...Case 2: Warren E. Buffett. Berkshire Hathaway Question 1: The possible meaning of the change in the stock price of Berkshire Hathaway on the day of the announcement is that the shares of GEICO were undervalued at a price of $55,75 and Berkshire Hathaway paid a $14,25 premium per share. However, even though Berkshire Hathaway paid $70 per share, that price was lower than the fair value of GEICO but the shareholders couldn’t turn the offer down. Consequently, Berkshire Hathaway increased it’s market value by $718 millions because the intrinsic value of GEICO was higher than the price it was sold for. The company had outstanding 1,177,750 shares and on august 25 BH share price changed by positive $609.60. At the end of the session, the price was $25,400. 1,117,750 * 609.60 = 717,956,400 gain. In addition, BH already owned 50.4% of GEICO. GEICO had on april 30 1995 a total of 67,889,574 shares outstanding. BH is buying 49.6% of the total outstanding shares: 67,889,574 * 49.6% = 33,673,229 shares Before the acquisition, BH had a value of Total shares * opening price 1,177,750*24,790.40= $29,196.89 million And GEICO had a value of 33,673,229*55.75=$1,877.28 million Resulting to the BH+GEICO = 29,196.89+1,877.28 = $31,074.17 million After the acquisition, BH had a value of Total shares*closing price 1,177,750*25,400= $29,914.85 million And GEICO had a value of 33,673,229*70=$2357.13 Resulting to the total BH+GEICO = 29,914.85+2357.13 = $32,271.98 million and...
Words: 580 - Pages: 3
...Warren Buffet Warren Buffet was born August 30, 1930 in Omaha, Nebraska. He lived much of his life in Nebraska and later moved to Washington D.C. At 11 he purchased his first stock which he ended up making a five-dollar profit on this investment. He got his bachelors degree from The University of Nebraska. For some time he attended Wharton’s School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania. This institution is rated as one of the top five business schools in the nation. His Masters of Science in Economics was completed at Columbia University.... [tags: Berkshire Hathaway] 338 words (1 pages) FREE Essays [view] Warren Buffet - Warren Buffet Warren Buffet of Berkshire Hathaway and His Investment Strategy Warren Buffet is arguably the most successful investor of all time. His initial investment of $105,000 in the beginning, ultimately grew into a $16 billion dollar fortune made from his trading company, Berkshire Hathaway. If you had invested $10,000 in Berkshire Hathaway when he took over the company in 1965, it would be worth $22,000,000 today. Warren’s stockpicking prowess however, is what he is know for and is also why Berkshire Hathaway has had a returning average of 24% a year for the last three decades.... [tags: GCSE Business Marketing Coursework] :: 3 Sources Cited 551 words (1.6 pages) $14.95 [preview] Case Study of Warren E. Buffet - Case Study of Warren E. Buffet In 1995 Berkshire Hathaway has made a bid for the shares of GEICO. This report reviews the...
Words: 492 - Pages: 2
...Case Study of Warren E. Buffet In 1995 Berkshire Hathaway has made a bid for the shares of GEICO. This report reviews the offer made by Warren Buffet and will try to prove that the acquisition of GEICO will serve the long-term goal of Berkshire Hathaway and the bid price was appropriate. Furthermore, it will explain what may have caused for the share price increase for Berkshire Hathaway at the announcement of GEICO’s acquisition. Would the GEICO acquisition serve the long-term goals of Berkshire Hathaway? In 1976, Warren Buffet paid $45.7 million for 34.25 shares of GEICO. Review of GEICO’s historical dividends shows that GEICO has been a very profitable investment for Berkshire Hathaway. The growth rate for 1994 is a sharp increase, but even if the growth rate for 1994 is not considered, GEICO’s historical increase in dividends has been considerably high so that acquisition of GEICO will serve the long-term goals of Berkshire Hathaway. What might account for the share price increase for Berkshire Hathaway at the announcement? Review of Warren Buffet’s historical investment success might explain the increase in share price for Berkshire Hathaway at the announcement. Given that he has had a good track record, it is expected that shareholders respond positively. In 1977, the price of Berkshire Hathaway was $89 closing at $25,400 by 1995, an unparalleled annual growth of 37.7%. In comparison, the growth rate of the S&P...
