Financial Management Of Small Businesses Finance Essay - Free Essay Example

This course is part of the Entrepreneurship specialization that includes Opportunity Identification, Gathering Resources Launch, Entrepreneurial Growth, Entrepreneurial Finance, Harvest, Negotiations (Financial Management of the Small Firm) and the capstone course, Entrepreneurial Management. This class is quite quantitative and a solid finance/accounting background is helpful. If you do not have a strong finance/accounting background, make sure you get in a study group with someone who does have this strong financial background. This course is very demanding from both the amount of reading required and the number of cases discussed during the semester. THE CASE METHOD In a case course, much of the learning occurs in preparing for the case, which often requires three to six hours of readings and preparation, including discussions within your study group. The case method is student-centered rather than instructor-centered. In the classroom, the students will drive a rigorous discussion of each case by identifying the problems and issues faced by the managers and formulating alternatives for solution backed by case facts and assumptions. In addition to preparing for cases, there are substantial reading assignments, especially in the early part of the course. Two notes on the case method are provided in your readings: Note to the Student: How to Study and Discuss Cases from UVAs Professor Robert Bruner and The Case Method by Jeff Sandefer. GRADING The class will set its own standards through friendly competition. The student with the highest weighted average ranking will receive the highest grade and then the remaining students are ranked from this top position. A forced curve is used in this class with approximately: % of Class 30-35% A or A- if performance is substantially higher than the mean (top third of the class) 55-60% B+, B or B- if performance is around the mean of the class (middle third) 5-10% C+, C if substantially underperforming other members of the class (bottom 10%) Ds and Fs will be awarded where deserved. Natural breaks in the distribution will be used to determine the final grade distribution. No student is allowed to take the course on a pass/fail basis. 1. CLASS DISCUSSION (30%) Your T.A. will record the class discussion and you will be graded on the quantity and, more importantly, the quality of your discussion of each case. Cold calls will be used for openings, summaries (closings) and during the class discussion. Openings and summaries will have a disproportionate weight on your class participation grade. Since there are more students in the class than cases, not everyone will be able to open or close a case and therefore, it is incumbent on you to raise your hand and participate fully in each case. Study group members will be expected to be active in the discussion when a group member opens a case. Student comments which move the class forward and build on other comments will be rewarded while just citing case facts or being unprepared for the discussion will adversely affect your grade. A survey at the end of the semester will allow you to rank your classmates discussion and study group participation. Rarely is there a significant difference in how I ra nk your participation and how your classmates rank you. Classroom discussion counts toward 30% of your final grade. Preparation and Missed Class If you are not prepared to open a case and tell me before the class begins, I will give you a minus one (-1) for that class discussion. However, If you do not tell me before class, I will award you a minus three (-3) for that class discussion. If you miss class due to an excused absence, then you must turn in a written analysis of the missed case to your T.A. (or me) within one week of the missed class. Failure to turn in a written analysis will result in up to a letter grade deduction. Unexcused absences and excessive excused absences may result in your being dropped from the class, having your grade reduced or be given a failing grade in the course. Cheating Obtaining help on a case, either written or oral, from students who have discussed the case in this or other classes is considered cheating and you will receive an F for the course. Students should also not surf the web searching for the outcome or the right answer. Cases force you to put yourself in a managers/owners role, frame the problem, identify strategic alternatives and make a recommendations based on logic and fact-based analysis. Most cases are self contained and research on the web will not be required. Tardiness Being late to class is disruptive to the class discussion. If you are late to class, we will stop and find out why and you may get the pleasure of opening the case or being cold called multiple times. 