leveraged Buyouts (LBOs)

o The Role of Private Equity Firms: Screening for Candidates
 Strategic and Financial Sponsors
 Pros and Cons of Different Sponsors
o Financial Modeling of LBOs
 The Problem of Changing Capital Structure
 Capital Cash Flows vs. Equity Cash Flows
 The Method of Backward Induction
 The Role of a Target IRR
 Maximum Equity vs. Debt Capacity

Part F: The Role of Risk “Arbs”

Managing M&A Risk: Collars, Earn-Outs and Contingent Value Rights
o The Role of Arbitrageurs in the M&A scenario.
 Interpreting arbitrage spreads.
 Calculating the probability of success of a transaction from the
arbitrage spread.
o Managing M&A Risk with Collars, Earn-Outs and CVRs
o Two classes of M&A risk:
 Pre-Closing: Fluctuations in bidder’s and target’s stock prices.
 Post-Closing: Failure of target to perform to expectations.
o Pros and Cons for bidder and target shareholders of using Fixed Collar
Offers vs. Floating Collar Offers.

Part A acts as reference material. We will go back and forth to the material in Part A throughout
the course. In addition to analyzing the specific financing problems or issues, we will consider
how those issues relate to the strategic and business objectives of the firm. It will be important to
examine the “big picture” assumptions that are used in the numerical calculations. This course
also places emphasis on presentation and discussion skills. It will be important to explain your
positions to each other and to argue convincingly for your recommendations.

Part D, E and F are very important in today’s economic environment. I teach the course from the
perspective that corporate restructurings —far from being a rare or episodic event that happens to

6
“someone else”— is a common and important event in the professional lives of many managers.
The reach of Corporate Restructuring, Private Equity and LBOs is far greater than any statistic
may show. The course also emphasizes that the scope of corporate restructuring has become
increasingly global, as heightened competition in international product, capital and labor markets
puts tremendous pressure on companies worldwide to increase, their competitiveness and
maximize their market value.

D. Course Material
The reading material for the course is contained in:

 A digital case and article packet which is available at Study.Net (www.Study.Net). The
digital package contains all the cases and copyrighted material you will need to purchase for
the class during the quarter. All the other necessary material including slides, lecture notes
and articles will be uploaded in Dropbox. I will not distribute this material in class, so you
should therefore print this material or just read the material on-line before class and for each
assignment. I will only distribute in class the case solution(s) for the case(s) we are
discussing and solving in that specific session.

 Bruner, R.F. (Bruner), “Applied Mergers & Acquisitions,” First Edition, John Wiley & Sons,
Inc., 2004. You may want to by the edition without the CD-ROM.

 Castillo, J.J. and Peter J. McAniff (CA), “The Practitioner’s Guide to Investment Banking,
Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate Finance,” First Edition, Circinus Business Press, 2007.

 Kim, K.A. and John R. Nosfinger and Derek J. Mohr, (KNM) “Corporate Governance,”
Third Edition, Prentice Hall, 2010.

I highly recommend a small, practical and inexpensive but surprisingly comprehensive

dictionary defining over 5,000 terms:

 Downes, J. and Jordan Elliott Goodman, “Dictionary of Finance and Investment Terms,”
Ninth Edition, Prentice Hall, 2014.

As reference material for basic corporate finance topics you may want to use any of the usual
graduate textbooks:

 Berk. J. and Peter DeMarzo (BDeM), “Corporate Finance,” Second Edition, Pearson Addison
Wesley, 2010. You can also use any other textbook you used in your core corporate finance
classes.

 Brealey, R., Stewart Myers and Franklin Allen (BMA), “Principles of Corporate Finance,”
9th Edition, McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2007. This is another textbook you may find useful in case
you want to review core topics that were taught in your corporate finance classes.

7
 Grinblatt, M and Sheridan Titman, “Financial Markets and Corporate Strategy”, 2nd Edition,
Irwin/McGraw Hill, 2001.Use this textbook as a more advanced reference book.

In addition (most of) the material will also uploaded in Dropbox during the term (subject to
copyright regulations). I will also hand out during the course teaching slides and additional
reading material as well as case solutions. In some cases I will e-mail my valuation model, so
you can follow in class how my solution looks like relative to the one your group produced. All
material I distribute in class will also be uploaded in Dropbox, except for the solutions of the
cases. If you are missing any material, you should contact me via e-mail. I will be happy to
provide it.

There are several other books on the market covering Mergers & Acquisitions, The Market for
Corporate Control and the Role of Private Equity to various degrees of depth. We will not use
these books in this course, but if you nevertheless wish to consult other books occasionally, here
are some good useful books. In some cases I will upload in Dropbox some of the chapters of
these books according to the topics we cover each week. You should also feel free to ask me for
book recommendations in other topics if you are interested.

 Adolph, G., Justin Pettit and Michael Sisk, “Merge Ahead: Mastering the Five Enduring
Trends of Artful M&A,” First Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2009. The book contains the most up-
to-date information available on recent mergers and trends in the world of M&A. It conveys
critical information in concise and fast-paced language, providing a hands-on resource that
won’t bog you down.

 Arzac, E.R., “Valuation for Mergers, Buyouts and Restructuring,” Second Edition, John
Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2008.

 DePamphilis, D.M., “Mergers, Acquisitions, and Other Restructuring Activities,” Fourth

Edition, Academic Press, Elsevier Inc., 2008.

 Gaughan, P.A., “Mergers, Acquisitions and Corporate Restructurings,” Fourth Edition, John
Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2007.

 Gaughan, P.A., “Mergers: What Can Go Wrong and How to Prevent It,” John Wiley and
Sons, Inc., 2005.

 Gilson, S.C., “Creating Value Through Corporate Restructuring: Case Studies in

Bankruptcies, Buyouts and Breakups,” John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2001.

 Hunt, P.A., “Structuring Mergers & Acquisitions: A Guide To Creating Shareholder Value,”
Third Edition, Wolters Kluwer, Law & Business, Aspen Publishers, 2007.

 Lajoux, A.R. and Charles M. Elson, “The Art of Due Diligence,” McGraw-Hill, First
Edition, 2000. Drawing on the experience of 100 experts, the book shows non-lawyers how
to navigate due diligence and how to uncover data that can break a deal. Featuring global

8
 perspectives and special insights for small businesses, manufacturers, and service companies,
this primer is essential for everyone involved in M&As.

 Lajoux, A.R. and H. Peter Nesvold, “The Art of M&A Structuring: Techniques for
Mitigating Financial, Tax, and Legal Risk,” McGraw-Hill, 2003.

 Reed, S.F., Alexandra Lajoux, and H.Peter Nesvold, “The Art of M&A: A Merger
Acquisition Buyout,” Fourth Edition, McGraw-Hill 2007. This is a classic book with vital
information on the process of M&As: Getting Started; Planning and Finding; Valuation and
Pricing; Financing and Refinancing; Structuring Deals; Due Diligence Practices; Negotiation,
Agreements and Letter of Intent; Post-Merger Integration Issues, Workout, Bankruptcies and
Liquidations and Structuring Transactions with International Aspects.

 Schweiger, D., “M&A Integration: A Framework for Executives and Managers,” First
Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2002. Studies of Fortune 500 executives found that post-merger
integration issues such as culture clashes, style, ego, and management changes are the most
common pitfalls that can derail otherwise successful mergers or acquisitions. The book
provides a practical framework for integrating acquisitions while helping managers direct
each step in the volatile and uncertain post-merger integration process.

For valuation purposes four good references are:

 Castillo, J.J and Peter J. McAniff, “The Practitioner’s Guide to Investment Banking, Mergers
& Acquisitions, Corporate Finance,” First Edition, Circinus Business Press, 2007.

 Damodaran, A., “Damodaran on Valuation: Security Analysis for Investment and Corporate
Finance,” Second Edition, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2006.

 Damodaran, A., “Investment Valuation: Tools and Techniques for Determining the Value of
Any Asset,” Second Edition, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2002.

 Koller, T., M. Goedhart and D. Wessels “Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of
Companies”, Fourth Edition, McKinsey & Company Inc., John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2005.

