Publications

September 1987
Background Note

What Do Venture Capitalists Do?

By: William A. Sahlman

Presents the results derived from 49 responses to a questionnaire mailed to 100 venture capitalists in late 1984. The purpose of the survey was to shed light on the relationship between venture capitalists and their portfolio companies. The survey revealed that the... View Details

Keywords: Borrowing and Debt; Venture Capital; Investment Portfolio; Recruitment; Surveys; Managerial Roles; Service Operations; Relationships; Service Industry

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June 2010 (Revised August 2021)
Case

Vereinigung Hamburger Schiffsmakler und Schiffsagenten e.V. (VHSS): Valuing Ships

By: Benjamin C. Esty and Albert Sheen

After booming for more than five years, the global shipping (maritime) industry experienced a dramatic crash in late 2008 as the global financial system froze and the global economy slid into recession. Ship charter rates (revenue) fell by as much as 90% causing prices... View Details

Keywords: Fair Value Accounting; Financial Crisis; Capital Markets; Financial Liquidity; International Finance; Globalized Markets and Industries; Valuation; Banking Industry; Shipping Industry; Germany

September 2008 (Revised June 2013)
Case

Odyssey Healthcare

By: Robert F. Higgins, Virginia Fuller and Umer Raffat

In January 2001, Dick Burnham, CEO of Odyssey Healthcare, and Odyssey's Board of Directors were considering selling the hospice care company to a larger provider or making an initial public offering (IPO). With 38 hospice locations in 21 states, Odyssey had been... View Details

Keywords: Liquidity; Venture Creation/development; Hospice; Venture Capital; Financial Liquidity; Business Exit or Shutdown; Business Growth and Maturation; Business Plan; Entrepreneurship; Health Industry; United States

Fast Answer

Supply chain relationships

Bloomberg, Capital IQ and FactSet report current and recent supply chain relationships (customers, suppliers, and strategic partners). Bloomberg - To display the suppliers and customers of a company, enter the company ticker... View Details

01 Jun 2012
News

Letters to the Editor

Bloomfield Hills, MI A Taxing Question Regarding his My Two Cents column, “My Beautiful Capital Gain,” in the March issue, I’d ask this of Dal LaMagna (MBA 1970): The money you invested was already taxed once at ordinary income tax rates,... View Details

Keywords: Administration of Economic Programs; Government; Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services; Professional Services

01 Sep 2012
News

Joint Venture

In this issue of the Bulletin, our focus is on HBS’s “intellectual ambition.” Since its founding in 1908, the School has been committed to creating and disseminating intellectual capital that will help define, strengthen, and improve... View Details

Keywords: Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools; Educational Services

05 Oct 2016
Research & Ideas

Why Don't More People Get Flu Shots at Work?

With a yearly price tag of roughly $87 billion in lost productivity and adverse health consequences, the flu is nothing to sneeze at. It’s no surprise that workplace flu vaccination clinics have gained popularity as employers try to keep the illness from decimating... View Details

Keywords: by Roberta Holland; Health

11 Dec 2014
News

Improving the business of medicine

As founder and managing partner of KBL Ventures, Dr. Marlene Krauss (MBA 1967, MD 1979) combines her business and medical training to bring health care device and bio-tech ventures to market. (Published December 2014) View Details

October 2019
Supplement

Impax Laboratories: Executing Accretive Transactions (A)

By: Benjamin C. Esty and Daniel Fisher

Impax Laboratories was a technology-based pharmaceutical company that used a “dual platform” strategy to sell both generic and branded treatments. While Impax had grown organically for most of its history, it was beginning to use major acquisitions for growth. In the... View Details

Keywords: Financial Reporting; Financial Statements; Mergers and Acquisitions; Capital Structure; Financial Strategy; Competition; Competitive Advantage; Corporate Strategy; Pharmaceutical Industry; United States

September 2009
Teaching Note

iZumi (TN)

By: Robert F. Higgins

Teaching Note for [809105]. View Details

Keywords: Perspective; Intellectual Property; Venture Capital; Innovation and Invention; Investment; Financing and Loans; Information Technology; Mergers and Acquisitions; Commercialization; Biotechnology Industry

September 2004
Case

Valhalla Partners Due Diligence

By: William A. Sahlman and Dan Heath

The Valhalla Partners venture capitial firm introduced a new approach to the due-diligence process. An internal due-diligence report analyzes Telco Exchange, a startup company in the IT software space. An extended excerpt examines the trade-offs involved in the new... View Details

Keywords: Communication Technology; Risk Management; Venture Capital; Business Plan; Corporate Entrepreneurship; Investment; Mobile and Wireless Technology; Corporate Finance; Financial Services Industry; Telecommunications Industry

Fast Answer

Incubators

Research Parks: Research parks are generally set up to commercialize research. Lists of members are available on the site. Small Business Innovation Research Program- Accelerators and Incubators: Overseen by the Small Business Administration. Several of our... View Details

Web

HBS - Financials | Statement of Activity & Cash Flows

Cash Available from Capital Activities $107 $72 $76 Capital Expenses $(43) $(22) $(43) Change in Capital Project-Prefunding 10 (14) 8 Use of Gifts for View Details

Web

Company databases: which database to choose? | Baker Library

CB Insights Availability: HBS intranet Strengths/Unique Features: Coverage of early stage companies/deals. Capital IQ Availability: HarvardKey Strengths/Unique Features: Auditable financials, sophisticated screening, PE and VC companies... View Details

January 1992
Teaching Note

Pioneer Petroleum Corporation TN

By: Thomas R. Piper

Teaching Note for (9-292-011). View Details

Keywords: Cost of Capital; Production; Transportation; Equity; Measurement and Metrics; Energy Industry

August 2000 (Revised July 2002)
Background Note

Fundamental Enterprise Valuation: Short- and Long-Term Growth Rates and the Growth Horizon

By: Carliss Y. Baldwin

A technical note that defines short- and long-term growth rates and the growth horizon. View Details

Keywords: Cost of Capital; Stocks; Investment Return

19 Sep 2014
News

Peter Thiel on Why Monopolies Matter

Keywords: Paypal; Management of Companies and Enterprises; Management

03 Jan 2014
News

Headhunters Reveal What Candidates Want

Keywords: human resources; career decisions; employee recruitment

December 2017 (Revised January 2022)
Supplement

Bega Cheese: Bidding to Bring Vegemite Back Home

By: Benjamin C. Esty and Lauren G. Pickle

In January 2017, the leadership team of Bega Cheese—the Australian dairy company—was considering a bid for Mondelēz International’s Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) grocery business which included several leading consumer brands including Vegemite, the iconic Australian... View Details