Words: 1725 - Pages: 7
...1. Be prepared to discuss each aspect of Warren Buffet's investment philosophy. Do you agree or disagree? A basis in financial theory is preferred but not required tomorrow. Berkshire should continue its strategy based on Buffett's investment philosophy of purchasing undervalued assets. Over the past 40 years, Berkshire has increased shareholder value by an average of 21%, twice the average of the S&P 500 over the same period. Berkshire has a time tested set of rules for the best types of companies to acquire, namely to purchase businesses for less than they are worth. Berkshire must continue this strategy in order to increase shareholder wealth. Specifically, Buffett must use his investment philosophy that has made him so successful. He should continue to seek companies to invest or purchase that he understands and can purchase at a discount. The economic slowdown is an opportunity for Berkshire to find undervalued assets. Within the U.S. Buffett could look at the financial industry. He could also look at purchasing assets in a few years when the housing industry recovers. Given Buffett's investment philosophy, this would be an ideal time to purchase undervalued assets and hold them for a long time. Buffett should also be looking outside of the U.S. for investment opportunities. Brazil, India, Europe, and China are all opportunities. China's stock market is down significantly this year. This may be an excellent time for Buffett to search for bargains. Buffett...
Words: 1031 - Pages: 5
...Case 1: Warren Buffet a) Buffett portrays intrinsic value as “The only logical way to evaluate the relative attractiveness of investments and businesses.” (Bruner et al, 2009 p.7) It has accorded such importance because it can be used to estimate the value of the businesses ongoing operations and not the companies stock. Through the calculation of the discounted cash flows, and moreover the net present value of the forecasted performance, we can therefore figure out whether the investment holds the potential to generate value. By comparing these amounts to ones within the market and therefore being able to identify certain businesses that are very undervalued. The alternatives of valuing an investment include calculating the book value or accounting profit. Buffett rejects the alternatives to intrinsic value because he believes that the conventional accounting approach or methods follow certain rules that do not accurately forecast the future of the investments performance. (b) The very essence of Buffett’s investment philosophy is that of his use of intrinsic value to determine the quality and future value of an investment, instead of basing it on accounting reality. However, accounting profit should be used hand in hand with intrinsic value because it helps clarify managements skills and how they put their capital to use. Buffett calculates the discounted cash flows of the particular company, therefore understanding its economic reality. Rather than the financial statements...
Words: 1119 - Pages: 5
...Warren Buffett and Gillette Background of the Active Investor Warren Buffett is known as one of the world’s most notable investors. He is a self-made investor, now worth billions of dollars. Buffets premise is that people should base their investing on common sense and search out assets that are selling for less than they are worth (Pardoe, 2005). At an early age Buffett had a knack for making money. At six year old, Buffett made a five cent profit by purchasing a six-pack of Coca-Cola for twenty-five cent and reselling each bottle for a nickel. At eleven, he purchased three shares of Cities Service at $38 per share. Shortly after buying the stock, it fell to just over $27 per share (Kennon). When the shares rebounded to $40 he sold the shares, but regretted his actions when the shares shot up to $200. The experience taught him that patience is a virtue (Kennon). Buffett was a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Some time after graduation, Buffett had the opportunity to work for his mentor, Ben Graham, on Wall Street. There, he spent his day analyzing S&P reports, searching for investment opportunities (Kennon). He took a different interest than that of his mentor, he became interested in how a company worked, what made it superior to competitors and observed how the company was managed when deciding to invest; he was not interested in the corporate leadership of the companies he researched and invested in. In the mid-1950’s Buffett aligned himself...
Words: 3463 - Pages: 14
...Warren Buffett, 2005 Executive Summary On May 24, 2005, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. chief executive officer Warren Buffett announced the acquisition of PacifiCorp by MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., for about $9.4 billion in cash, liabilities, and preferred stock. The announcement led to a market value gain of $2.55 billion . Buffett was a well respected businessman with a successful investment philosophy. His philosophy included accounting with economic realty, acknowledging opportunity cost, assessing the time value of money, and scoring performance by intrinsic gain, along with other principles. Buffet was a believer in diversification; he helped Berkshire attain a diverse portfolio that included investments in insurance companies, apparel manufacturers, and grocery distributers. Though highly successful in the past, Buffett was frustrated after a few-year period that resulted in a lack of major investment by Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Rather than focus on investments that yielded short term gains, Buffett was waiting for an “elephant” investment opportunity to present itself. Buffett hoped to have found just that in the PacifiCorp acquisition. Problem Buffett badly wanted to make a significant gain for Berkshire Hathaway Inc. However, Buffett needed to consider if PacifiCorp was worth his cash offer of $5.1 billion. Should the investment be undertaken? Analysis As mentioned above, the announcement of the acquisition was met...