 Rosenbaum, J. and Joshua Pearl, “Investment Banking: Valuation, Leveraged Buyouts, and
Mergers & Acquisitions,” John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2009.

They are generally pretty expensive books, so feel free to consult me before buying any of them.
I can lend them to you so you can browse through them and check whether you feel they may be
useful for your future careers or current jobs. I highly recommend the two valuation books since
they are unique source of reference when dealing with particular topics in valuation.

The following list of books is those which I have found interesting as well as informative. They
are more like bed-time reading. If after my class you are interested in additional reading, please,

9
let me know. This list is meant to be my suggestions of where you can start looking.

 Anders, G., Merchants of Debt: KKR and the Mortgaging of American Business, Beard
Books, 2002. An insider Wall Street Journal reporter explores the leveraged-buyout
operations of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts. The LBOs of Safeway, Beatrice, Duracell and RJR
Nabisco are explained in an easy way.

 Bernstein, P., Capital Ideas: The Improbable Origins of Modern Wall Street, Wiley, 2005.
This book is a history of modern finance. If you read this book you will notice how closely
academic and practical finance are intertwined.

 Chew Jr., D.H., The New Corporate Finance. Where Theory Meets Practice, McGraw-Hill
Irwin, 3rd Edition, 2001. This is a good source of readings on applied corporate finance
classic papers.

 Koller, T. Marc Goedhart, and David Wessels, Valuation: Measuring and Managing the
Value of Companies, McKinsey & Company, 4th Edition, 2005. A reasonable reference on
valuation, more practical and less analytical than BMA and GT. This is a practitioner guide
to valuation, and is on the whole correct.

 Milgrom, P. and John Roberts, Economics, Organization & Management, Prentice Hall,
1992.

 Schwager, J.D., The New Market Wizards: Conversations with America’s Top Traders,
Harper, 1994. This book is a series of interviews with very successful traders. These are
people who have beaten their respective markets.

E. Course Procedures: Group Case Write-Ups

Deadlines for the class are non-negotiable. If you have a question about a deadline, you should
resolve it prior to the deadline. Under special circumstances, you may arrange to turn in your
work early. Submissions will not be accepted after the due date and exams may not be taken late.
Late submissions or taking an exam later than your scheduled time may provide a student with
unfair advantage over other students. In the interest of fairness, all students must face the same
set of deadlines.

There will be 11/12 group case write-ups/assignments depending on the availability and
feasibility of time as the course progresses. Case write-ups must be submitted on time before the
beginning of each lecture. No credit will be given for late cases. I will grade the cases on a scale
of 0 to 5 (including decimals places) and give you as much feedback as possible in the
corrections. I have a very particular way of grading, it is tough but it is very detailed and, most
important, you will learn from the mistakes. The Case-Study Questions for each of the 13 cases
will be available on Dropbox a week in advance. Note that the Mini-Cases in the Course Outline
are not graded. These cases and material will be covered in class.

You are allowed and encouraged to meet in groups outside of class to discuss and analyze the

10
cases. In the past, students have found that these groups complement the class discussion well. I
encourage you to collaborate on cases. Groups should be composed by exactly 5 students. If you
have any problems in finding someone to work with, please e-mail me and let me know. I will be
happy to assist you in finding a group.

Diversity in group composition will be rewarded (strong and weak finance students, men and
women, single and married…) and you can describe on the cover page along which dimension
your group is diverse. You are allowed to change groups during the term (although I do not
prefer this situation). Also, bear in mind that it may be helpful to choose groups according to the
specific home addresses of the group members since most likely you will be meeting during the
week-ends to solve and discuss the cases.

Regarding the cases, each group will submit a three-page (and NOT a single page more)
memorandum of analysis and recommendations covering the case study questions plus any
accompanying tables, models, graphs and exhibits you wish to include as appendices. Tables
should be well organized and labeled. Include whatever exhibits you deem necessary, but I
suggest not to waste the reader’s time with exhibits that do not add significant value to the
analysis. For example, do not use two similar exhibits that do not add much to the analysis and
understanding of the case, or do not repeat what is written on the case. Be sure to indicate how
you arrived at your conclusions. I care about the thinking process and the logic behind the cases
rather than the correct or incorrect answer. I will accept one memorandum from the group and
count it for all students in the group. Write these as if you were writing a recommendation for the
CEO or major decision maker in the case. Be sure to address in each paragraph of the
memorandum the questions you are being asked in the case-study questions. I urge you to start
each paragraph with a number referring to the question you are answering. For your
convenience, I will also post some of the relevant data for each case in a worksheet on Dropbox

Each group should also submit (via e-mail) the excel file that contains the (professional, neat,
complete, and clear) analysis. This way is easier for me to grade your quantitative analysis. The
excel file should be named FirstName_LastName_CASENAME.xls. The first and last name
can correspond to any member of the group.

For your convenience, I will also post some of the relevant data from each case in an Excel
worksheet on the corresponding week in Dropbox.

The main point of the cases is to help you learn by ensuring that you prepare for class and think
about the material to cover each week. Reading the material assigned for each week is crucial
and preparing for the cases is the best way to enjoy and learn from this course. My advice about
the cases is: do your best in working through them, but recognize that they are hard and you will
not always get it right. They will get harder and harder as the course progresses.

Brevity is a virtue for case write-ups. Do not repeat the facts of the case. You should turn in your
memo at the beginning of the class on the due date. You are expected to have read the case and
prepared your answers. Keep a copy of your answers as you will be expected to contribute to the
class discussion based on your written answers. I expect the answers to be well-reasoned. The
cases are your opportunity to apply the concepts you have learned thus far to messy, not-so-clear,

11
and complex real-world problems. Understanding the ideas is important and being able to
explain them to your boss and co-workers is equally important. Thus, your case write-ups will be
graded both on your answers as well as how well you defend your proposed solution.

The readings and articles, which I have assigned and will hand out as the course progresses or
post in Dropbox, are largely non-technical in nature and summarize the findings of academic and
business research in corporate finance in the recent past. These articles are meant to be
background material, which will help you to analyze the cases. The readings should not
necessarily be cited in the case discussion; I do not want a summary of my reference material!
You should try to argue as if you were in a corporate boardroom rather than in a doctoral
seminar. The goal is to have an open and interactive class-case discussion, where the process of
arriving at the answer is as important as getting the answer.

Because of the nature of this course (and its grading criteria), it is extremely important that you
attend every class, arrive on time, and are prepared to participate. To help me remember who
said what, it is important that you always sit in the same places. Also, if your picture is not in the
Kellogg directory/roaster face book, I recommend that you come and introduce yourself to me on
the first day of class.

F. Grading
The weighting for the final grade is given by:
Class Participation 25%
Group Case Write-Ups 55%
Peer Review Evaluation 20%

As a strict rule, there is no make-up days for material due. It is your responsibility to schedule
the rest of your activities such that you are able to attend comply with the rules of the class.

Class Participation: By design, this is a case-based course. Given the format, class participation
is an indispensable part of the learning experience. I will judge your performance based both on
the quality and the number of your comments. Because so much of the learning in this course
occurs in the classroom, it is very important that you attend every class. Low class participation
combined with several absences can lead to a lower grade. If you are uncomfortable with such a
heavy weight on class participation, this class may not be for you. I will grade for each case your
class participation using a discrete scale of 1, 2 and 3. For the best (or bests) student(s) in terms
of class participation for each session, I will assign only one numerical value of 5 per class. I will
post in Dropbox each night (after class) the class participation grades for that day so you can
check the performance for that particular session.

Group Case Write-Ups: As mentioned in Section E, this grade will be based on the 11/12 group
case write-ups. Grading is very seriously done and I expect from all the groups high-quality
write-ups.

12
Peer-Review Evaluation: During Week X, I will distribute and post a peer-review evaluation
which you will have to complete individually evaluating each member of the group. In addition
you may submit an attached hard-copy letter to the peer-review evaluation describing each team
members’ performance and contribution to the group, and an assessment of “how the process
went.” Please, remember to put your name on the letter. I recommend you hand me in the peer-
review evaluation and your letter in a sealed signed envelop in class on the last class of the
quarter.

