Professor Thompson's courses focus on the application of financial principles to corporate strategic decisions. He teaches Financial Decisions and Corporate Restructuring. In addition to his teaching, Thompson designs and directs selected Custom Executive Programs at the Allen Center, primarily for Société Générale.
Thompson has received the Professor of the Year award in the part-time MBA program (TMP program), the combined MBA programs and, most recently the Kellogg-WHU International Executive MBA program.
Thompson also serves as a consultant to several corporations. He received his MBA from the Graduate School of Business at the University of Chicago.
Corporate Bankruptcy
Corporate Capital Structure
Corporate Governance
Corporate Restructuring
Financial Engineering
Payout Policy (Dividends, Repurchases)
Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY) had no long-term debt on its balance sheet. Although many analysts considered BBBY’s balance sheet a strength that permitted greater flexibility, some commented on the risks of its growing cash balance. These concerns raised questions about BBBY’s capital structure. In early 2004, interest rates were at an all-time low, making it an attractive time to consider issuing debt and executing either a share repurchase or a one-time special dividend. This case provides a few capital structure proposals and students are asked to analyze those proposals.
This course counts toward the following majors: Analytical Finance, Finance.
This course uses case studies to enhance the student's understanding of managerial financial decision making, specifically investment and financing decisions. Topics include short- and long-term financing, capital structure and dividend decisions, cost of capital, capital budgeting, firm valuation, financial and operational restructuring, and mergers and acquisitions. The course emphasizes the basic principles of corporate finance and is sufficiently general so as to be of interest to all students. The course provides students with the opportunity to apply the concepts and theories developed in other finance courses. At its most fundamental level, the course attempts to improve problem-solving skills: problem definition, gathering and organizing the relevant information, developing feasible alternative courses of action, evaluating alternative choices, and recommending and defending the best course of action.
Corporate Restructuring (FINC-448-0)
This course counts toward the following majors: Finance
This course examines transactions that significantly affect corporations' assets, liabilities, and/or equity claims. The course is intended to provide an overview of common restructuring techniques as well as the economic motives for undertaking them. Topics covered include bankruptcy, convertible securities, tracking stock, spin-offs, and mergers. Transactions will be examined from the perspectives of both the corporation (e.g. CFO and CEO) and the capital markets (e.g. investors). Common "arbitrage" trading strategies involving corporate transactions will also be discussed. Cases will be used as the primary method of instruction.
Prerequisite: FINC-442 or permission of instructor. A basic understanding of financial options will be assumed (advanced features of financial options will be introduced when necessary.)
Strategic Financial Management examines financial management theory and cases. Students use valuation skills to determine the cost of capital, financing and operating issues faced by the firm.
PHONE: 847-491-8334
FAX: 847-491-5719
Jacobs Center Room 401