Deck 1: An Overview of Financial Management

Question 1

If a corporation elects to be taxed as an S corporation, then it can avoid the corporate tax. However, its stockholders will have to pay personal taxes on the firm's net income.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

It is generally

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Some partners in a partnership may have different rights, privileges, and responsibilities than other partners.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

If a corporation elects to be taxed as an S corporation, then both it and its stockholders can avoid all Federal taxes. This provision was put into the Federal Tax Code in order to encourage the formation of small businesses.

Question 5

The more capital a firm is likely to require, the greater the probability that it will be organized as a corporation.

Question 6

Organizing as a corporation makes it easier for the firm to raise capital. This is because corporations' stockholders are not subject to personal liabilities if the firm goes bankrupt and also because it is easier to transfer shares of stock than partnership interests.

Question 7

One advantage of the corporate form of organization is that it avoids double taxation.

Question 8

In order to maximize its shareholders' value, a firm's management must attempt to maximize the stock price in the long run, or the stock's "intrinsic value."

Question 9

The Chairman of the Board must also be the CEO.

Question 10

If management operates in a manner designed to maximize the firm's expected profits for the current year, this will also maximize the stockholders' wealth as of the current year.

Question 11

An advantage of the corporate form of organization is that corporations are generally less highly regulated than proprietorships and partnerships.

Question 12

In order to maximize its shareholders' value, a firm's management must attempt to maximize the stock price on a specific target date.

Question 13

One danger of starting a proprietorship is that you may be exposed to personal liability if the business goes bankrupt. This problem would be avoided if you formed a corporation to operate the business.

Question 14

It is generally less expensive to form a corporation than a proprietorship because, with a proprietorship, extensive legal documents are required.

Question 15

One disadvantage of forming a corporation rather than a partnership is that this makes it more difficult for the firm's investors to transfer their ownership interests.

Question 16

Partnerships and proprietorships generally have a tax advantage over corporations.

Question 17

A disadvantage of the corporate form of organization is that corporate stockholders are more exposed to personal liabilities in the event of bankruptcy than are investors in a typical partnership.

Question 18

The board of directors is the highest ranking body in a corporation, and the chairman of the board is the highest ranking individual. The CEO generally works under the board and its chairman, and the board generally has the authority to remove the CEO under certain conditions. The CEO, however, cannot remove the board, but he or she can endeavor to have the board voted out and a new board voted in should a conflict arise. It is possible for a person to simultaneously serve as CEO and chairman of the board, though many corporate control experts believe it is bad to vest both offices in the same person.

Question 19

In most corporations, the CFO ranks under the CEO.

Question 20

In order to maximize its shareholders' value, a firm's management must attempt to maximize the expected EPS.

Question 21

The term "marginal investor" means an investor who is active in the market and would tend to buy a stock if its price fell and sell it if it rose, barring any new information coming out about the stock.

Question 22

If a lower level person in a firm does something illegal, like "cooking the books" to understate costs and thereby increase profits above the correct profits because he or she was told to do so by a superior, the lower level person cannot be prosecuted but the superior can be prosecuted.

Question 23

There are many types of unethical business behavior. One example is where executives provide information that they know is incorrect to banks and to stockholders. It is illegal to provide such information to banks, but it is not illegal to provide it to stockholders because they are the owners of the firm, not outsiders.

Question 24

The bankruptcy of Enron Corporation, and the fraud committed by some of its officers, has led to some important changes in business practices.

Question 25

Relaxant Inc. operates as a partnership. Now the partners have decided to convert the business into a corporation. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

A) Relaxant's shareholders (the ex-partners) will now be exposed to less liability.
B) The company will probably be subject to fewer regulations and required disclosures.
C) Assuming the firm is profitable, none of its income will be subject to federal income taxes.
D) The firm's investors will be exposed to less liability, but they will find it more difficult to transfer their ownership.
E) The firm will find it more difficult to raise additional capital to support its growth.

Question 26

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

A) One of the advantages of the corporate form of organization is that it avoids double taxation.
B) It is easier to transfer one's ownership interest in a partnership than in a corporation.
C) One of the disadvantages of a sole proprietorship is that the proprietor is exposed to unlimited liability.
D) One of the advantages of a corporation from a social standpoint is that estockholder has equal voting rights, i.e., "one person, one vote."
E) Corporations of all types are subject to the corporate income tax.

