Publications

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April 1992
Article

Does Corporate Performance Improve after Mergers?

By: Paul M. Healy, Krishna G. Palepu and Richard S. Ruback

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Performance; Business Ventures

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June 2023
Case

Rent Control in Boston, Again?

By: Robin Greenwood, Richard S. Ruback, Robert Ialenti and Tom Quinn

This case explores the merits and drawbacks of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s proposal to bring rent control back to the city in 2023. It lays out the features, objectives, and potential unintended consequences of this policy, before highlighting the expected impact of... View Details

Keywords: Renting or Rental; Housing; Urban Development; Policy; Boston; Massachusetts

summer 1997
Article

Which Takeovers are Profitable: Strategic or Financial?

By: Paul M. Healy, Krishna G. Palepu and Richard S. Ruback

Keywords: Integration; Profit; Strategy; Finance

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September 2024 (Revised October 2024)
Case

River Remedy: Navigating Mississippi’s Medical Marijuana Market

By: Robin Greenwood, Richard S. Ruback and Robert Ialenti

MBA student William Chism, the founder of a fully integrated medical marijuana company based in Mississippi, must respond to a significant disruption in the fledgling industry. In late 2023, Rapid Analytics, one of two active licensed testing facilities, has its... View Details

Keywords: Plant-Based Agribusiness; Business Growth and Maturation; Forecasting and Prediction; Microeconomics; Local Range; Government Legislation; Demand and Consumers; Supply and Industry; Competitive Strategy; Governance Controls; Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry; Consumer Products Industry; Mississippi

May 2020
Teaching Note

Baskits Inc.

By: Richard S. Ruback, Royce Yudkoff and Ahron Rosenfeld

Teaching Note for HBS Case No. 217-001. Robin Kovitz (MBA 2007) acquired Baskits, a Canadian gift basket company, in October of 2014. The business was highly seasonal with two-thirds of its sales occurring in November and December. Baskits dealt with its seasonality... View Details

Keywords: Operations; Performance Improvement; Canada

June 2018 (Revised February 2019)
Teaching Note

Rose Electronics Distributing Company

By: Richard S. Ruback, Royce Yudkoff and Ahron Rosenfeld

Itamar Frankenthal (HBS ’13) wanted a $4.5 million bank loan to partially finance his planned acquisition of a small company, Rose Electronics. He received nine proposals which varied widely in term, interest rate, amortization schedule, and covenants. Frankenthal had... View Details

Keywords: Financing and Loans; Acquisition; Decision Making; Electronics Industry

March 2025
Supplement

Greg Mazur and the Purchase of Great Eastern Premium Pet Foods (B)

Pre-abstract: Instructors should consider the timing of making videos available to students, as they may reveal key case details. View Details

September 2024 (Revised February 2025)
Case

Ghai Management Services, 2024

By: Richard S. Ruback and Robin Greenwood

September 2024
Supplement

Red Hen Baking Company (B)

Pre-abstract: Instructors should consider the timing of making videos available to students, as they may reveal key case details.

Abstract: This (B) case supplement is designed for use by faculty only to support classroom instruction in conjunction with "Red... View Details

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Financial Strategy; Financial Management; Buildings and Facilities; Finance; Food; Risk Management; Risk and Uncertainty; Growth and Development Strategy; Food and Beverage Industry; United States; Vermont

June 2024
Supplement

Heritage Holding (B)

Pre-Abstract: Instructors should consider the timing of making videos available to students, as they may reveal key case details.

Abstract: The summer of 2022 marked a crucial period for Heritage Holding co-founders, Alex de Pfyffer and Ross Porter. The... View Details

Keywords: Acquisition; Small Business; Cost vs Benefits; Decisions; Business Education; Leadership Style; Leading Change; Business or Company Management; Problems and Challenges; Private Equity; Corporate Strategy; Business Model; North America

May 2024
Supplement

DRSi (A)

In March of 2019, Jen Ransom Fuller purchased DRSi. DRSi, located in Bellevue, Washington, printed and reproduced architectural plans and drawings. Fuller planned to use her first year of ownership to learn the business and to run it in much the same way as the seller.... View Details

Keywords: Acquisition; Small Business; Cost vs Benefits; Decisions; Business Education; Corporate Entrepreneurship; Leadership Style; Leading Change; Business or Company Management; Problems and Challenges; Health Pandemics; Selection and Staffing; Employee Relationship Management; Production; Logistics; Safety; United States; Washington (state, US)

September 2024
Supplement

Red Hen Baking Company (A)

Pre-Abstract: Instructors should consider the timing of making videos available to students, as they may reveal key case details. View Details

January 2025
Supplement

Lind Equipment (A)

Instructors should consider the timing of making videos available to students, as they may reveal key case details. Video Supplement to 212-012. View Details

September 2021
Supplement

Systems Design West (A) and (B) Case Supplements

Video supplement to HBS Case No. 220-004. View Details

January 2019
Supplement

MC Tool

Video supplement to HBS Case No. 213-013. View Details

November 2018
Supplement

Nashton Partners and Its Search Fund Process

November 2018
Supplement

Rose Electronics Distributing Company

Supplement to HBS Case No. 217-018. View Details

August 2016 (Revised November 2019)
Case

Baskits Inc.

Soon after Robin Kovitz (MBA 2007) acquired Baskits Inc., the largest gift basket company in Canada, she became convinced that the business needed to make significant operational improvements. In her first year as CEO, she introduced an ERP system to help with sales... View Details

Keywords: Production; Supply Chain; Performance Improvement; Consumer Products Industry; Canada