G. Access to Dropbox
The class webpage on Dropbox is intended as the main information dissemination mechanism.
When you have a question, you should consult Dropbox first, as in most cases; you will find the
answer there. If it is not the case, then contact me. In particular: lecture notes, teaching slides,
handouts, announcements, frequently asked questions (and their answers) and supporting
material will all be posted on Dropbox.

From Dropbox you will be able to download excel spreadsheets and case questions for the 12/13
graded cases. Each workspace, in turn, contains one or more of the exhibits in the case. This will
make it easier for you to spend time on the analysis, rather than punching in numbers. From the
portal you will also be able to download most of the handouts I supply throughout the course as
well as teaching material and slides. Anything I hand out in class will also be put on the home
page (unless it is copyright material).

H. Office Hours and Contact Information

The best way to get in touch with me is via email: [email protected] . I follow
an open door policy. You can also call, come to my office, or put a note in my mailbox. You
can call at my office number. My office is located at the Finance Department, Global Hub 4371.
I will also be available for individual meetings by appointment at times that are mutually
convenient. Please e-mail me to make appointments. If you come, I will stay until student
exhaustion or midnight whichever comes first.

As a rule to follow, I will NOT discuss any question related to the cases before they are solved in
class. After they are solved I will be more than happy to discuss them with you. I am happy to
discuss anything you want regarding the course material, job offers, projects, careers, etc.

I. Finance Review and Reference Material

One of the challenges of Corporate Restructuring, LBOs and Private Equity is that students’
background is generally very different, specifically coming from different programs and careers
and having taken different courses at different times in their MBAs careers. For some of you
some of the finance material will be fresh, but for some others it will be rusty (or eve very rusty
since the last time you took a finance course was at College). For those of you who feel you
need to review some of the “old” material I am providing you with some of material from core
corporate finance courses (FINC 430/440/441). I have been writing these notes during the last 5
years now. I am still updating them. Feel free to let me know about typos or things that are

13
unclear. I will be more than happy to correct them. You will NOT need the 15 chapters for this
class. I will let you know which the relevant chapters are for each session. You should check the
Reading Material for that particular week.

Feel free to browse the specific issues and chapters for each of the relevant cases as indicated in
the assigned Weekly Readings. I will assume that you are acquainted with this material; I will
NOT lecture this material during the course. Use these slides as a reference material in case you
need so, and obviously feel free to download them as reference material for upcoming courses.

J. First Week Class Assignment

In Week I, Tuesday, March 28 we will go over some basic valuation review concepts including
different types of cash flows (Free Cash Flow, Capital Cash Flow, and Equity Cash Flows),
WACC, Adjusted Present Value (APV), the concept of the optionality of equity and
understanding Where is Enterprise Value Coming From? Show up in class, happy, rested and
ready to work! You may want to read/skim the material under Week 0: Introduction: Does
M&A Pay? and Why Do We Follow M&A Transactions? This is mostly “chit-chat” material.

K. Workshops
There will be two Workshops according to the Course Outline. Workshop A will take place on
Saturday, April 1 in Global Hub 4371 and will cover Valuation Techniques (mid-morning) and
Affordability Analysis (afternoon). Workshop B will take place on Friday, May 19 in Global
Hub TBD and will cover Valuation of Leveraged Buyouts and Financial Modelling of LBOs.

L. Review Sessions/Tutorials/Workshops
I will conduct an open class Q&A Session every Wednesday between 1:30P and 4:30PM,
respectively. Please check the course outline for the topics of each Q&A Session.

M. Tips On How To Engage The Course

Diversify. The course offers a number of learning modes. Engage them all! The plan for the
course shows that regular case studies will be the focus of 11 of the class meetings.

Follow Your Interest. This is a “self-tailoring” course in that it leaves much of the technical
reading to the discretion of the student. The two books, articles and slides will give you the
framework of terminology and tools in M&A. Consider reading carefully where you find
interesting topics.

Join a Learning Team to Prepare For Class. The ideas in the cases and readings for class are
deep; the analysis can get complex. You will learn more from the course, and perform better in
class participation by discussing these cases together in a learning team. I will serve as a
clearinghouse for those students who have been unable to join a learning team.

14
Commit to Your Write-Ups and Learning Teams. Team-based work makes a large contribution to
the course. The Group work accounts for 40% of the final grade. High performance teams show
a number of common attributes:
o Members commit to the success of the team.
o The team plans ahead, leaving time for contingencies.
o The team meets regularly.
o Team members show up for meetings and are prepared to contribute.
o There may or may not be a formal

N. Academic Integrity Policy

As a condition of their enrollment in this course, all students enrolled in a course offered by the
Kellogg School of Management agree to abide by the Kellogg Honor Code as outlined in
http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/stu_aff/policies/honorcode.htm. A violation of the Honor
Code will result in sanctions, including a failing grade for the course.

O. Course Reading List and Course Outline

The course reading list is divided by Weeks and classified in Required Readings, Business
Readings and Supplementary Readings. You do not need to read the Supplementary Readings.
This supplementary material is provided to expand you knowledge in the particular topic we are
covering. It is more to suffice your curiosity in the specific topic we are covering that day. If
you want any additional information please do not doubt to let me know. I will be happy to
provide you with any additional material or readings.

15
 Week 0
[Before First Meeting]

Introduction:
Does M&A Pay?
The M&A Environment: 1990-2016

Recommended Readings

 Annema, A., Roerich Bansal and Andy West, “M&A 2014: Return of the Big Deal,”
McKinsey on Finance, Number 53, Winter 2015.

 Bruner, R., “Applied Mergers & Acquisitions,” Chapter 3: Does M&A Pay?

 Bruner, R., “Where M&A Pays and Where It Strays: A Survey of Research,” Journal of
Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 16, Number 4, Fall 2004.

 CA, “The Practitioner’s Guide To Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate
Finance,” Part I: The Basics, Chapters 4 (Strategic Transactions), 5 (Introduction to M&A), 6
(Analyzing Strategic Acquisitions) and 7 (Screening for M&A Transactions).

 Jain, R., Bin Jian and Tim Koller, “What’s Behind This Year’s Buoyant Market,” McKinsey
on Finance, October 2014.

 Liberti, J., “Why Follow M&A Transactions?” Note, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

 Liberti, J., “The M&A Environment: 1990-2015,” Lecture Slides, Kellogg School of
Management, 2017.

 Rhem, W. and Andy West, “M&A 2015: New Highs, and a New Tone,” McKinsey on
Finance, December 2015.

 University of Rochester Roundtable on Corporate M&A and Shareholder Value, Journal of

Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 17, Number 4, Fall 2005

Supplementary Readings on the Current Status of the M&A Market

Given the chaos in the financial economy, it should come as no surprise that M&A activity fell
sharply in the fourth quarter of 2008. Since 1980, US recessions have led to steep declines in the
value of global M&A activity—typically, of around 50% during the first year. That fall-off
results from factors we see in the current downturn as well, including lower deal values in
sinking equity markets; difficulties with financing, particularly for very large transactions; and a
general fear about the economic outlook, which forces acquirers to put plans on hold. Moreover,
in December 2008 stock markets were down 40 to 50 percent from their January levels.

16
 Baghai, M., Sven Smit and S. Patrick Viguerie, “M&A Strategies in a Down Market,” The
McKinsey Quarterly, Corporate Finance, September 2008.

 Capaldo, A., David Cogman, and Hannu Suonio, “What’s Different About M&A in this
Downturn,” McKinsey on Finance, Number 30, Winter 2009.

 Capaldo, A., Richard Dobbs, and Hannu Suonio, “Deal Making in 2007: Is the M&A Boom
Over?,” McKinsey on Finance, Number 26, Winter 2008.

 Cogman, D. and Carsten Buch Sivertsen, “A Return to Deal Making in 2010,” The McKinsey
Quarterly, January 2011.

 Dobbs, R. and Timothy M. Koller, “The Crisis: Timing Strategic Moves,” McKinsey on
Finance, Spring 2009.

 Jiang, B. Timothy M.Koller and Zane D. Williams, “Mapping Decline and Recovery Across
Sectors,” McKinsey on Finance, Winter 2009.