Question 27

A hostile takeover is said to occur when another corporation or group of investors gains voting control over a firm and replaces the old managers. If the old managers were managing the firm inefficiently, then hostile takeovers can improve the economy. However, hostile takeovers are controversial, and legislative actions have been taken to make them more difficult to undertake.

Question 28

For a stock to be in equilibrium as the book defines it, its market price should exceed its intrinsic value.

Question 29

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

A) One advantage of forming a corporation is that equity investors are usually exposed to less liability than they would be in a partnership.
B) Corporations face fewer regulations than sole proprietorships.
C) One disadvantage of operating a business as a sole proprietor is that the firm is subject to double taxation, because taxes are levied at both the firm level and the owner level.
D) It is generally less expensive to form a corporation than a proprietorship because, with a proprietorship, extensive legal documents are required.
E) If a partnership goes bankrupt, each partner is exposed to liabilities only up to the amount of his or her investment in the business.

Question 30

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

A) One of the disadvantages of incorporating your business is that you could become subject to the firm's liabilities in the event of bankruptcy.
B) Sole proprietorships are subject to more regulations than corporations.
C) In any partnership, epartner has the same rights, privileges, and liability exposure as eother partner.
D) Corporations of all types are subject to the corporate income tax.
E) Sole proprietorships and partnerships generally have a tax advantage over corporations.

Question 31

If a stock's intrinsic value is greater than its market price, then the stock is overvalued and should be sold.

Question 32

Which of the following could explain why a business might choose to operate as a corporation rather than as a sole proprietorship or a partnership?

A) Corporations generally face fewer regulations.
B) Less of a corporation's income is generally subject to federal taxes.
C) Corporate shareholders are exposed to unlimited liability, but this factor is offset by the tax advantages of incorporation.
D) Corporate investors are exposed to unlimited liability.
E) Corporations generally find it easier to raise large amounts of capital.

Question 33

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

A) In most corporations, the CFO ranks above the CEO.
B) By law in most states, the chairman of the board must also be the CEO.
C) The board of directors is the highest ranking body in a corporation, and the chairman of the board is the highest ranking individual. The CEO generally works under the board and its chairman, and the board generally has the authority to remove the CEO under certain conditions. The CEO, however, cannot remove the board, but he or she can endeavor to have the board voted out and a new board voted in should a conflict arise. It is possible for a person to simultaneously serve as CEO and chairman of the board, though many corporate control experts believe it is bad to vest both offices in the same person.
D) The CFO generally reports to the firm's chief accounting officer, who is normally the controller.
E) The CFO is responsible for raising capital and for making sure that capital expenditures are desirable, but he or she is not responsible for the validity of the financial statements, as the controller and the auditors have that responsibility.

Question 34

The primary operating goal of a publicly-owned firm interested in serving its stockholders should be to

A) Maximize its expected total corporate income.
B) Maximize its expected EPS.
C) Minimize the chances of losses.
D) Maximize the stock price per share over the long run, which is the stock's intrinsic value.
E) Maximize the stock price on a specific target date.

Question 35

A stock's market price would equal its intrinsic value if all investors had all the information that is available about the stock. In this case the stock's market price would equal its intrinsic value.

Question 36

Globalization of business has been facilitated by improvements in telecommunications.

Question 37

If someone deliberately understates costs and thereby increases profits, then this can cause the price of the stock to rise above its intrinsic value. The stock price will probably fall in the future. Also, those who participated in the fraud can be prosecuted, and the firm itself can be penalized.

Question 38

If a stock's market price is above its intrinsic value, then the stock can be thought of as being undervalued, and it would be a good buy.

Question 39

Managers always attempt to maximize the long-run value of their firms' stocks, or the stocks' intrinsic values. This is exactly what stockholders desire. Thus, conflicts between stockholders and managers are not possible. However, there can be conflicts between stockholders and bondholders.

Question 40

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

A) Corporations generally face fewer regulations than sole proprietorships.
B) Corporate shareholders are exposed to unlimited liability.
C) It is usually easier to transfer ownership in a corporation than in a partnership.
D) Corporate shareholders are exposed to unlimited liability, but this factor is offset by the tax advantages of incorporation.
E) There is a tax disadvantage to incorporation, and there is no way any corporation can escape this disadvantage, even if it is small.

