Publications
Publications
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(2,180)
- Faculty Publications (568)
- December 1997 (Revised March 1998)
- Case
Mid Ocean Limited: Trading Catastrophe Index Options
By: Kenneth A. Froot and Markus Mullarkey
An insurance industry executive must evaluate the potential of a set of newly-offered catastrophe insurance derivatives. The background addresses the roles of traditional reinsurance and securitization efforts in providing risk transfer and risk financing in the "cat"... View Details
- October 1997 (Revised May 1998)
- Case
Busang (A): River of Gold
By: Debora L. Spar
In 1995, Bre-X Minerals, a tiny Canadian mining firm, struck gold. Deep in the heart of the Borneo jungle, it discovered what appeared to be one of the world's largest and most cost-effective gold deposits. Almost immediately, the firm's stock price shot upwards and... View Details
- August 1997 (Revised June 1999)
- Case
Providian Trust: Tradition and Technology (A)
By: F. Warren McFarlan and Melissa Dailey
A major trust company attempts to implement a major software system while simultaneously reengineering business processes. Providian Trust, a previously non-IT intensive organization, must completely reposition its management of technology to deal with IT's new... View Details
- July 1997 (Revised September 1997)
- Case
USAA: Catastrophe Risk Financing
By: Kenneth A. Froot and Mark Seasholes
Describes the first major risk financing using catastrophe bonds. Provides a basis for discussing the securitization of insurance risks. View Details
- July 1997 (Revised April 1998)
- Case
Chase Manhattan Corporation: The Making of America's Largest Bank
By: Stuart C. Gilson and Cedric Escalle
Chase Bank and Chemical Bank intend to merge, producing the largest commercial bank in the United States, the fourth largest in the world. Projected financial benefits under the merger reflect significant planned reduction in operating costs, including 17,000 employee... View Details
- February 1997 (Revised April 1997)
- Case
Harrington Financial Group
By: Robert C. Merton and Alberto Moel
In early 1997, Harrington Bank, a small Indiana savings and loan (thrift) wondered what its next move should be. Harrington was acquired in 1988 by the principals of Smith Breeden Associates, a money-management and consulting firm specializing in the application of... View Details
- December 1996
- Background Note
Financial Engineering and Tax Risk: The Case of Times Mirror PEPS
By: Peter Tufano
Provides general background on the taxation of corporate securities, and shows how the inconsistent taxation of functionally-similar securities can permit financial engineers to bear tax risk to earn positive returns. Designed to be used with Times Mirror Co. PEPS... View Details
- November 1996 (Revised September 1997)
- Case
BancZero New Product Development
By: Marco Iansiti and Alberto Moel
The Mexico City office of a large U.S. bank is asked by clients to develop currency swaps, a derivative financial product. This case deals with the new product development process in financial services, and the problems and issues that are raised in product development... View Details
- November 1996 (Revised July 1997)
- Case
Alexander Plaza
By: Arthur I Segel and William J. Poorvu
In May 1996, Henry Bower, an asset manager for a real estate adviser, Medcem, has to negotiate the details of a lease after signing a letter of intent with a high technology company, Defentek, Inc. Defentek, Inc. is a fast-growing company with limited net worth that is... View Details
- October 1996 (Revised April 2004)
- Case
Eric Wood (A)
By: Myra M. Hart
Describes the early career of an MBA who went to work in a small business, bought the company, and is now contemplating an acquisition to expand the business. The issues involve personal/business finance and financial risk, as well as valuation and financial... View Details
- August 1996 (Revised December 1999)
- Case
J Boats, Inc.
By: Robert L. Simons
During the 20-year evolution of a family-owned, entrepreneurial sailboat company, two founders leverage their design and marketing skills to build one of the most recognized brands in the recreational boating industry. The founder then considers management succession... View Details
- June 1996
- Article
Risk-Based Capital Requirements and the Riskiness of Bank Portfolios
By: Brian J. Hall and Steven R. Grenadier
- May 1996
- Case
First Capital Holdings Corp.
By: Stuart C. Gilson, Harry DeAngelo and Linda DeAngelo
The manager of a money-management firm considers whether to invest in the securities of a large, financially troubled, California-based life insurance holding company that holds 40% of its assets in high-yield junk bonds. Over the past year, the value of its portfolio... View Details
- April 1996 (Revised January 2006)
- Case
Times Mirror Company PEPS Proposal Review
By: Peter Tufano
Times Mirror Co. (TMC) owns a substantial block of Netscape common stock purchased prior to Netscape's IPO, on which it has substantial unrealized gains. TMC is restricted from selling the stock in a public offering and is therefore considering a proposal by Morgan... View Details
- April 1996 (Revised October 1999)
- Case
Risk of Stocks in the Long Run, The: The Barnstable College Endowment
By: Andre F. Perold
The manager of the Barnstable College Endowment is evaluating proposals to increase the endowment's exposure to stocks based on an analysis that shows stocks to be much safer over long holding periods. View Details
- January 1996 (Revised February 1997)
- Case
Tennessee Valley Authority: Option Purchase Agreements
By: Peter Tufano
James Cross, VP of customer planning at the Tennessee Valley Authority, a major supplier of electric power in the Southeast United States, is considering meeting its incremental capacity needs by creating new financial contracts, Option Purchase Agreements (OPAs) to... View Details
- December 1995 (Revised February 1997)
- Case
Student Educational Loan Fund, Inc.
By: Peter Tufano
Rick Melnick oversees the Student Educational Loan Fund (SELF), which provides loans to Harvard Business School students. SELF is changing the terms of student loans from variable-rate with semiannual payments to fixed-rate loans with equal monthly payments. Melnick... View Details
- 1995
- Chapter
Incentive Problems in Financial Contracting: Impacts on Corporate Financing, Investment, and Risk Management Policies
By: K. Froot
- August 1995
- Case
Credit General, SA
By: Andre F. Perold
The head of a bank's asset and liability committee has to approve an unexpectedly large overnight currency exposure or require at great cost that the exposure be reduced. View Details