n n n n n n
18th Edition by Stanley Block, Geoffrey Hirt,
n n n n n n n
Chapters 1 – 21, Complete
n n n n
,
, Chapter1 n
The Goals and Functions of Financial Management
n n n n n n
Discussion Questions n
1-1 What effect did the recession of 2007-2009 have on government regulation?
n n n n n n n n n n
It was greatly increased.
n n n
1-2 What advantages does a sole proprietorship offer? What is a major drawback of this type of organization?
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
A sole proprietorship offers the advantage of simplicity of decision making and low organizational and
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
operating costs. A major drawback is that there is unlimited liabilityto the owner.
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
1-3 What form of partnership allows some of the investors to limit their liability? Explain briefly.
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
A limited partnership allows some of the partners to limit their liability. Under this arrangement, one or
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
more partners are designated general partners and have unlimited liability for the debts of the firm;
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
other partners are designated limited partners and are liable only for their initial contribution. The
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
limited partners are normally prohibited from being active in the management of the firm.
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
1-4 In a corporation, what group has the ultimate responsibility for protecting and managing the
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
stockholders’ interests?
n n
The board of directors.
n n n
1-5 What document is necessary to form a corporation?
n n n n n n n
The articles of incorporation.
n n n
1-6 What issue does agency theory examine? Why is it important in a public corporation rather than in a
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
private corporation?
n n
, Agency theory examines the relationship between the owners of the firm and the managers of the firm.
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
In privately owned firms, management and the owners are usually the same people. Management
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
operates the firm to satisfy its own goals, needs, financial requirements and the like. As a company moves
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
from private to public ownership, management now represents all owners. This places management in
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
the agency position of making decisions in the best interest of all shareholders.
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
1-7 What are institutional investors important in today’s business world?
n n n n n n n n
Because institutional investors such as pension funds and mutual funds own a large percentage of major
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
U.S. companies, they are having more to say about the way publicly owned companies are managed. As a
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
group, they have the ability to vote large blocks of shares for the election of a board of directors, which is
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
supposed to run the company in an efficient, competitive manner. The threat of being able to replace poor
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
performing boards of directors makes institutional investors quite influential. Since these institutions,
n n n n n n n n n n n n
like pension funds and mutual funds, represent individual workers and investors, they have a
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
responsibility to see that the firm is managed in an efficient and ethical way.
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
1-8 Why is profit maximization, by itself, an inappropriate goal? What is meant by the goal of
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
maximization of shareholder wealth?
n n n n
The problem with a profit maximization goal is that it fails to take account of risk, the timing of the
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
benefits is not considered, and profit measurement is a very inexact process. The goal of shareholders’
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
wealth maximization implies that the firm will attempt to achieve the highest possible total valuation in
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
the marketplace. It is the one overriding objective of the firm and should influence every decision.
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
1-9 When does insider trading occur? What government agency is responsible for protecting against the
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
unethical practice of insider trading?
n n n n n
Insider trading occurs when anyone with non-public information buys or sells securities to take
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
advantage of that private information. The Securities and Exchange Commission is responsible for
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
protecting markets against insider trading. In the past, people have gone to jail for trading on non-public
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
information. This has included company officers, investment bankers, printers who have information
n n n n n n n n n n n n
before it is published, and even truck drivers who deliver business magazines and read positive or
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
negative articles about a company before the magazine is on the newsstands and then place trades or
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
have friends place trades based on that information. The SEC has prosecuted anyone who profits from
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
inside information.
n n
1-10 In terms of the life of the securities offered, what is the difference between money and capital
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
markets?
n
Money markets refer to those markets dealing with short-term securities that have a life of one year or
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
less. Capital markets refer to securities with a life of more than one year.
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
1-11 What is the difference between a primary and a secondary market?
n n n n n n n n n n