2. Mid-term and Final Exam Cases (50%) Midterm All students will perform an individual analysis of a take-home mid-term exam case (individual, no team analysis). The case will be handed out during the previous weeks class. Limit your analysis and spreadsheets to 10 pages total and put your name on the back of the last page of your analysis, as I grade the exams blindly. Please use double spacing on your word-processed analysis and use 12-point font size on your text and spreadsheets. The mid-term represents 25% of your total grade. Final You will be given an option for your final case. Option A A written analysis of a comprehensive case similar to the mid-term. This take-home final exam case will be distributed to you on the final day of class and you will return the case, your written analysis and spreadsheet work at the scheduled time on the syllabus. The final represents 25% of your total grade. Option B You may elect, during the first month of class, to form a team of 4 students in your section that will find a privately held company which will allow you to perform a financial analysis and valuation of their firm. In lieu of a written individual case final, the team members will work throughout the semester with their client company and will turn in their written analysis at the same time the Option A case finals are due. Your team will act as a financial consultant and generate a report targeted to the Board of Directors of the company that addresses, at a minimum: a SWOT analysis; an Industry/Competitor analysis; a financial analysis; and a valuation of the equity of the firm. This project will require you to find and meet with the business owner/manager and do original research including searching for comparable companies and industry benchmarking. I will give you access to databases such as BizComps and PrattStats, RMA Annual Financial Statement Surveys and Capital IQ. Your final written report will substitute for the same 25% of your final grade as the case final in Option A. All team members will receive the same starting grade based on the accuracy, quality and completeness of your teams project and ranked relative to the other teams projects. Adjustments to individual members project grade will be based on their team members evaluation of their contributions to the project. Samples of previous semester projects are posted on BlackBoard. 3. Written Assignments and Take-home Quizzes (20%) The remaining 20% of your grade is based on written exercises, turned-in case analyses, and two, take-home quizzes. For each case, your study team should print out a copy of your analysis and spreadsheet just in case I ask that you turn them in for grading. You may e-mail the files within 30 minutes of class if the files are on your notebook computer. Someone in your study group should have your spreadsheet work on their laptop or on an overhead slide in case I ask you to show your model to the class. Rules of Engagement for Class Discussion: Come prepared to participate and come on time. Take a stand and defend it. State your assumptions. Give evidence to support your claims but do not just repeat case facts. Speak concisely. Airtime is a scarce resource, do not ramble. LISTEN and build on previous student comments. Direct your comments to your classmates, not the professor. Respectfully challenge or support the arguments being made. OPENINGS While this course is about harvesting, exit strategies and valuation, do not overlook your traditional SWOT, FIT (PODC) and Industry/Competitor analysis frameworks in preparing your case. For your openings, take a stand and then defend it. Decide what the central issue of the case is and put yourself in the decision-makers