Yahoo announced, finally, that its core internet business would be sold to Verizon for $4.83 billion in cash. Questions: 1. What was Yahoo valued at in 2000? 2. Explain some of the forces that led to the end of Yahoo as we know it. 3. Who is the chief executive of Yahoo and how long… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Advanced Accounting
Big Brother and Hedge Fund Land
Ray Dalio, billionaire founder of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, claims that one of his firm’s core operating principles is “radical transparency, regarding employee grievances and concerns. However, according to Stevenson and Goldstein in this New York Times article, at least one Bridgewater employee sees the firm as a “cauldron of fear and… Read more »
Don’t Try this At Home!
In a memorable episode of Seinfeld, two characters hatch a plot: instead of returning bottles in New York for a 5-cent refund, they round up a load of containers and run them to Michigan, where the return is double, at 10 cents each. Now Brian Everidge is accused of attempting to “return” more than 10,000… Read more »
$35 here, $35 there and it all adds up!
While strict rules require account holders to affirmatively opt into banking overdraft protection plans, a U.S. subsidiary of the Spanish banking giant, Santander Bank, which acquired Boston-based Sovereign Bank in 2009, crossed the line. Questions: 1. Briefly summarize what the bank did? 2. Who is the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and what was their role… Read more »
Trapped by Debt?
Belkin Antonio Hernandez-Vargas was desperate to see his wife and get out of U.S. custody, so he turned to one of the biggest names in the business of helping immigrant detainees secure bail bonds. As a result, the company Libre by Nexus helped Belkin, an El Salvadorian secure an $8,000 bond after he was able… Read more »
Amazon goes into student loan business, sort of ……
This week a partnership between Amazon and Wells Fargo was announced. Members of Amazon Prime Student will receive a 0.5 percent interest rate discount on student loans taken out through Wells Fargo’s Education Financial Services. Questions: 1. Why are financial advisors wary of the deal? 2. How much did the Washington Post calculate a student… Read more »
The Infamous Appalachian Trail
James T. Hammes, controller for a family-owned bottling company in Cincinnati, disappeared from his home in Lexington, Kentucky, in February 2009, after he was questioned about accounting irregularities that indicated an $8.7 million embezzlement had taken place. Questions: 1. Over what period had the embezzlement taken place? 2. Although Hammes denied involvement, what was the… Read more »
Uncle Sam Picked the Wrong Cash Cow!
According to the Washington Post, dairy farmer Randy Sowers has gotten back all the money seized by Federal agents from in his bank account. Questions: 1. Briefly describe the underlying issue in this story. 2. What is smurfing? Is this what Sowers did? 3. Why was Sowers successful in getting his money back? Discuss. 4…. Read more »
Submarine Patents: What is their Role?
Humira and Enbrel are biologic drugs, composed of complex proteins made in living cells. Humira was the No. 1 selling biologic with $14 billion in global sales and Enbrel was the No. 3 biologic at $8.7 billion. Questions: 1. Approximately how much is the yearly price tag for these drugs per patient? 2. During the… Read more »
Auction misconduct, silly mix-up, or something else…………?
The Keno brothers, stars of the PBS series Antique Roadshow, have recently exhibited strange behavior that is oddly out of sync with their stature as antique world luminaries. Leslie and Leigh Keno, twins and celebrity appraisers, say they accidentally bid against each other this spring. Questions: 1. A New Orleans auction house is suing the… Read more »