 Melwani, A. and Werner Rehm, “A Singular Moment for Merger Value,” McKinsey on
Finance, Summer 2000.

 Rehm, W., Robert Uhlaner and Any West, “Taking a Long-Term Look at M&A Value
Creation,” McKinsey Quarterly, January 2012.

 Rehm, W., Carsten Buch Sivertsen, “A Strong Foundation for M&A in 2010,” McKinsey on
Finance, Number 34, January 2010.

 Siverstsen, C. B., “A Mixed Year for M&A,” McKinsey Quarterly, January 2012.

Business Reading
 “In a Record Year for Deals, Success and a Few Missteps,” Dealbook New York Times,
December 22, 2015.

 “What Drives Mergers, Really?,” Financial Times, October 10, 2014.

 “M&A Deals Lift Wall Street Shares Nearer a Record High,” Reuters, February 19, 2013.

 “Shopping Spree for Wall Street,” The Wall Street Journal, February 14, 2013.

 “Faceless Shareholders to Drive M&A Action,” Financial Times, January 10, 2010.

 “Deals Return in Q3, But Outlook Still Cautious,” Reuters, September 24, 2010.

 “M&A Cycle Turns,” Financial Times, December 20, 2009.

17
 “M&A Springs Back To Life,” Financial Times, April 20, 2009.

18
 Week I/Workshop A
[March 28/April 1]

Valuation Methods Review

Where Is Enterprise Value Coming From?
Reconciliation of Valuation Methods

Recommended Readings

Required Readings on Valuation

 CA, “The Practitioner’s Guide To Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate
Finance,” Part II: Valuation, Chapters 8 (The Role of Valuation) and 11 (Discounted Cash
Flow Analysis).

 Kaplan, S., “A Note on Discounted Cash Flow Valuation Methods,” University of Chicago,
Booth School of Business, 2004.

 Liberti, J., “Valuation Methods: Discounted Cash Flow Analysis. Risk of Tax Shields:
WACC vs. APV,” Lecture Slides, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

 Liberti, J., “Capital Budgeting: Types of Cash Flows. Free Cash Flows, Capital Cash Flows
and Equity Cash Flows,” Reference Material: Chapter I, Kellogg School of Management,
2017.
[Concentrate on the 2 basic Cash Flows: FCF and CCF. This chapter is already in the set of slides I distributed in class!]

 Liberti, J., “Capital Structure I: Modigliani Miller Irrelevance Theorem. Estimating Cost of
Capital,” Reference Material: Chapter IV, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

 Liberti, J., “Capital Structure II: Corporate Taxes. Estimating Cost of Capital. Valuation
Techniques,” Reference Material: Chapter V, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

 Liberti, J., “Summary Tables: Constructing Cash Flows EBIT and Net Income Version,”
Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

 Liberti, J., “Valuation Techniques: Summary of Formulae and Concepts,” Note, Kellogg
School of Management, 2017.

 Luehrman, T., 1997, “Using APV: A Better Tool For Valuing Operations”, Harvard
Business Review, Volume 73, Number 3, 1997.

19
Required Readings on Reconciliation Methods
 Liberti, J., “Mini-Case: Valuation Using WACC and APV – GM’s Bid For Hughes Aircraft
Corporation”, Lecture Slides, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

Required Readings on Capital Structure

 Heine, R., and Fredric Harbus, “Toward a More Complete Model of Optimal Capital
Structure,” Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 15, Number 1, 2003.

 Liberti, J., “How To Come Up With a Capital Structure Policy? Overview/Summary,” Note,
Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

Required Readings on Transaction and Trading Multiples

 CA, “The Practitioner’s Guide To Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate
Finance,” Part II: Valuation, Chapters 9 (Comparable Company Analysis) and 10
(Comparable Transaction Analysis).

 Chadda, N., Robert S. Mc Nish and Werner Rehm, “All P/Es Are Not Created Equal,”
McKinsey on Finance, Spring 2004.

 Goedhart, M., Timothy Koller and David Wessels, “The Right Role for Multiples In
Valuation,” McKinsey On Finance, Spring 2005.

 Liberti, J., “The Market Approach to Value: Relative Valuation Techniques,” Lecture Slides,
Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

Supplementary Readings on Valuation

 BdeM, “Corporate Finance,” Chapter 18 and 19 (Part VI: Valuation).

 BMA, “Principles of Corporate Finance,” Chapter 17, 18 and 19 (Financing and Valuation).

 Kaplan, S. and Richard S. Ruback, “The Market Pricing of Cash Flow Forecasts: Discounted
Cash Flow vs. The Method of Comparables”, Journal of Applied Corporate Finance,
Volume 8, Number 4, Winter 1996.

 Schroeder Salomon Smith Barney, European Credit Research, “Bond and Credit Valuation
Criteria”, November 2002.
[Concentrate on Pages 11-28: Measuring Cash Flows and Free Cash Flow: A Better Measure.]

 Sloan, R.G., “Using Earnings and Free Cash Flow To Evaluate Corporate Performance”,
Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 9, Number 1, Spring 1996.

20
Supplementary Readings on Transaction and Trading Multiples
 Esty, B., “What Determines Comparability When Valuing Firms With Multiples?,” Journal
of Financial Education, Fall 2000.

Supplementary Readings on Capital Structure

 Myers, S.C., “Still Searching for Optimal Capital Structure,” Journal of Applied Corporate
Finance, Volume 6, Number 1, 1993.

 Opler, T., Michael Saron, and Sheridan Titman, “Designing Capital Structure to Create
Shareholder Value,” Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 10, Number 1, 1997.

Supplementary Readings on Sensitivity Tables

 Ecklund, P., “Introduction to Data Tables and Data Table Exercises,” Tools for Excel
Modeling, Duke, The Fuqua School of Business, Excel Review 2001-2002.

21
 Workshop A
[April 1]

Merger Consequences Analysis:

Affordability Analysis
M&A Analysis

In the first lecture and workshop you will learn how to perform the mechanics of merger
consequences analysis, which are often called affordability analysis. This includes using
accretion/dilution analysis to determine how the proposed transaction will affect the acquirer’s
earnings per share (or EPS), and using credit analysis to determine how the proposed transaction
will affect the acquirer’s credit rating. We will also discuss the fundamentals of purchase
accounting, the concept and creation of goodwill and asset-write ups and how to determine fixed
exchange ratios using relative contribution analysis.

Using Hershey Foods Corporation's (HFC) 10-Q financial reports from March 31 2002, we value
HFC as a potential target for an acquirer. Why is it a potential target? Using financial and
qualitative information available in the 10Qs we compute the Intrinsic Enterprise and Equity
Value and comparing them to the market sock price. Is HFC undervalued? Overvalued? Does it
have a fair price? In doing so we use WACC, Transaction & Trading multiples. We will finally
go over the merger consequences analysis for Wrigley’s acquisition of Hershey.

Recommended Readings

 CA, “The Practitioner’s Guide To Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate
Finance,” Part I: The Basics, Chapter 4 (Strategic Transactions) and Chapter 5 (Introduction
to M&A), Chapter 6 (Analyzing Strategic Transactions) and Chapter 7 (Screening for M&A
Transactions).

 Hershey Foods Corporation, Form 10-Q, March 31, 2002.

 Hershey Foods Corporation, Management’s Discussion and Analysis.

 Liberti, J., “Merger Consequences Analysis – Affordability Analysis,” Lecture Slides,

Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

22
 Week II
[April 4]

Mergers and Acquisitions:

Valuation of Hard and Soft Synergies
Multiples in Practice
Break-Up Analysis:
The Diversification Discount: Is It a Myth?
Take-Over Defenses and Bidding Strategies
Implementing Structural Defenses
Structuring Acquisition Offers

Recommended Readings

Required Readings on M&As, Takeover Attempts, Tactics and Battles

 BdeM, “Corporate Finance,” Chapter 28.

 BMA, “Principles of Corporate Finance,” Chapters 32 and 34.

[Concentrate especially on Section 32.5: Takeover Battles and Tactics]

 Liberti, J., “Mergers and Acquisitions: The Market for Corporate Control,” Reference
Material: Chapter XII, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

 Liberti, J., “Special Cases in Valuation: Mergers and Acquisitions,” Note, Kellogg School of
Management, 2017.