shoes. Outline your alternative solutions and the pros and cons of each option. Never just give the answer. List any assumptions such as: normalization of the cash flows, the discount rate used and why, the terminal value assumptions, which comparable company that was used and why, any unique risk of the company and any discounts for marketability, minority interest or other adjustments. Only after you have cited your assumptions should you give your conclusion of value. Some of the points that I will use to grade your opening and class discussion are: Was the problem or issue clearly defined? Did you take a firm stand and back it with evidence? Did you outline your assumptions? Did you use the frameworks, valuation models and notes discussed in class? Did you explore the pros and cons of the strategic alternatives? Did you perform both qualitative and quantitative analysis? Was a plan of action presented along with implementation steps, timing and costs? How did you respond to your peers questions about your solution? A good question can be worth as much as a good answer. Feel free to experiment with unorthodox solutions, which will be rewarded if you can defend them with logic and evidence. REVIEW OF READINGS and CLOSINGS At the beginning of the class I may ask someone (cold call) to summarize one of the notes assigned for that class. At the end of most cases I will ask someone (cold call) for the lessons learned in the case. You should be able to concisely summarize the key learning objectives derived from the readings, the case and/or the class discussion. USE OF EXCEL TEMPLATES Try to develop a valuation excel template that allows you to enter data regarding an asset/cost approach, comparable market value approach, and discounted cash flow approaches. I have posted a few examples on Blackboard under Resources. You can use this template for the mid-term and the final to assist you with your analysis of the case. VALUATION Finally, valuation is both art and science. If you are looking for the number you will get frustrated. We are trying to narrow the range of darkness by using different valuation models and hope to get some convergent validity and triangulation from these models to give a valuation range. Ultimately, fair market value will be what a willing buyer and seller agree upon. Tues., 1/15 A. Class 1 INTRODUCTION GOALS FOR THE SEMESTER Review of Topics, Assignment Sheets, and Course Outline Rules for Classroom Discussion Instruction for the Formation of Study Groups The Case Method B. Professor/Student Introductions C. ASSIGNMENTS: 1. Readings from Course Packet: Course Summary and Grading Policy Course Introduction Note to the Student: How to Study and Discuss Cases The Case Method Jeff Sandefer Classroom Discussion Jeff Sandefer Note on Study Groups Jeff Sandefer How to Avoid Getting Lost in the Numbers 2. Browse this courses material on Black Board https://courses.utexas.edu/ for valuation spreadsheets and case electronic files under the course documents button and helpful websites on valuation under the external links button. 3. Bring a copy of your resume to the next class Thurs., 1/17 B. Class 2 LEGAL FORMS OF ORGANIZATION Tax Issues, Capital Sources and Legal Issues What form of organization do you want when you are starting, growing, a mature cash cow or selling the business. Sole Proprietorship General and Limited Partnerships Limited Liability Companies C and S Corporations Issuing Section 1244 and 1202 Stock Assignment Turn in Resume Form study groups (self-select 4-5 people with different education, concentration, work experience and cultural background). Your project team (four member teams max) for the final project can be different than your case study team. READINGS FROM THE COURSE PACKET: The Questions Every Entrepreneur Must Answer Small Company Finance: What the Books Dont Say A Small Business is Not Just a Little Big Business The Five Stages of Small Business Growth Blackboard: Legal Forms.ppt Tues., 1/22 C. Class 3 LEGAL FORMS (CONTINUED) Buy Sell Agreements Asset vs. Stock Sale Financial Structure ASSIGNMENT: Due Next Class Individual Effort. Go on-line and find a public company that interests you and get their year-end historical financial statements for the past three