Question 41

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

A) Due to limited liability, unlimited lives, and ease of ownership transfer, the vast majority of U.S. businesses (in terms of number of businesses) are organized as corporations.
B) Most businesses (by number and total dollar sales) are organized as proprietorships or partnerships because it is easier to set up and operate one of these forms rather than as a corporation. However, if the business gets large, it becomes advantageous to convert to a corporation, primarily because corporations have important tax advantages over proprietorships and partnerships.
C) Due to legal considerations related to ownership transfers and limited liability, which affect the ability to attract capital, most business (measured by dollar sales) is conducted by corporations in spite of large corporations' less favorable tax treatment.
D) Large corporations are taxed more favorably than sole proprietorships.
E) Corporate stockholders are exposed to unlimited liability.

Question 42

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

A) Compensating managers with stock options can do nothing to help eliminate potential conflicts between stockholders and managers.
B) Restrictions can be included in credit agreements, but these restrictions can do nothing to protect bondholders from conflicts of interest between them and the firm's managers and stockholders.
C) The threat of takeovers reduces conflict of interest problems, but only between bondholders and stockholders.
D) Compensating managers with stock options can help reduce conflicts of interest between stockholders and managers, but if the options are all exercisable on a specific date in the near future, this can motivate managers to do something other than try to maximize the stock's intrinsic value.
E) Conflicts would not exist if the Security and Exchange Commission were abolished.

Question 43

Which of the following statements would most people in business agree with?

A) A corporation's short-run profits will almost always increase if the firm takes actions that the government has determined are in the best interests of the nation.
B) Firms and government agencies almost always agree with one another regarding the restrictions that should be placed on hiring and firing employees.
C) "Whistle blowers," because of the courage it takes to blow the whistle, are generally promoted more rapidly than other employees.
D) It is not useful for large corporations to develop a formal set of rules defining ethical and unethical behavior.
E) Although people's moral characters are probably developed before they are admitted to a business school, it is still useful for business schools to cover ethics, if only to give students an idea about the adverse consequences of unethical behavior to themselves, their firms, and the nation.

Question 44

The primary operating goal of a publicly-owned firm trying to best serve its stockholders should be to

A) Maximize managers' own interests, which are by definition consistent with maximizing shareholders' wealth.
B) Maximize the firm's expected EPS, which must also maximize the firm's price per share.
C) Minimize the firm's risks because most stockholders dislike risk. In turn, this will maximize the firm's stock price.
D) Use a well-structured managerial compensation package to reduce conflicts that may exist between stockholders and managers.
E) Since it is impossible to measure a stock's intrinsic value, the text states that it is better for managers to attempt to maximize the current stock price than its intrinsic value.

Question 45

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

A) In a typical partnership, liability for other partners' misdeeds is limited to the amount of a particular partner's investment in the business.
B) In a limited partnership, the limited partners have voting control, while the general partner has operating control over the business, and the limited partners are individually responsible, on a pro rata basis, for the firm's debts in the event of bankruptcy.
C) A slow-growth company, with little need for new capital, would be more likely to organize as a corporation than would a faster growing company.
D) Partnerships have more difficulty attracting large amounts of capital than corporations because of such factors as unlimited liability, the need to reorganize when a partner dies, and the illiquidity (difficulty buying and selling) of partnership interests.
E) A major disadvantage of a partnership relative to a corporation is the fact that federal income taxes must be paid by the partners rather than by the firm itself.

Question 46

Which of the following actions would be most likely to reduce potential conflicts of interest between stockholders and managers?

A) Pay managers large cash salaries and give them no stock options.
B) Change the corporation's formal documents to make it easier for outside investors to acquire a controlling interest in the firm through a hostile takeover.
C) Beef up the restrictive covenants in the firm's debt agreements.
D) Eliminate a requirement that members of the board of directors must hold a high percentage of their personal wealth in the firm's stock.
E) For a firm that compensates managers with stock options, reduce the time before options are vested, i.e., the time before options can be exercised and the shares that are received can be sold.

Question 47

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

A) One disadvantage of organizing a business as a corporation rather than a partnership is that the equity investors in a corporation are exposed to unlimited liability.
B) Using restrictive covenants in debt agreements is an effective way to reduce conflicts between stockholders and managers.
C) Managers generally welcome hostile takeovers since the "raider" generally offers a price for the stock that is higher than the price before the takeover action started.
D) The managers of established, stable companies sometimes attempt to get their state legislatures to impose rules that make it more difficult for raiders to succeed with hostile takeovers.
E) The managers of established, stable companies sometimes attempt to get their state legislatures to remove rules that make it more difficult for raiders to succeed with hostile takeovers.