Words: 537 - Pages: 3
...The University of Lethbridge Calgary Campus Faculty of Management Management 4430Y Financial Management Spring 2011 A.P. Palasvirta Office: Markin 4132, Lethbridge Phone: (403) 332-4582 e-mail: oz.palasvirta@uleth.ca Goal of Course Management 4430 is the capstone course in finance and will incorporate concepts you have learned in through your study of corporate, investments, and international. We will utilize the case methodology to focus our analysis. Cases describe a context in which a particular problem is found. Regardless of the particular characteristics of the problem, problem solving follows a general methodology: identification of the problem, describing the context of the problem, analysis of potential alternative solutions, the identification of the best solution, implementation of the best solution , and the creation of controls and contingency plans, if applicable. Text and Other Sources: E-book based on Case Studies in Finance, 6th ed., 2010, McGraw Hill, Toronto, ISBN Prerequisites Management 3412, Fundamentals of Investments Investments, Analysis & Management, 2nd Canadian Ed., 2005, Cleary & Jones, John Wiley & Sons Canada Ltd., Mississauga ISBN 0-470-83542-7 Management 3460, Corporate Finance Fundamentals of Corporate Finance, 6th Canadian Ed., 2007, Ross, Westerfield, Jordan, & Roberts, McGraw-Hill Ryerson, Toronto ISBN 13: 978-0-07-095910-1 A list of topics for which you should have working knowledge...
Words: 2667 - Pages: 11
...this course, students should understand and be able to do the following: 1. Estimate the cost of capital for corporate investment decisions; 2. Make corporate investment decisions using discounted cash flow method; 3. Manage working capital and corporate long-term growth. Supplemental Learning Outcomes: While not assessed, it is anticipated that students will develop the following: 4. Understand the importance of corporate governance for achieving long-term corporate financial objectives and valuation; 5. Understand some unique features of Chinese capital markets. TEACHING AND LEARNING The course will be a mixture of lectures, case discussions and individual and group practices. Students are expected to do the following. 1. 2. 3. 4. Read the assigned textbook chapters BEFORE the classes. Prepare for cases BEFORE case discussions, and submit case work as required. Do homework. Actively engage in class discussions. METHOD AND WEIGHTING OF ASSESSMENT In this course, students are evaluated by the following means of assessment: In-class participation (10%) Participation in class discussion, group discussion,...
Words: 3258 - Pages: 14
...Strategy case study: Starbucks-sacrificing dividends for growth Starbucks has grown a lot since it's opening in Seattle in 1985. It went from 17 stores, to over 15.000 stores all around the world in 2010. But they are changing their strategy, and purpose. They started closing down shops, and refocused on the Starbucks experience, which would increase customer's willingness to pay and also increase profitability. They even payed their first dividend 2010. That ment a huge change of purpose. But is growth bad ? It has it's benefits and dangers. Warren Buffet states, that ‘Growth benefits investors only when the business in point can invest at incremental returns that are enticing – in other words, only when each dollar used to finance the growth creates over a dollar of long term market value.’ We can say that it worked for Starbucks in the beginning, when growth also meant growth of the share price, and even though no dividends were paid, the company was still profitable over the years, but with the emerging of new competition (ex. McDonalds coffee shops,…), and the loss of some of the Starbucks Experience, in 2008 the company didn’t see any share price growth, and still hasn’t paid out any dividends. From this, we can see focusing strongly on growth is not always a good idea, and while it can bring the company market share in the beginning and can even prove the be more profitable in the long term, it should not be the only purpose of the company. And when Starbucks reached...
Words: 517 - Pages: 3
...Valuation Class 1: Introduction Lecturers • Peter VASSALLO – (Lecturer in Charge) – Office: Quad 3101 Tel: 9385 5840 – Email: p.vassallo@unsw.edu.au – Consultation Hour: Tue 2 – 4 pm Australian School of Business • Jeff COULTON – Office: Quad 3061 Tel: – Email: j.coulton@unsw.edu.au – Consultation Hour: Wed 3 – 5 pm 9385 5811 Focus of Acct5910 Australian School of Business Fundamental Analysis and Value 3 Success: Warren Buffett Australian School of Business Warren Buffett Australian School of Business • Born on August 30, 1930 • The richest person in the world 2008 with $62 billion, and the third richest in 2010 with 47 billion • Lives in the same house in the central Omaha that he bought in 1958 for $31,500 and today, it is valued at around $700,000 • Largest shareholder and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway • Recent News: – Invested aggressively during the current crisis – Lost $25 billion in 2008-2009 – Called for more income tax for rich Americans (but not necessarily investment tax) Warren Buffett Australian School of Business • Newspaper delivery boy at age of 13 • First investment in pinball machine at age of 15 • Graduated from Columbia and worked as an security analyst for 2 years • Started an investment partnership with $100 at age of 26; 13 years later, he cashed out with $25 million • Controlled Berkshire Hathaway and transformed it into an investment vehicle – Net worth increased from $22 million to $69 billion in 40...
