Examples of successful middle-market private equity investments in emerging markets remain very limited. Among the primary constraints are lack of availability of reasonably priced debt capital, limited exit options for private equity capital, and absence of stable and diversified sources of capital for private equity firms. This case follows the founders of EFM Capital, a private equity firm operating in the Mexican middle market, as they navigate .....more

When customers seek out online deals, it seems like a win for everybody: Brands, retailers, dealers, and distributors sell more goods, and buyers get a bargain. What''s not to like? Here''s the problem: Lured by rock-bottom online prices, customers often end up dealing with disreputable digital resellers that mistreat them, which can erode brand equity and undermine authorized sellers. For brands selling in the United States and Canada, .....more

Today markets are being reshaped by a new kind of firm--one in which artificial intelligence runs the show. This cohort includes giants like Google, Facebook, and Alibaba, and growing businesses such as Wayfair and Ocado. Every time we use their services, the same thing happens: Rather than relying on processes run by employees, the value we get is delivered by algorithms. Software is at the core of the enterprise, and humans are moved off to the .....more

This case deals with responsible business and the impact of firm actions on different stakeholders. In November 2019, the last operating units of the Navajo Generating Station (NGS) in Page, Arizona, were shut down. The plant was losing money and was no longer economically viable or necessary for Arizona''s power grid. As the largest coal-fired power plant west of the Mississippi and one of the largest emitters of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the .....more

In September 2019, Elliott Management (Elliott), a hedge fund manager and activist investor, disclosed that it had acquired a $3.2 billion position in AT&T and was seeking strategic and operational change. In a letter to the AT&T board, Elliott accused the company of becoming "a sprawling collection of businesses battling well-funded competitors, in new markets, with different regulations, and saddled with the financial repercussions .....more

In July 2019, Pfizer announced that it would spin off its Upjohn division and merge it with Mylan, a specialty and generic drugs firm. Within Pfizer, the Upjohn business unit was a conduit for Pfizer drugs going off-patent. Divesting the Upjohn business would allow Pfizer to focus on innovative drugs and exit the generics sector. Combining Upjohn with Mylan would create a new company that would compete in branded prescription drugs, generics, biosimilars, .....more

This case examines General Motors'' (GM) global strategy. From a manufacturing presence in 34 countries in 2007 to only eight countries in 2020, GM has dramatically changed its global strategy. GM has withdrawn from many regions and countries, including Europe, India, Australia, and Indonesia. Many assembly plants have been closed and sales are now heavily concentrated in the United States. Was GM retreating to its profit sanctuary in the .....more

Indigo Agriculture used a digital-enabled research and development (R&D) process to launch its initial product, microbial coatings for agricultural seeds, which increase crop yields while reducing the need for fertilizers. In doing so, the company developed direct relationships with farmers, in contrast to typical agricultural supply chains that use intermediaries. The company then launched a marketplace platform to link growers directly to crop .....more

In the face of rapid, disruptive change, companies are realizing that managers can''t be expected to have all the answers and that command-and-control leadership is no longer viable. As a result, many firms are moving toward a coaching model in which managers facilitate problem solving and encourage employees'' development by asking questions and offering support and guidance rather than issuing directives and making judgments. The .....more

The case discusses the strategy of Pantheon, a UK-based fund of funds investing in private equity. Client demands and preferences had changed in the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis and Pantheon had to adapt its business model to accommodate requests for new asset classes and customized portfolios. The challenge was to keep an eye on the fee structure, as clients also put pressure on the costs. Pantheon had extended its offer into infrastructure, .....more