Question 48

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

A) If a corporation elects to be taxed as an S corporation, then both it and its stockholders can avoid all Federal taxes. This provision was put into the Federal Tax Code in order to encourage the formation of small businesses.
B) The more capital a firm is likely to require, the smaller the probability that it will be organized as a corporation.
C) It is generally easier to transfer one's ownership interest in a partnership than in a corporation.
D) One danger of starting a proprietorship is that you may be exposed to personal liability if the business goes bankrupt. This problem would be avoided if you formed a corporation to operate the business.
E) Corporate shareholders are exposed to unlimited liability, but this factor is offset by the tax advantages of incorporation.

Question 49

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

A) One drawback of forming a corporation is that it generally subjects the firm to additional regulations.
B) One drawback of forming a corporation is that it subjects the firm's investors to increased personal liabilities.
C) One drawback of forming a corporation is that it makes it more difficult for the firm to raise capital.
D) One advantage of forming a corporation is that it subjects the firm's investors to fewer taxes.
E) One disadvantage of forming a corporation is that this makes it more difficult for the firm's investors to transfer their ownership interests.

Question 50

Which of the following actions would be likely to encourage a firm's managers to make decisions that are in the best interests of shareholders?

A) The percentage of executive compensation that comes in the form of cash is increased and the percentage coming from long-term stock options is reduced.
B) The state legislature passes a law that makes it more difficult to successfully complete a hostile takeover.
C) The percentage of the firm's stock that is held by institutional investors such as mutual funds, pension funds, and hedge funds rather than by small individual investors rises from 10% to 80%.
D) The firm's founder, who is also president and chairman of the board, sells 90% of her shares.
E) The firm's board of directors gives the firm's managers greater freedom to take whatever actions they think best without obtaining board approval.

Question 51

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

A) The ability of firms in competitive industries to voluntarily undertake socially beneficial but costly projects is constrained by competition and the need to attract capital.
B) Any action that would maximize a firm's stock price must be consistent with the maximization of social welfare.
C) Decisions regarding social and ethical behavior have no effect, either positive or negative, on firms' stock prices.
D) In a competitive industry, if one group of firms is "socially conscious" and takes costly actions designed to improve social welfare, but other firms do not, then most investors will flock to the socially conscious firms, thus enhancing their ability to attract capital. Eventually, these firms must dominate the industry.
E) Even if the government did not mandate some actions deemed to be socially responsible, such as those relating to fair hiring and environmentally sound practices, most firms in competitive markets would still pursue these policies.

Question 52

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

A) Corporations are taxed more favorably than sole proprietorships.
B) Corporations have unlimited liability.
C) Because of their size, large corporations face fewer regulations than smaller corporations and sole proprietorships.
D) Reducing the threat of corporate takeover increases the likelihood that managers will act in shareholders' interests.
E) Bond covenants are designed to protect bondholders and to reduce potential conflicts between stockholders and bondholders.

Question 53

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

A) One of the ways in which firms can mitigate or reduce potential conflicts between bondholders and stockholders is by increasing the amount of debt in the firm's capital structure.
B) The threat of takeover generally increases potential conflicts between stockholders and managers.
C) Managerial compensation plans cannot be used to reduce potential conflicts between stockholders and managers.
D) The threat of takeovers tends to reduce potential conflicts between stockholders and managers.
E) The creation of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has eliminated conflicts between managers and stockholders.

Question 54

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

A) Well designed bond covenants are useful for reducing agency conflicts between stockholders and managers.
B) The bid price in a hostile takeover is generally above the price before the takeover attempt is announced, because otherwise there would be no incentive for the stockholders to sell to the hostile bidder and the takeover attempt would probably fail.
C) Stockholders in general would be better off if managers never disclosed favorable events and therefore caused the price of the firm's stock to sell at a price below its intrinsic value.
D) Takeovers are most likely to be attempted if the target firm's stock price is above its intrinsic value.
E) The efficiency of the U.S. economy would probably be increased if hostile takeovers were absolutely forbidden.

Question 55

Which of the following mechanisms would be most likely to help motivate managers to act in the best interests of shareholders?

A) Decrease the use of restrictive covenants in bond agreements.
B) Take actions that reduce the possibility of a hostile takeover.
C) Elect a board of directors that allows managers greater freedom of action.
D) Increase the proportion of executive compensation that comes from stock options and reduce the proportion that is paid as cash salaries.
E) Eliminate a requirement that members of the board of directors have a substantial investment in the firm's stock.