Words: 1872 - Pages: 8
...Student-Nr. W11035726 Total words: 2790 1. A good acquisition program helps the acquirer to identify a target partner. An acquisition program should contain a clearly defined core strategy, the goals of this activity, and a detailed risk management. The identification of the right company depends on the analysis of target market. Companies react when they recognize benefits in some certain markets. It is essential for an acquirer to analyse the market, is there any market in transition that could lead to any competitive advantages or any business capacities that could be useful (Chatterjee). Kraft has to consider which qualifications they seek in the business partner and which one complementary or expand their capacities. (Cavusgil, Knight and Riesenberger, 2008) An analysis of the macro environment of Kraft shows that they have the opportunity to become the world’s largest confectionery. This market prospect allows Kraft to minimize the threats of competitors. It is a strategy to eliminate or to minimize competitors. (Chatterjee) In food and drink manufacturing, the technology is relatively mature. The global food market shows oligopolistic structures and the competition is intense. As a result of that, the market growth almost remains static. (Ramsay, 2000) In addition, different national tastes and preferences may cause also restrictions for international expansion. (Kapferer, 1997; Yip, 1992). A lot of companies consider acquisitions as essential strategies...
Words: 3438 - Pages: 14
...ELITES – THE GEN Y TRANSFORMERS Nature abhors vacuum, and so do homo-sapiens. The latter, in its unrelenting quest, goes a step further and evolves to improvise, adapt and overcome. Given the nature of how non-conformist descended from the same ancestor, we’re all the same; and yet we’re so different. At the very outset, the elite, since time immemorial, has enjoyed a stellar reputation by virtue of their elevated status, which was, is and continues to be shaped by their social status; political background; cultural hegemony and/or economical might. There is no doubt in mentioning that the elite has toiled hard, slogged painstakingly and worked tirelessly to mount on the pinnacle in every walk of life. However, the existential question still looms large; to what extent the ‘elite’ has contributed and is contributing in the national and global discourse. The answer may well be fraught with complications, and full of labyrinth cross-questions, but this is what this essay seeks to do. I live in India, a developing economy whose population is over 1.2 billion. Though it is the seventh largest country in terms of area it houses the maximum number of people second to China. If we are optimistic, then in one way we have the second largest manpower in the world and we can use it to do wonders. Infact the steady progress which India has been doing in the past has made the developed nations be wary and cautious of India’s achievements. But, on the contrary, if we look at the real...
Words: 1722 - Pages: 7
...Shehzad Chowdhury Don Taylor Seminar: Issues in Corp Finance 01/31/2015 Warren Buffet Case This case study talks about Warren Buffets’s Berkshire Hathaway company; initially, it discuses regarding the possible meaning of the alters in stock price for Berkshire Hathaway and Scottish Power plc on the day of the acquisition announcement is for the reason to the truth that the deal formed value for both consumers and suppliers; In addition, Berkshire was extra expanded subsequent to the acquisition. The $2.55 billion gain in Berkshire’s market value of equity oblique that the basic value of PacifiCorp was fine since it cut down within the range of challengers supported on the subsequent result, which is $2.55 billion divided by 312 and 312 again divided by 18 million gives $8.17.Next, Berkshire is keen to give this premium for every share of PacifiCorp 5.1 billion divided by 312.18 million that results $16.30 per share of PacifiCorp $8.17 plus 16.30 equals $24.47. Later, we discover the range of likely values for PacifiCorp in Exhibit 10 as follows: Revenue median of $6.252 Billion, average of $6.584 Billion, EBIT median of $8.775 Billion, average of $9.289 Billion, EBITDA median of $9.023 Billion, average of $9.076 Billion, Net Income median of $7.596 Billion, average of $7.553 Billion, EPS median of $4.277 Billion, and a mean of $4.308 Billion and Book value median of $5.904 Billion, mean of $5.678 Billion. The Question about income; the implied worth of PacifiCorp is giving...
Words: 1449 - Pages: 6
.............................................................................5 Volatility timing .................................................................................................................................6 Conclusion .........................................................................................................................................7 Appendix ...........................................................................................................................................8 Reference ..........................................................................................................................................9 1 Executive Summary This report provides an analysis on the cases of the successes and weaknesses of Berkshire Hathaway (Berkshire) including models that could be applied to avoid poor performing acquisitions, better diversification of portfolios and use of volatility timing. Success in this report is defined by...
Words: 3371 - Pages: 14