years. There are no constraints on industry, size, etc. You can access the financial data from any source you want to use. Use a spreadsheet to prepare a three-factor DuPont Decomposition of ROE for the past three years. In a one-page summary, explain the trends in the companys financial performance profitability, asset utilization, leverage and return. What correlation is their to their stock price performance? What other factors might influence the stock performance? READINGS FROM THE COURSE PACKET: Organizing the Enterprise: Which Form is Best for You? Countering the Biggest Risk of All Why Entrepreneurs Dont Scale Bootstap Finance: The Art of Start-ups Thurs., 1/24 D. Class 4 MEASURING BUSINESS PERFORMANCE Turn in Company DuPont Analysis assignment CLASS LECTURE: Business Performance Measurement Financial Statement Analysis DuPont Analysis/ROE drivers Financial Strategies ASSIGNMENT TO BE TURNED IN NEXT CLASS: 1. Individual Effort Prepare for your first case discussion Drivers of Industry Financial Structure and turn in next class. Match the industry with the financial statements and tell what factors led you to match the industry with the financial statement. READINGS FROM THE COURSE PACKET: Note on the Financial Perspective: What Every Entrepreneur Should Know Introduction to Financial Ratios and Financial Statement Analysis 3. Assessing the Firms Future Health Work the problems at the end of the article for practice (NOT REQUIRED TO BE TURNED IN). BlackBoard: Financial Statement Analysis.ppt Tues., 1/29 E. Class 5 MEASURING BUSINESS PERFORMANCE (CONTINUED) CLASS LECTURE: Financial Strategies Value Drivers Levers Scaling CASE: Drivers of Industry Financial Structure Turn in your analysis. READINGS FROM THE COURSE PACKET: 1. Measuring Business Performance 2. Note on Unit Economics BlackBoard: Financial Statement Analysis.ppt Thurs., 1/31 F. CLASS 6 BREAKEVEN ANALYSIS CLASS LECTURE: Breakeven Analysis Operating, Financial and Combined Leverage (Scaling) Cost, Volume, Profit analysis Cost (ABC) Accounting CASE: Hallstead Jewelers HBS 5-107-069 (Study Team analysis Nothing required to be turned in.) READINGS FROM THE COURSE PACKET: Breakeven Analysis (abridged) BlackBoard: Breakeven Analysis.ppt Tues., 2/5 G. CLASS 7 WORKING CAPITAL MANAGEMENT CLASS LECTURE: CASH CONVERSION CYCLE ASSET FORECASTING Receivable, Inventory and Payable Turnover Cash Conversion Cycle Percent of Sales Method of Asset Forecasting Proforma Statements and Cash Budgeting CASE: None READINGS FROM THE COURSE PACKET: 1. Cash Management Practices in Small Companies BlackBoard: Working Capital Management.ppt Cash Budgeting Problem and Spreadsheet Thurs., 2/7 H. Class 8 WORKING CAPITAL MANAGEMENT (CONTINUED) CLASS LECTURE: EXTERNAL FUNDS REQUIRED CASE: Butler Lumber Company READINGS FROM THE COURSE PACKET: Note on Managing the Growing Venture BlackBoard: Asset Forecasting.ppt Tues., 2/12 I. Class 9 SOURCES OF CAPITAL CLASS LECTURE: Sources of Capital/Private Equity Debt Sources Equity Sources Government Backed Programs Take-home Quiz Handout: Individual Assignment. Take home quiz on previous lecture topics. Open Book, but no help from classmates or others. Due next class. CASE: None, but lots of readings and you need to complete the take-home quiz. READINGS FROM THE COURSE PACKET: Note on Private Equity Securities Note on Angel Investing Note on Private Equity Deal Structures Note on Valuation of Venture Capital Deals Private Equity Glossary BlackBoard: Sources of Capital Terms Sheets History of Private Equity Thurs., 2/14 J. Class 10 Capital Structure Turn in Take Home Quiz CLASS LECTURE: Risk, Return and Cost of Capital MM Propositions WACC Behavioral/Signaling Cap Rate Build-up Stage and Round of Financing CASE: None, but take-home quiz is due READINGS FROM THE COURSE PACKET: Note on the Theory of Optimal Capital Structure Capital Structure Theory: A Current Perspective Indifference Point Analysis Debt Financing, Firm Value and Cost of Capital The Effects of Debt-Equity Policy on Shareholder Returns Beta BlackBoard: 1. Capital Structure.ppt Tues., 2/19 K. Class 11 BUSINESS Valuation CLASS LECTURE: Cost, Market and Income Approaches Value of the Assets in Trade Value of the Assets in Use Transaction Comps Public Guideline Comps Venture Capital