 Liberti, J. “Stock or Cash? The Trade-offs for Buyers & Sellers in Mergers and
Acquisitions,” Lecture Slides, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

Required Readings on Synergies

 Bekier, M.M, Anna J. Bogardus and Tim Oldham, “Why Mergers Fail?” The McKinsey
Quarterly, Number 4, 2001.

 Christofferson, S.A., Robert S. McNish and Diane L. Sias, “Where Mergers Go Wrong?” The
McKinsey Quarterly, 2004, Number 2.

 Dobbs, R., Mare Goedhart and Hannu Suonio, “Are Companies Getting Better at M&A,”
McKinsey on Finance, Winter 2007.

23
 Dobbs, R., Hannu Suonio and Vincenzo Tortorici, “Maintaining Discipline In M&A,” The
McKinsey Quarterly, Number 2, Commentary, May 2007.

 Goedhard, M., Tim Koller, David Wessels, “The Five Types of Successful Acquisitions,”
McKinsey on Finance, Number 36, Summer 2010.

 Sirower, M.L. and Sumit Sahni, “Avoiding the ‘Synergy Trap’: Practical Guidance on M&A
Decisions for CEOs and Boards,” Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 18,
Number 3, Summer 2006.

Required Readings on the Diversification-Conglomerate Discount

 Caudillo, F., S. Houben and JehanZeb Noor, “Mapping the Value of Diversification,”
McKinsey on Finance, Number 55, Summer 2015.

 Cyriac, J., T. Koller and Jannick Thomsen, “Testing the Limits of Diversifications,”
McKinsey Quarterly, February 2012

 Liberti, J., “M&A Activity. Valuing Conglomerates: The Diversification or Conglomerate

Discount,” Lecture Slides, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

Supplementary Readings on M&As, Structuring Acquisition Offers and Synergies

 Agrawal, A., Cristina Ferrer and Andy West, “When Big Acquisitions Pay Off,” McKinsey
on Finance, Number 39, Spring 2011.

 Andrade, G., Mark Mitchell and Erik Stafford, “New Evidence and Perspectives on
Mergers,” The Journal of Economic Perspectives, Volume 15, Number 2, Spring 2001.

 Holmstrom, B. and Steven N. Kaplan, “Corporate Governance and Merger Activity in the
United States: Making Sense of the 1980s and 1990s,” Journal of Economic Perspectives,
Volume 15, Number 2, Spring 2001.

Supplementary Readings the Diversification-Conglomerate Discount

 Lins, K. and Henri Servaes, “International Evidence on the Value of Corporate
Diversification,” Journal of Finance, Volume 54, Number 6, December 1999.

 Villalonga, B., “Research Roundtable Discussion: The Diversification Discount,” April 24,
2003.
[Available for download at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=402220]

24
 Week III
[April 11]

The Market for Corporate Control:

Delaware vs. Pennsylvania
Structuring Offers: Two-Tier Offers
Avoiding the Free-Rider Problem in M&A Contexts
Takeover Battles and Corporate Defense Tactics
Merger of Equals (MEO)

Recommended Readings

Required Readings on Takeover Defenses, Battles, Tactics and Merger of Equals

 CA, “The Practitioner’s Guide To Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate
Finance,” Part III: M&A Analysis, Chapter 15 (Acquisition Currency), Chapter 18 (Merger
of Equals) and Part IV: Transaction Structuring, Chapter 23 (Corporate Defense).

 Gaughan, P.A., “Mergers, Acquisitions, and Corporate Restructurings,” Fourth Edition, John
Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2007. Chapter 5 (Antitakeover Measures) and Chapter 6 (Takeover
Tactics).
[Read all Chapter 5. For Chapter 6 only read pages 247-249 devoted to Two-Tier Offers.]

 Hunt, P.A., “Structuring Mergers & Acquisitions: A Guide To Creating Shareholder Value,”
Third Edition, Wolters Kluwer, Law & Business, Aspen Publishers, 2007. Chapter 24
(Hostile Acquisitions).

 Liberti, J., “The Market for Corporate Control – M&A Motives, Tactics and Takeover
Defenses,” Class Lecture Slides, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

Supplementary Readings on Strategic Acquisitions and Takeover Defenses

 Bruner, R., “Applied Mergers & Acquisitions,” Chapter 33 (Takeover Attack and Defense).

 Hunt, P.A., “Structuring Mergers & Acquisitions: A Guide To Creating Shareholder Value,”
Third Edition, Wolters Kluwer, Law & Business, Aspen Publishers, 2007. Chapter 23 (Anti-
Takeover Measures).

 Jarrell, G.A., James A. Brickley and Jeffry M. Netter, “The Market for Corporate Control:
The Empirical Evidence Since 1980,” The Journal of Economic Perspectives, Volume 2,
Number 1, Winter 1988.

25
 Ragozzino, R. and Jeffrey J. Reuer, “Mind the Information Gap: Putting New Selection
Criteria and Deal Structures to Work in M&A,” Journal of Applied Corporate Finance,
Volume 19, Number 3, Summer 2007.

 Subramanian, G., “Takeover Defenses and Bargaining Power,” Journal of Applied Corporate
Finance, Volume 17, Number 4, Fall 2005.

Business Readings
 “North American Railways: Stop Me Before I Merge Again,” The Economist, July 20, 2000.

 “Mergers & Acquisitions. Hostile Bids are Back,” Financial Times, February 18, 2004.

 Free-Rider Problem Takes Toll on Restructurings, Financial Times.

 M&A Losers in $10 Trillion Deal Binge Led by McClatchy, Sprint (Bloomberg; August 19,
2011)

 Live-Nation Ticketmaster in $2.5B Merger Deal (MarketWatch; February 10, 2009)

26
 Week IV-A
[April 18]

Hostile Takeovers: Agency Issues

The Use of EVA™
The Role of Corporate Raiders: Hostile Takeovers
How Effective is Corporate Governance?

Recommended Readings

Required Readings on Agency Costs and Benefits of Debt

 Jensen, M., “The Agency Costs of Free Cash Flow: Corporate Finance and Takeovers,”
American Economic Review, Volume 76, Number 4, 1986.

Required Readings on EVA™ and the Role of Governance

 CA, “The Practitioner’s Guide To Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate
Finance,” Part IV: Transaction Structuring, Chapter 20 (Deal Mechanics).

 Kim, K.A. and John R. Nosfinger and Derek J. Mohr, “Corporate Governance,” Chapter 7
(Shareholders and Shareholder Activism), and Chapter 8 (Corporate Takeovers: A
Governance Mechanism?), Third Edition, Prentice Hall, 2010.

 Liberti, J., “Economic Value Added (EVA™) - Executive Compensation,” Class Lecture
Slides, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

 O’Connell, S., Michael Park and Jannick Thomsen, “Divestitures: How to Invest for
Success,” McKinsey on Finance, Number 55, Summer 2015.

Required Readings on Corporate Raiders and Hostile Takeovers

 Davidoff, Steven M., “Gods at War: Shotgun Takeovers, Government By Deal, and The
Private Equity Implosion,” Chapter 8 (Microsoft, InBev, and the Return of the Hostile
Takeover), John Wiley & Sons Inc., 2010.

Supplementary Readings on Corporate Governance

 Jarrell, G.A., James A. Brickley and Jeffrey M. Netter, “The Market for Corporate Control:
The Empirical Evidence since 1980,” The Journal of Economic Perspectives, Volume 2,
Number 1, Winter 1988.

 Shivdasani, A. and Marc Zenner, “Best Practices in Corporate Governance: What Two

27
 Decades of Research Reveals,” Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 16, Numbers
2-3, Spring/Summer 2004.

 Shleifer A. and Robert W. Vishny, “A Survey of Corporate Governance,” The Journal of

Finance, Volume 52, Number 2, June 1997.

Supplementary Readings on EVA™

 Gandhok, T., A. Dwivedi and Jatin Lal, “EVAluating Mergers and Acquisitions – How to
Avoid Overpaying,” Stern Stewart Research India, Volume 3, Issue 8, November 2001.

