Spin-offs Case Study

The Power of Spin-offs: The Case of Motorola's Freescale

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Abstract:
There are varied reasons as to why companies opt for spinning-off their business divisions or subsidiaries. Sometimes spin-offs unlock hidden shareholder value or they are merely a means to separate a troubled unit from the parent company. In a competitive landscape, for a spun-off company to succeed as an independent entity, the timing of the spin-off and the status of the spin-off's relationship with its former parent company are important factors. Corporate history is replete with examples of spin-offs that have spectacularly failed to achieve their touted potentials. At the same time, there are those that have performed far beyond market expectations.

Pedagogical Objectives:

• To highlight the reasons as to why companies opt for spinning-off their business divisions or subsidiaries

Keywords : Spin-offs, Equity carve-outs, Tracking stock; Restructuring through spin-offs; General Motors, Ford, Delphi, Visteon; AT&T, General Electric, Genpact; Restructuring / Turnaround Strategies Case Study; Strategic Rationale; Operational and financial transparency; Accountability and incentives; Shareholder value; Semiconductor Products Sector (SPS); Asset light strategy; Branding strategy; Product development strategy; Michel Mayer; Merck, Medco, McDonald’s; Cendant, Viacomm

Contents : 
Spin-offs: The Strategic Rationale
Delphi and Visteon
Major Spin-offs
The Power of Spin-offs: The Case of Motorola’s Freescale
Spin-offs: The Path Less Traveled to be Frequently Traveled?
Spin-off, Equity Carve-out, Tracking Stock
The Bell Operating Companies before AT&T Break-up
Freescale Product Lines
Motorola’s Comeback