How Big a Burden? Valuing General Motors’ Retirement Benefits Liability

What was the value of GM’s pension liability in the years leading up to its bankruptcy?
Carri Chan, Awi Federgruen, Robert Phillips, Garrett J. van Ryzin  | Spring 2013
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In the years preceding GM’s bankruptcy filing, the company faced a number of very real pension shortfalls, some of which were funded through bond offerings and the assumption of debt. This case presents students with background information on the value of GM’s pension liability in the years leading up to its bankruptcy and asks how managers might better evaluate such liabilities given the complexities inherent in assessing large-scale pension programs. This is one of a collection of cases that comprise the General Motors Integrated Case, viewing GM’s business issues from multiple perspectives, devised specifically to be taught in Columbia Business School’s Core curriculum.

Case ID: 132101

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