 O'Byrne, S.F., “EVA™ and Its Critics,” Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 12,
Number 2, Summer 1999.

 Stewart III, G.B., “EVA™: Facts and Fantasy,” Journal of Applied Corporate Finance,
Volume 7, Number 2, 71-84, Summer 1994.

Business Readings
 Cyriac, J., Ruth De Backer and Justin Sanders, “Preparing for Bigger, Bolder Shareholder
Activists,” McKinsey, March 2014.

 J.P. Morgan, Eye on the Market, “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner: Shareholder Activism
and Implications for Investors,” February 18, 2014.

 The Economist, “How Activist Shareholders Turned from Villains to Heroes,” February 17,
2014.

 The Economist, “Corporate Upgraders,” February 15, 2014.

 New York Times, “Poison Pill’s Relevance in the Age of Shareholder Activism,” Dealbook,
April 18, 2014.

28
 Week IV-B
[April 18]

Dynamics of Takeover Attempts: Tactics

Strategic vs. Financial Buyers
The Role of Hedge Funds as Activist Shareholders
The Role of Excess Cash in Valuation

Recommended Readings

Required Readings on Takeover Attempts and Defenses

 CA, “The Practitioner’s Guide To Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate
Finance,” Chapter 23.

Required Readings on Excess Cash and Valuing Control Premium

 Liberti, J., “A Note on Excess Cash: Implications for Valuation,” Note, Kellogg School of
Management, 2017.

 Passov, R., “How Much Cash Does Your Company Need?,” Harvard Business Review,
November 2003.

Business Readings
 De Heer, M. and Timothy M. Koller, “Valuing Cyclical Companies,” McKinsey Quarterly,
Number 2, 2000.

29
 Week V-A
[April 25]

Hostile Takeovers: Dynamics

Defense Strategies
The Logic of Investors and Risk Arbitrageurs

Recommended Readings

Required Readings on Hostile Takeover and the Role of Arbitrageurs

 Bruner, R., “Applied Mergers & Acquisitions,” Chapter 32 (Hostile Takeovers: Preparing a
Bid in Light of Competition and Arbitrage).
[Concentrate on the concept of takeovers as games and EVNT analysis. The Chapter is intended to support this case and
others in the area of takeovers.]

 CA, “The Practitioner’s Guide to Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate
Finance,” Part III: M&A Analysis, Chapter 16 (Stock Deals).
[Concentrate on Sub-Section: Risk Arbitrage [Pages 347-354].

 Eccles, R.G., Kersten L. Lanes and Thomas C. Wilson, “Are You Paying Too Much for That
Acquisition?,” Harvard Business Review, July-August 1999.

 Hunt, P.A., “Structuring Mergers & Acquisitions: A Guide To Creating Shareholder Value,”
Third Edition, Wolters Kluwer, Law & Business, Aspen Publishers, 2007. Chapter 24
(Hostile Acquisitions)

 Ruback, R. “The Conoco Takeover and Stockholder Returns,” Sloan Management Review,
23, 1982.

Supplementary Readings on Hostile Takeover and the Role of Arbitrageurs

 Burrough, B. and John Helyar, “Barbarians at the Gate: The Fall of RJR Nabisco,” New
York, Harper Collins, 1990.

 Jensen, M. and Richard S. Ruback, “The Market for Corporate Control: The Scientific
Evidence,” Journal of Financial Economics, 11, April 1983.

 Ruback, R., “The Cities Service Takeover: A Case Study,” Journal of Finance, May 1983.

 Ricardo-Campbell, R., “Resisting Hostile Takeovers: The Case of Gillette,” Westport,

Connecticut, Praeger Publishers, 1997.

30
 Wasserstein, B., “Big Deal 2000: The Battle for Control of America’s Leading
Corporations,” New York, Warner Books, 2000.

 Wyser-Pratte, G.P., “Risk Arbitrage II,” New York: Salomon Brothers Center for the Study
of Financial Institutions, Graduate School of Business Administration, New York University,
Monograph, 1982.

31
 Week V-B
[April 25]

Agency Issues:
Conflict of Interests between Stake-Holders
Fiduciary Duties of Board of Directors
Event Studies
Corporate Restructuring Strategies:
Spin-Offs, Split-Ups, Carve-Outs, Tracking Stock and Divestures

Recommended Readings

Required Readings on Fiduciary Duties and the Role of Board of Directors

 Liberti, J., “Factors Impacting Deals. Fiduciary Duties” Lecture Slides, Kellogg School of
Management, 2017.

 Liberti, J., “Survey of Key Court Cases,” Note, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

Required Readings on Corporate Restructuring

 Annema, A., William C. Fallon, and Marc H. Goedhart, “When Carve-Outs Make Sense,”
The McKinsey Quarterly, 2002, Number 2.

 Anslinger, P.L., Steven J. Klepper and Somu Subramanian, “Breaking Up Is Good To Do,”
The McKinsey Quarterly, 1999, Number 1.
[Very nice article on how restructuring through spin-offs, equity carve-outs, and tracking stocks can create shareholder value.]

 Fubini, D., Michael Park and Kim Thomas, “Profitably Parting Ways: Getting More Value
from Divestitures,” McKinsey on Finance, February 2013.

 Gaughan, P.A., “Mergers, Acquisitions, and Corporate Restructurings,” Fourth Edition, John
Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2007. Chapter 10 (Corporate Restructuring).

 Liberti, J., “Corporate Restructuring: Spin-Offs, Split-Ups, Carve-Outs, Tracking Stock and
Divestures,” Lecture Slides, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

Supplementary Readings on Corporate Restructuring and Corporate Control

 Anslinger, P.L., Sheila Bonini and Michael Patsalos-Fox, “Doing The Spin-Out,” The

32
 McKinsey Quarterly, 2000, Number 1.

 Anslinger, P.L., Dennis Carey, Kristin Fink, and Chris Gagnon, “Equity Carve-Outs: A New
Spin on the Corporate Structure,” The McKinsey Quarterly, 1997, Number 1.

 Anslinger, P.L., Justin Jenk, and Ravi Chanmugan, “The Art of Strategic Divestment,”
Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 15, Number 3, Spring 2003.

 Finegan, P.T., “A Closer Look at the Value of Split-Ups,” Corporate Finance Review,
March-April 1998.

 Mankis, M.C., David Harding and Rolf-Magnus Weddigen, “How the Best Divest,” Harvard
Business Review, October 2008.

 McKenna, M.R., “Divestitures: Breaking Up Is Hard To Do,” The Stern Journal, Leonard N.
Stern School of Business, Spring 2000.

33
 Week VI
[May 2]

Bankruptcy, Corporate Restructuring and Financial Distress

Chapter 11, Chapter 7, On-Going Concern vs. Private Workouts

Incentives Issues in Corporate Bankruptcy

Recommended Readings

Please refer to the Reference Material on Week I in case you are having doubts on the Capital
Cash Flow Method in order to value Marvel Entertainment Group. In case you are having doubts
you can review (again!):

 Liberti, J., “Summary Tables: Constructing Cash Flows EBIT and Net Income Version,”
Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

 Liberti, J., “Valuation Techniques: Summary of Formulae and Concepts,” Note, Kellogg
School of Management, 2017.

Required Readings on Bankruptcy and Financial Distress

 Ayer, J.D., Michael Bernstein and Jonathan Friedland, American Bankruptcy Institute
Journal, “What Every Unsecured Creditor Should Know About Chapter 11.”

 CA, “The Practitioner’s Guide To Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate
Finance,” Part IV: Transaction Structuring, Chapter 22 (Corporate Restructurings).
[Concentrate on Financial Restructuring [Pages 530-535]].

 Gaughan, P.A., “Mergers, Acquisitions, and Corporate Restructurings,” Fourth Edition, John
Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2007. Chapter 11 (Restructuring in Bankruptcy).

 Gilson, S., “Managing Default: Some Evidence On How Firms Choose Between Workouts
and Chapter 11,” Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 4, Issue 2, Summer 1991.
[This is a must read article!].

