Publications

November 2007 (Revised June 2016)
Case

British Land

By: Lucy White

British Land's shares traded below NAV. Laxey investments tried to force British Land into share buybacks and criticized its corporate governance. Laxey voted borrowed shares at the AGM. View Details

Keywords: Stock Shares; Valuation; Property; Investment; Corporate Governance; Real Estate Industry; London

11 Jun 2014
Research & Ideas

In the Future of Sports Investing, Media Is the Best Bet

But if you ask Bob Higgins, Wyc Grousbeck, and Mark Wan—all seasoned sports team owners-—about the secret to investment success in sports, they'll tell you it has little to do with owning a team. Rather, it's all about the media... View Details

Keywords: by Carmen Nobel; Sports; Financial Services

January 2011 (Revised June 2011)
Supplement

Fixed Income Arbitrage in a Financial Crisis (B): US Treasuries in December 2008

The B case briefly recounts the action that investment manager James Franey takes in the matter of two U.S. Treasury bonds with identical maturity dates but widely different yields. He must decide what to do next. View Details

Keywords: Bonds; Financial Management; Investment Return; Financial Crisis; Financial Services Industry; United States

July 1997
Article

National Champions and Corruption: Some Unpleasant Interventionist Arithmetic

By: Alberto Ades and Rafael Di Tella

We present a hold-up model of investment where active industrial policy promotes both corruption and investment. Since corruption deters investment, the effect of industrial policy on investment is lower than when corruption is absent. We find evidence suggesting that... View Details

Keywords: Crime and Corruption

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August 2016
Teaching Note

The Role of Real Estate in Endowment Portfolios: The Case of Christ Church College

By: Arthur I. Segel and Alexander W. Schultz

The case centers on Christ Church’s Treasurer, James Lawrie, who is contemplating his options for investing a portion of the College’s endowment in real estate. Approximately 1/3 of the total $690 million endowment was allocated towards real estate, much higher than... View Details

Keywords: Portfolio Allocation; Oxford; England; Real Estate; University Endowment; Higher Education; Investment Portfolio; Property; Corporate Finance; Financial Services Industry; England

July 2021 (Revised January 2024)
Case

Fynd

By: Ranjay Gulati, Kairavi Dey and Rachna Tahilyani

Fynd is a fast-growing venture that in 7 years since its founding has become India's largest omnichannel retail company with real-time access to over 9,000 stores' offline inventory. It started as a B2B business supporting retailers who didn’t have an online business,... View Details

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Business Startups; Business Model; Acquisition; Decision Making; Cost vs Benefits; Growth and Development Strategy; Web Services Industry; Technology Industry; Communications Industry; India; Mumbai

September 2013 (Revised November 2023)
Case

Antoine Leboyer and GSX

By: Richard S. Ruback and Royce Yudkoff

Antoine Leboyer (HBS '92) acquired the Swiss-based software company GSX in February 2008. He managed through the recession of 2008–2009, dealt with a tumultuous separation from the founder/owner, rebuilt the management team, and upgraded the company's software... View Details

Keywords: Acquisition; Small Business; Finance; Private Equity; Growth and Development Strategy; France; Switzerland

01 Aug 2018
News

Are share buybacks 'plundering company resources'?

05 Jul 2018
News

China’s new $15bn tech fund emulates SoftBank’s Vision Fund

02 May 2013
HBS Seminar

Eric Werker, Harvard Business School

February 2019 (Revised February 2020)
Case

Koita Foods

By: Lynda M. Applegate, Elie Ofek and Michael Norris

In 2018, Mustafa Koita, Founder and CEO of Dubai-based organic milk company Koita has to decide whether or not to pursue an investment from a potential competitor who is coming into his local market. View Details

Keywords: Organic Milk; Mom Blog; Entrepreneurship; Cash Flow; Food; Growth Management; Investment; Social Marketing; Ownership Stake; Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry; Food and Beverage Industry; United Arab Emirates; Dubai

21 Jan 2021
Video

Hemendra Kothari

Hemendra Kothari, chairman of DSP Investment Managers in India, discusses how his bank has combined family ownership with professional values. View Details

September 2002 (Revised January 2003)
Case

A-Rod: Signing the Best Player in Baseball

By: Randolph B. Cohen

This case analyzes a large investment decision considered by the Texas Rangers in 2000: whether to spend $252 million for the services of shortstop Alex Rodriguez. The signing was probably the most controversial sports contract of the past decade. View Details

Keywords: Selection and Staffing; Investment; Sports; Brands and Branding; Sports Industry

April 2005 (Revised April 2005)
Background Note

An Overview of Project Finance - 2004 Update

By: Benjamin C. Esty and Aldo Sesia

Introduces the field of project finance and provides a statistical overview of the project-financed investments over the last five years. Defines project finance and contrasts it with other well-known financing structures. Describes the evolution of project finance,... View Details

Keywords: Project Finance; Investment; Projects; Trends

May 6, 2010
Other Article

How Big Business Can Regain Legitimacy

By: Michael E. Porter

Harvard Business School competitiveness guru Michael E. Porter urges large organizations to invest in small businesses in inner cities. View Details

Keywords: Society; United States

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21 Jan 2021
Video

Hemendra Kothari

Hemendra Kothari, chairman of DSP Investment Managers in India, discusses his philanthrophy, including supporting schools and facilitating wildlife conservation. View Details

06 May 2014
News

Pfizer's bid for AstraZeneca: It's time to reform the U.S. corporate tax system

October 2012 (Revised February 2019)
Case

Whaling Ventures

By: Tom Nicholas and Jonas Peter Akins

Whaling was a prominent global industry in the nineteenth century and the United States was dominant. By 1850 there were about 900 whaling ships in the world and 700 of these were American. Rates of return on capital were high compared to benchmark investments, at... View Details

Keywords: Whaling; Organization Design; Entrepreneurship; Venture Capital; Finance; Organizational Design; Industry Growth; History; United States