Method Intrinsic Value Firm Free Cash Flow Equity Cash Flow Adjusted Present Value Capital Cash Flow CASE: Encana Corp.: The Cost of Capital (Ivey 9B07N002) ASSIGNMENT: REVIEW SOME OF THESE WEBSITES: https://www.capitalIQ.com https://www.exinfm.com/free_spreadsheets.html https://pages.stern.nyu.edu/~adamodar/ https://www.lib.utexas.edu/subject/business/finance.html https://www.investor.reuters.com/StockEntry.aspx?target=/stocks READINGS FROM THE COURSE PACKET: Note on Business Valuation Note on Valuing Private Businesses A Note on Pre-Money and Post Money Valuation BlackBoard: 1. Business Valuation.ppt Thurs., 2/21 L. Class 12 WHATS IT WORTH? CLASS LECTURE: Discounts rates, Terminal value, DLOM, DLOC CAPM Build-up Rate Terminal Value Discounts for Marketability, Control Unique Risk Factors Size, Key Man, Concentrations CASE: Frank Spence UVA-F-1206 READINGS FROM THE COURSE PACKET: An Introduction to Cash Flow Valuation Methods A Note on Free Cash Flow Valuation Models BlackBoard: 1. Business Valuation.ppt Tues., 2/26 M. Class 13 DIVERGENCE OF GOALS CLASS LECTURE: Negotiating Financing the Sale Senior Debt Subordinated Debt Seller Note/Employment Agreement Earnout Non-Compete CASE: Eller Media S-SB-191 READINGS FROM THE COURSE PACKET: The Company Sale Process Note on Adjusted Present Value Note on Capital Cash Flow Articles on Current MA Market and Valuation Issues A Note on the Initial Public Offering Process 9-200-016 BlackBoard: Business Valuation.ppt Thurs., 2/28 N. Class 14 Guest Speaker CASE: To Be Announced READING ASSIGNMENT: None Tues., 3/4- Thurs., 3/13 No Classes will be held during Global Plus or Spring Break (3/1-3/16) Work on your consulting project. Tues., 3/18 O. CLASS 15 D-I-V-O-R-C-E WHATS YOUR BID? CASE: The Carlton Polish Company HBS 9-283-008 ReadingS from the Course Packet: End Game Strategies for Declining Industries 83409 Note on Valuing Equity Cash Flows Thurs., 3/20 P. Class 16 What Size Slice of the Pie? CASE: Clarion Optical Co. HBS 9-393-116 READINGS: NONE ASSIGNMENT: Your take-home midterm case will be handed out this class. You are to return the case with your written case analysis (individual effort) on Tuesday. Your analysis is limited to 10 pages (including spreadsheet exhibits) with double line spacing. Electronic case exhibits are posted on BlackBoard. Each student should submit a written analysis at the beginning of class. You may use spreadsheet templates developed in your study groups but your work on the midterm case should be an individual effort. Your analysis should be word processed and double spaced with at least 12-point font. Your analysis and spreadsheet work should not exceed 10 pages. Do not put your name on the front of your analysis as I grade it blindly. Put your name on the back of the last page and staple. Discussing the case with other students in this or other classes is a violation of the honor code. Going out on the web to find out what happened to the company is also a violation of the honor code. You should stay within the case facts and just list your assumptions. It will take me several weeks to grade and give feedback on your midterm. You will also receive feedback on your class discussion and where you rank in the class. Tues., 3/25 Q. CLASS 17 MID TERM CASE DISCUSSION CASE: Written Mid-term Case due. You should turn in your written case analysis at the beginning of class. Bring the mid-term case with you to class and return the case at the end of this class after our case discussion. Thurs., 3/27 R. Class 18- ALL IN THE FAMILY CASE: COLETEK, INC. SB-144 READINGS FROM THE COURSE PACKET: 1. Transferring Power in the Family Business HBR 79401 2. Definitions and Typologies of the Family Business Tues., 4/1 S. Class 19 ROLLING, ROLLING, ROLLINGÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¦ROLL-UP CASE: Project Dial-Tone HBS 9-897-003 Reading in the Course Packet: 1. The Consolidation of Highly Fragmented Service Industries: Rollups 9-800-142 Thurs., 4/3 T. Class 20 IS THIS A BUBBLE? CASE: Mandic BBS An Entrepreneurial Harvesting Decision HBS 9-899-082 Reading from the Course Packet: Valuing Cash Flows in an International Context Tues., 4/8 U. Class 21 JUST A MATTER OF TAXES CASE: Brazos Partners: the CoMark LBO 9-202-090 Readings in the Course