 Gilson, S., “Investing in Distressed Situations: A Market Survey,” Financial Analysts

Journal, Volume 51, No. 6, November-December, 1995.

 Liberti, J., “Special Cases In Valuation: Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate
Restructuring,” Note, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.
[Concentrate on Section II: Corporate Restructuring. Section I was covered during Week III (Paramount)].

34
 Liberti, J., “Summary of the Chapter 11 Process – Glossary of Terms,” Note, Kellogg School
of Management, 2017.
[Concentrate on Summary of the Chapter 11 Process [Pages1-7]].

 Liberti, J., “Tax Loss Carry Backs and Tax Loss Carry Forwards. Section 382 and
Bankruptcy Laws,” Note, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

 Liberti, J., “Bankruptcy – Codes and Practices,” Lecture Slides, Kellogg School of
Management, 2017.

 Liberti, J., “Corporate Restructuring in Financial Distress: Private Workouts and

Bankruptcy,” Lecture Slides, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

 Liberti. J., “Corporate Reorganization Primer,” Lecture Slides, Kellogg School of

Management, 2017.

Supplementary Readings on Capital Cash Flow

 Ruback, R., “Capital Cash Flows: A Simple Approach to valuing Risky Cash Flows,”
Working Paper, May 2000.

Supplementary Readings on Bankruptcy and Financial Distress

 Baker, G.P., “Beatrice: A Study in the Creation and Destruction of Value,” The Journal of
Finance , Vol. XLVII, Number 3, July 1992.

 Bris, A., Ivo Welch and Ning Zhu, “The Costs of Bankruptcy: Chapter 7 Liquidation versus
Chapter 11 Reorganization,” The Journal of Finance, Vol. LXI, Number 3, June 2006.

 Franks, J., Kjell G. Nyborg and Walter N. Torous, “A Comparison of US, UK, and German
Insolvency Codes,” Financial Management, Volume 25, Number 3, Autumn 1996.

 Senbet, L.W. and James K. Seward, “Financial Distress, Bankruptcy and Reorganization,”
Chapter 28, R. Jarrow et al., Eds., Handbooks in OR & MS, Volume 9, 1995, Elsevier
Science B.V.

 Sprayregen, J.H.M. and Jonathan P. Friedland, “The Legal Considerations of Acquiring

Distressed Business: A Primer,” Journal of Bankruptcy Law and Practice, Volume 11, 3-26,
November 2002.

 Sprayregen, J.H.M., Jonathan P. Friedland, Shirley S.Cho, “The Zone of Insolvency: What a
Company Entered Into It, And Once There, What Are The Boards’ Duties?”, Kirkland &
Ellis, May 22, 2002.

 Sprayregen, J.H.M., Jonathan P. Friedland and Evan Gartenlaub, “First Things First – A

35
 Primer On How To Obtain Appropriate “First Day” Relief In Chapter 11 Cases,” Journal of
Bankruptcy Law and Practice, Volume 11, 275-312, November 2002.

 Teitelbaum, J., Richard S. Toder and Wendy S. Walker, “A Overview of the 2005
Bankruptcy Act,” Morgan Lewis Counselors at Law, April 2005.

Business Readings
 “A Guide to Bankruptcy, Insolvency Practices in the U.S. and Europe”, Turnaround
Management Association, International News, 18-26, April 2006.

 “Attorneys General Seek “Cram Downs”?, Fierce Finance, October 31, 2010.

 “The Do’s and Do Nots of Navigating Chapter 11 Rough Waters,” Business Presentation
Cooley LLP, 2010.

Supplementary Readings on Corporate Governance

 Jarrell, G.A., James A. Brickley and Jeffry M. Netter, “The Market for Corporate Control:
The Empirical Evidence Since 1980,” The Journal of Economic Perspectives, Volume 2,
Number 1, Winter 1988.

 Shleifer A. and Robert W.Vishny, “A Survey of Corporate Governance,” The Journal of

Finance, Volume LII, Number 2, June 1997.

36
 Week VII
[May 9]

Bankruptcy, Corporate Restructuring and Financial Distress

Chapter 11, Chapter 7, On-Going Concern vs. Private Workouts

Founding Families and Public Shareholders

Exit Modes: “363 Sale”

Recommended Readings

Required Readings on Distressed Investment

 Liberti. J., “Distressed Debt Investment,” Lecture Slides, Kellogg School of Management,
2017.
[Concentrate on the Corporate Restructuring Section and the Prisoner’s Dilemma problem [Slides 16-26]].

 Moyer, G.S., David Martin and John Martin, “A Primer on Distressed Investing: Buying
Companies by Acquiring Their Debt,” Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 24,
Number 4, Fall 2012.

 Stern Stewart, “Roundtable on Preserving Value in Chapter 11,” Journal of Applied

Corporate Finance, Volume 16, Numbers 2-3, Spring/Summer 2004.

 Sprayregen, J.H.M. and Jonathan P. Friedland, “The Legal Considerations of Acquiring

Distressed Business: A Primer,” Journal of Bankruptcy Law and Practice, Volume 11, 3-26,
November 2002.

Required Readings on “363 Sale”

 Brubaker, R. and Charles J. Tabb, “Tabb-Bankruptcy Reorganizations and the Troubling
Legacy of Chrysler,” Presentation.

 Deutsch, D. and Michael G. Distefano, “The Mechanics of a §363 Sale,” American

Bankruptcy Institute Journal, 2011.

 Sable, R.G., Michael J. Roeschenthaler and Daniel F. Blanks, “When the 363 Sale Is the Best
Route,” Journal of Bankruptcy Law and Practice, Volume 15, 2006.

 Walsh, T.W., “Section 363: A Useful Tool for Asset Sales in Bankruptcy,” DLA Piper, 2009.

37
 Week VIII
[May 16]

Valuation of Leverage Buyouts (LBOs)

Private Equity
Strategic vs. Financial
Dealing With Time-Varying Capital Structure
Using Cash Flow Available for Debt Service (CADS)

Recommended Readings

Required Readings on Private Equity & LBOs

 Allen, J.R., “LBOs – The Evolution of Financial Structures and Strategies,” Journal of
Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 8, Number 4, Winter 1996.

 BMA, “Principles of Corporate Finance”, Chapters 33.

[Concentrate on Section 33.1: Leveraged Buyouts and Section 33.2: Fusion and Fission In Corporate Finance]

 Jensen, M., “Eclipse of the Public Corporation,” Harvard Business Review, 1997.
[This is a fantastic article to understand the role of Leveraged Buyouts and other transactions such as takeovers, corporate
break-ups and spin-offs in shaping a new organization during the late 1980s.]

 Kaplan, S. N. and Jeremy C. Stein, “The Evolution of Buyout Pricing and Financial Structure
(Or, What Went Wrong) In The 1980s,” Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 6,
Number 1, Spring 1993.

 Liberti, J., “An Example of a LBO Transaction: Is Debenhams a Potential LBO Candidate?,”
Presentation, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

 Liberti, J., “Leveraged Buyouts (LBOs),” Lecture Slides, Kellogg School of Management,
2017.

Supplementary Readings on LBOs and the Market for Corporate Control

 Acharya, V., Julian Franks and Henri Servaes, “Private Equity: Boom or Bust?,” Journal of
Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 19, Number 4, Fall 2007.

 CA, “The Practitioner’s Guide To Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate
Finance,” Chapter 12.

 Cornell, B. and Kevin Green, “The Investment Performance of Low-grade Bond Funds,” The

38
 Journal of Finance, Volume 46, Number 1, March 1991.
 Denis, D.J., “The Benefits of High Leverage: Lessons From Kroger’s Leveraged Recap and
Safeway’s LBO,” Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 7, Number 4, Winter
1995.

 Harper, N.W.C. and Antoon Schneider, “Private Equity’s New Challenge,” McKinsey on
Finance, Summer 2004.

 Jarrell, G.A., James A. Brickley and Jeffrey M. Netter, “The Market for Corporate Control:
The Empirical Evidence Since 1980,” The Journal of Economic Perspectives, Volume 2,
No.1, Winter 1988.

