In late 2011, Infineon (IFX), a German semiconductor company, is sitting on a €2.4bn cash balance representing 40% of its assets. As part of a financial policy review, management is receiving conflicting advice from different quarters as to whether to pay out some of the cash holdings, how much and by which methods.

This case describes the rights offering by CSM in 2002 which was largely judged to be a failure despite the company receiving the full planned proceeds. The case takes the reader through the rights offering process, and details the "hiccups" arising from adverse market conditions as well as process mismanagement.