Publications

August 2013
Case

HgCapital and the Visma Transaction (A)

By: Paul A. Gompers, Karol Misztal and Joris Van Gool

This case concerns the negotiations of a deal by HgCapital, a UK-based private equity firm, to buy Visma, ASA, a Norwegian software company. Visma has received an offer from Sage Group, a strategic acquirer. HgCapital must determine if it wants to bid and how to outbid... View Details

Keywords: Management Buyout; Deal Structuring; Negotiations; Private Equity; Finance; Valuation; Leveraged Buyouts; Negotiation Deal; Negotiation; Strategy; Europe

June 2013
Teaching Plan

The K-Dow Petrochemicals Joint Venture

By: Guhan Subramanian and Charlotte Krontiris

This case follows a two-part deal involving Dow Chemicals: Dow's ill-fated joint venture with the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, the failure of which nearly scuttled Dow's simultaneous acquisition of Rohm & Haas. Focusing on Dow CEO Andrew Liveris, this case examines... View Details

Keywords: Dow Chemicals; Kuwait; Financial Crisis; Negotiation Process; Joint Ventures; Corporate Disclosure; Acquisition; Chemical Industry; Kuwait

Summer 2013
Article

Nuclear Negotiations With Iran

By: Paul R. Pillar, Robert Reardon, James K. Sebenius and Michael K. Singh

Paul Pillar and Robert Reardon challenge the analysis and substantive policy inputs that Sebenius and Singh developed for their article "Is a Nuclear Deal with Iran Possible? An Analytic Framework for the Iran Nuclear Negotiations" (International Security 37, no. 3... View Details

Keywords: Nuclear Proliferation; Zone Of Possible Agreement; ZOPA; International Relations; Negotiation; Iran; United States

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January 2013
Article

Level Two Negotiations: Helping the Other Side Meet Its 'Behind-the-Table' Challenges

By: James K. Sebenius

A long analytic tradition has explored the challenge of productively synchronizing "internal" with "external" negotiations, with a special focus on how each side can best manage internal opposition to agreements negotiated "at the table." Implicit in much of this work... View Details

Keywords: James Baker; Internal Negotiation; Dispute Resolution; Bargaining; Two-level Games; Negotiation; Germany; United States

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Winter 2012
Article

Is a Nuclear Deal with Iran Possible?: An Analytical Framework for the Iran Nuclear Negotiations

By: James K. Sebenius and Michael K. Singh

Varied diplomatic approaches by multiple negotiators over several years have failed to conclude a nuclear deal with Iran. Mutual hostility, misperception, and flawed diplomacy may be responsible. Yet, more fundamentally, no mutually acceptable deal may exist. To assess... View Details

Keywords: Nuclear Proliferation; Zone Of Possible Agreement; International Relations; Negotiation; Iran; United States

November 2012
Article

Deal Making 2.0: A Guide to Complex Negotiations

By: David A. Lax and James K. Sebenius

July 2012 (Revised April 2013)
Case

Peter Jepsen

By: Howard H. Stevenson, Michael J. Roberts and James M. Sharpe

About to break bank covenants, Peter Jepsen has to deal with a contentious prior owner, improve profitability and staff appropriately all while maintaining credibility with his investors, in the furniture hardware company he has owned for less than a year. View Details

2012
Working Paper

Level II Negotiations: Helping the Other Side Meet Its 'Behind the Table' Challenges

By: James K. Sebenius

A long analytic tradition explores the challenge of productively synchronizing "internal" with "external" negotiations, especially focusing on how each side can best manage internal opposition to agreements negotiated "at the table." Implicit in much of this work is... View Details

Keywords: Negotiation; Conflict Management; Agreements and Arrangements; Government and Politics; Mathematical Methods; United States; Germany

December 2011
Case

Roger Caracappa: Package Deals for the Estée Lauder Companies

By: James K. Sebenius

Roger Caracappa must negotiate a cost-saving, innovative proposal from a potential French supplier that could displace the otherwise satisfactory, long-time incumbent supplier. Shortly after being promoted to executive vice president of the Estée Lauder Companies with... View Details

Keywords: Operations; Supply Chain Management; Change; Innovation and Invention; Cost vs Benefits; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry

2011
Working Paper

From Single Deals to Negotiation Campaigns

By: David A Lax and James K. Sebenius

Negotiation scholars typically take the individual deal, or a few linked deals, as the unit of analysis. While analyzing one deal requires a familiar conceptual framework, doing the same for a broader "negotiation campaign" calls for a different focus and set of... View Details

Keywords: Negotiation Deal; Framework; Business Subsidiaries; Agreements and Arrangements; Mergers and Acquisitions; Information Management; Finance; Business and Shareholder Relations; Corporate Governance; Business and Government Relations; Governing Rules, Regulations, and Reforms; Cross-Cultural and Cross-Border Issues

October 2011 (Revised October 2018)
Exercise

Finalizing a Deal between Riva Corporation and Charlton Corporation: The Charlton Team Perspective

By: Andy Zelleke, Joshua D. Margolis and Anthony J. Mayo

Keywords: Negotiation Deal

October 2011 (Revised October 2018)
Exercise

Finalizing a Deal between Riva Corporation and Charlton Corporation: The Riva Team Perspective

By: Andy Zelleke, Joshua D. Margolis and Anthony J. Mayo

Keywords: Negotiation Deal

September 2011 (Revised August 2012)
Background Note

The Venture Capital Problem Set

By: William Sahlman, Evan W. Richardson and James McQuade

This note consists of three valuation/analysis exercises often found in venture capital financing deals. View Details

Keywords: Venture Capital; Financing and Loans; Management Analysis, Tools, and Techniques; Negotiation Deal; Valuation

August 2011
Teaching Note

Going to the Oracle: Goldman Sachs, September 2008 (TN)

By: Clayton Rose and Sally Canter Ganzfried

Teaching Note for 309-069. View Details

Keywords: Financial Crisis; Investment; Negotiation Deal; Capital; Financial Liquidity; Decisions; Management Teams; Banks and Banking; Financing and Loans; Banking Industry; Financial Services Industry; United States

Fall 2011
Article

Leveraging Tribal Sovereignty for Economic Opportunity: A Strategic Negotiations Perspective

By: Gavin Clarkson and James K. Sebenius

Indian tribes and U.S. states often find themselves at the bargaining table, often negotiating "compacts" to govern gaming operations on tribal lands. The operational success of the Pequot gaming operation in Connecticut, Foxwoods, and the substantial revenue shared... View Details

Keywords: Strategy; Ethnicity; Negotiation Tactics; Race; Social Issues; Relationships; Government and Politics; Economics; United States

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May 2011 (Revised July 2012)
Exercise

Remicade/Simponi: Confidential Instructions for Johnson & Johnson

By: Guhan Subramanian and Rhea Ghosh

This two-party negotiation exercise features a real-life dispute between Merck and Johnson & Johnson regarding European distribution rights to two highly lucrative drugs. View Details

Keywords: Price; Rights; Agreements and Arrangements; Negotiation Deal; Problems and Challenges; Risk and Uncertainty; Europe