Supplementary Readings on Limited Arbitrage

 Mitchell, M., Todd Pulvino and Erik Stafford, “Limited Arbitrage in Equity Markets,” The
Journal of Finance, Volume 57, Number 2, April 2002.

Business Readings
 “Forget Formulae and trust gut instinct, advises Buffett,” Financial Times, May, 2003.

 “The Next Warrant Buffett?,” Business Week, November 2004.

[Recommended Pages: Definitely read this article. Fantastic!]

39
 Workshop B
[May 19]

LBO Modeling
CCF and Cash Flow Available to Service Debt (CADS)
Equity Cash Flows and IRRs to Sponsors
The LBO Valuation Model
Target IRR Model

Recommended Readings

Required Readings on Private Equity and LBOs

 CA, “The Practitioner’s Guide To Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate
Finance,” Part II: Valuation, Chapter 12 (Leverage Buyouts).

 Liberti, J., “Private Equity and LBOs: Equity Cash, IRR and the LBO Valuation Model,”
Lecture Slides, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

 Liberti, J., “Note on Equity Cash Flows,” Note, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

40
 Week IX-A/IX-B
[May 23]

Strategic vs. Financial Sponsors

Sources of Value in LBOs
Value Creation in Private Equity
The LBO Valuation Model
CCF, CADS, ECF and IRRs to Sponsors

Required Readings on Private Equity and LBOs

 CA, “The Practitioner’s Guide To Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate
Finance,” Part II: Valuation, Chapter 12 (Leverage Buyouts).

 Davidoff, S.M., “Gods at War: Shotgun Takeovers, Government by Deal, and the Private
Equity Implosion,” Wiley, 2010. Chapter 7 (Jana Partners, Children’s Investment Fund, and
the Hedge Fund Activist Investing) and Chapter 9 (Mars, Pfizer and the Changing Face of
Strategic Deals).

 Gaughan, P.A., “Mergers, Acquisitions, and Corporate Restructurings,” Fourth Edition, John
Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2007. Chapter 7 (Leveraged Buyouts).

 Gompers, P., Steven N. Kaplan and Vladimir Mukharlyamov, “What Do Private Equity
Firms (Say They) Do?,” Working Paper, February 2014.

 Hall, R., “Stapled Finance Packages Under Scrutiny,” Cravath Swaine & Moore, IFLR 1000.

 Heel, J. and Conor Kehoe, “Why Some Private Equity Firms Do Better Than Others,” The
McKinsey Quarterly, Number 1, 2005.

 Kaplan, S. and Per Strömberg, “Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity,” Journal of
Economic Perspectives, Volume 23, Number 1, Spring 2009.
[This is a must read article! The Section: Is Private Equity a Superior Organizational Form? [Pages 130-136] describes in detail
the changes private equity firms apply to the firms in which they are investing in.]

 Kehoe, C. and Robert N. Palter, “The Future of Private Equity,” McKinsey on Finance,
Spring 2009.

 Liberti, J., “Private Equity and LBOs: Equity Cash, IRR and the LBO Valuation Model,”
Lecture Slides, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

41
 Liberti, J., “Note on Equity Cash Flows,” Note, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

 Liberti, J., “Leveraged Buyout Case Studies: Transaction Overview,” Lecture Slides, Kellogg
School of Management, 2017.

 Wruck, K.H., “Private Equity, Corporate Governance, and the Reinvention of the Market for
Corporate Control,” Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 20, Number 3, Summer
2008.

Business Readings
 “Dearborn Partners In Transition,” Crain's Chicago Business; February 9, 2009.

 “Lacking Leverage, Firms Embrace EBOs,” The Wall Street Journal; March 12, 2009.

 “Leveraged Loan Financing Comes Out of Deep Freeze, “ Financial Times; February, 2010.

 Schneider, K., “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Sharia?” Real Deals, November 27,
2008.
[As Islamic financial products become increasingly popular, Kai Schneider of Latham & Watkins explains how to make a fund
Sharia-compliant.]

 Tinlin, A., Markus Rimner and Rajesh Sennik, “Dealing with the Downturn Private Equity:
Private Practices,” Accenture Outlook, 2009.

Supplementary Readings on Private Equity and LBOs

 Acharya, V., Julian Franks and Henri Servaes, “Private Equity: Boom or Bust?,” Journal of
Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 19, Number 4, Fall 2007.

 Allen, J.R., “LBOs – The Evolution of Financial Structures and Strategies,” Journal of
Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 8, Number 4, Winter 1996.

 Butler, P., “The Alchemy of LBOs,” The McKinsey Quarterly, 2001, Number 2

 Denis, D.J., “The Benefits of High Leverage: Lessons From Kroger’s Leveraged Recap and
Safeway’s LBO,” Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 7, Number 4, Winter
1995.

 Gompers, P. and Josh Lerner, “Money Chasing Deals?: The Impact of Fund Inflows on the
Valuation of Private Equity Investments,” Journal of Financial Economics, 55, 281-325,
February 2000.

 Kaplan, S. N. and Jeremy C. Stein, “The Evolution of Buyout Pricing and Financial Structure
(Or, What Went Wrong) In The 1980s,” Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Volume 6,
Number 1, Spring 1993.

42
 Kay, I.T and Mike Shelton, “The People Problem In Mergers,” The McKinsey Quarterly,
2000, Number 4.

 Uhlaner, R.T. and Andrew S. West, “Running a Winning M&A Shop,” The McKinsey
Quarterly, March 2008.

43
 Week X
[May 30]

Sources of Value in LBOs

Value Creation in Private Equity
Corporate Restructuring and Asset Backed Securities
Securitization

Recommended Readings

Required Readings on the Financial Crisis and LBO Market

 Liberti, J., “The Impact of the Financial Crisis on LBOs and Private Equity Activity,”
Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

Required Readings on Asset Backed Securities

 Financial Security Assurance, Inc. (FSA), “A Guide to Insured Backed Securities,” FSA,
2000.

 Gangwani, S., “Speaking of Securitization: Securitization 101,” Deloitte & Touche, Volume
3, Issue 4-1, Special Edition, July 20, 1998.

 Liberti, J., “The Securitization Process: Asset Backed Securities and Mortgage Backed
Securities,” Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

 Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, “Special-Purpose Bankruptcy-Remote Entities,” U.S.

CMBS Legal and Structured Finance Criteria, Chapter 4, The McGraw-Hill Companies,
2003.

Supplementary Readings on Asset Backed Securities

 Kotecha, M.K., “The Role of Insurance In Asset-Backed Securities,” International

Securitization (Chapter 9), 193-207

 Leixner, T.C., “Securitization of Financial Assets,” Holland & Knight LLP, September 1999

 Standard & Poor's Structured Finance, "Global Collateralized Bond and Loan Obligation
(CBO/CLO) Criteria," McGraw-Hill Companies, 1999

44
 Week XI
[May 31]

The Role and Economic Logic of Risk Arbitrageurs (“Arbs”)

Key Value Drivers for Arbs
Sensitivity of Arbs to Returns, Time and Outcomes
Calculating the Value of Offers and Probabilities of Events

Recommended Readings

Required Readings on the Role of Arbs

 CA, “The Practitioner’s Guide To Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate
Finance,” Part III: M&A Analysis, Chapter 16 (Stock Deals).
[Concentrate on Sub-Section: Risk Arbitrage [Pages 347-354].]

 Bruner, R., “Applied Mergers & Acquisitions,” Chapter 32 (Hostile Takeovers: Preparing a
Bid in Light of Competition and Arbitrage).

 Liberti, J., “Note on Excess Cash & Marketable Securities: Implications for Valuation. The
Cost of Excess Cash,” Note, Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

Required Readings on Fashion and Handbags

 Morris, J.E., “The Handbag Wars,” American Lawyer, May 1999.

Supplementary Readings on Understanding and Pricing Options

 BdeM, “Corporate Finance,” Part VII: Options, Chapter 20 (Financial Options) and Chapter
21 (Option Valuation).

 BMA, “Principles of Corporate Finance,” Part Six, Chapter 21 (Understanding Options) and
Chapter 22 (Valuing Options).

 Liberti, J., “Understanding Options. Valuing Options,” Reference Material: Chapter X,

Kellogg School of Management, 2017.

45