Packet: Note on Leveraged Buyouts Technical Note on LBO Valuation (A)9-902-004 Technical Note on LBO Valuation (B) 9-902-005 ASSIGNMENT: Try doing a reverse induction method as per the readings Thurs., 4/10 V. CLASS 22 USING YOUR STOCK AS CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATES CASE: Automated Intelligence Corp Take-home Quiz Handout: Second take-home quiz dealing with material after the first take-home quiz. Individual Assignment. Open Book, but no help from classmates or others. Due next class. READINGS FROM THE COURSE PACKET: Technical Note on Equity-Linked Consideration Part 1: All stock deals 9-903-027 A Note on Mergers and Acquisitions and Valuation Tues., 4/15 W. CLASS 23- IS THE WHOLE EQUAL TO THE SUM OF ITS PARTS? Take-Home Quiz Due. CASE: Interco HBS 9-291-033 Reading from the Course Packet: 1. Valuing Companies in Corporate Restructurings HBS 9-201-073 Thurs., 4/17 X. CLASS 24 PLAYING HARDBALL CASE: Devon Industries, Inc. (A) (B) 9-175-247 This case is about ethics and negotiations and should provoke a lot of class discussion. There are not any numbers to analyze. ASSIGNMENT: Fill out your answers to the B case. READINGS FROM THE COURSE PACKET: Brinkmanship in Business HBR 67206 Bankruptcy A Debtors Perspective Tues., 4/22 Y. Class 25 CHANGING OF THE GUARD (MBO) CASE: John M. Case Company HBS 9-291-009 Readings from the Course Packet: LBOs for Smaller Companies 88113 Thurs., 4/24 Z. Class 26 -RIDING THE WAVE CASES: 1. Star Cablevision (A) HBS N9-293-036 Star Cablevision (B) HBS N9-293-037 (Bring the B case with you to class but do not read it before class. We will discuss the A case and you will read the B case in class). READING FROM THE COURSE PACKET: 1. Capital Market Myopia HBS 9-288-005 Tues., 4/29 AA. Class 27 THE PERFECT STORM CASES: Star Cablevision (C) N9-293-038 Bring the Star Cablevision (D) case with you to class and we will read in class. Do not read the (D) case before we discuss the (C) case. Star Cablevision (D) N9-293-039 Do not read the D, E F cases before we discuss the (C) case. Thurs., 5/1 BB. Class 28- LESSONS LEARNED/COURSE SURVEY CASES: 1. Star Cablevision (E F) N9-293-040 N9-293-041 ASSIGNMENT: Bring Your Completed Final Course Survey. Your study team and project team peer evaluation forms will be handed out for you to complete and return. McCombs Teacher Evaluations Course Review Review for Final Exam Hand out Final Exam Case for take-home final (DUE NEXT THURSDAY AT NOON) Each student (except those who elected at the beginning of the semester to do the consulting project) should submit a written analysis of the final exam case. You may use spreadsheet templates developed in your study groups but your work on the midterm case should be an individual effort. Your analysis should be word processed and double spaced with at least a 12 point font. Your analysis and spreadsheet work should not exceed 10 pages. Do not put your name on the front of your analysis as I grade it blindly. Put your NAME on the back of the last page and staple. You are to return the case with your typed case analysis to the Finance Department before NOON on THURSDAY, MAY 8TH (THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT CLOSES FOR LUNCH AT NOON). Discussing the case with other students in this or other classes is a violation of the honor code. Looking up what happened to the company on the web is also a violation of the honor code. Study Questions will be attached to the final exam case to be handed out at the end of this class. You can e-mail me with any questions you have on the final case. FOR TEAMS DOING THE CASE CONSULTING PROJECT: YOU ELECTED TO DO THE PROJECT IN LIEU OF THE FINAL EXAM. YOUR TEAMS FINAL WRITTEN ANALYSIS OF YOUR CASE IS DUE ON THURSDAY, MAY 8TH AT 12:00 IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT OFFICE (CBA 6.222). Due Thurs. 5/8 A. Turn in Final Exam by 12:00 (Noon). Take Home Final Case Analysis is due in the Finance Office (CBA 6.222) by no later than 12:00 (NOON). Return the case and put your name on the back of the last page of your analysis. Maximum of 10 pages, including spreadsheet exhibits. B. Turn in Team Consulting Project by 12:00 (Noon) Team Case Project is due in the Finance Office (CBA 6.222) by no later than 12:00 (NOON).