Question 56

Which of the following actions would be likely to reduce conflicts of interest between stockholders and managers?

A) Congress passes a law that severely restricts hostile takeovers.
B) A firm's compensation system is changed so that managers receive larger cash salaries but fewer long-term options to buy stock.
C) The company changes the way executive stock options are handled, with all options vesting after 2 years rather than having 20% of the options awarded vest e2 years over a 10-year period.
D) The company's outside auditing firm is given a lucrative year-by-year consulting contract with the company.
E) The composition of the board of directors is changed from all inside directors to all outside directors, and the directors are compensated with stock rather than cash.

Question 57

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

A) A good goal for a firm's management is the maximization of expected EPS.
B) Most business in the U.S. is conducted by corporations, and corporations' popularity results primarily from their favorable tax treatment.
C) Conflicts can exist between stockholders and managers, but potential conflicts are reduced by the possibility of hostile takeovers.
D) Corporations and partnerships have an advantage over proprietorships because a sole proprietor is exposed to unlimited liability, but the liability of all investors in the other types of businesses is more limited.
E) Firms in highly competitive industries are more likely to consciously exercise "social responsibility" than are firms in oligopolistic industries.

Question 58

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

A) The proper goal of the financial manager should be to maximize the firm's expected cash flows, because this will add the most wealth to each of the individual shareholders (owners) of the firm.
B) The financial manager should seek that combination of assets, liabilities, and capital that will generate the largest expected after-tax income over the relevant time horizon.
C) The riskiness inherent in a firm's earnings per share (EPS) depends on the characteristics of the projects the firm selects, which means it depends upon the firm's assets, but EPS does not depend on the manner in which those assets are financed.
D) Large, publicly-owned firms like AT&T and GM, are controlled by their management teams. Ownership is generally widely dispersed, hence managers have great freedom in how they manage the firm. Managers may operate in stockholders' best interests, but they may also operate in their own personal best interests. As long as managers stay within the law, there are no effective tools that can be used to motivate them to take actions that are in the stockholders' best interests.
E) Potential conflicts of interest can exist between stockholders and managers, and also between stockholders and bondholders.

Question 59

Which of the following actions would be most likely to reduce conflicts of interest between stockholders and bondholders?

A) If a lower level person in a firm does something illegal, like "cooking the books" to understate costs and thereby artificially increase profits because he or she was ordered to do so by a superior, the lower level person cannot be prosecuted but the superior can be prosecuted.
B) There are many types of unethical business behavior. One example is where executives provide information that they know is incorrect to outsiders. It is illegal to provide such information to federally regulated banks, but it is not illegal to provide it to stockholders because they are the owners of the firm.
C) The bankruptcy of Enron Corporation, and the fraud committed by some of its officers, was much discussed, but it did not lead to any important changes in business practices.
D) If someone deliberately understates costs and thereby causes reported profits to increase, then this can cause the price of the stock to rise above its intrinsic value. The stock will probably fall in the future. Both those who participated in the fraud and the firm itself can be prosecuted.
E) Ethical behavior is not influenced by training and auditing procedures. People are either ethical or they are not, and this is what determines ethical behavior in business.

Question 60

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

A) A hostile takeover is the main method of transferring ownership interest in a corporation.
B) A corporation is a legal entity created by a state, and it has a life and existence that is separate from the lives and existence of its owners and managers.
C) Unlimited liability and limited life are two key advantages of the corporate form over other forms of business organization.
D) Limited liability is an advantage of the corporate form of organization to its owners (stockholders), but corporations have more trouble raising money in financial markets because of the complexity of this form of organization.
E) Although the stockholders of the corporation are insulated by limited legal liability, the legal status of the corporation does not protect the firm's managers in the same way, i.e., bondholders can sue its managers if the firm defaults on its debt.

Question 61

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

A) Corporations face few regulations and more favorable tax treatment than do sole proprietorships and partnerships.
B) Managers who face the threat of hostile takeovers are less likely to pursue policies that maximize shareholder value compared to managers who do not face the threat of hostile takeovers.
C) Bond covenants are an effective way to resolve conflicts between shareholders and managers.
D) Because of their simplified organization, it is easier for sole proprietors and partnerships to raise large amounts of outside capital than it is for corporations.
E) One advantage to forming a corporation is that the owners of the firm have limited liability.

Question 62

Assume that the corporate tax rate is 35% and the personal tax rate is 38%. The founders of a newly formed business are debating between setting up the firm as a partnership versus a corporation. The firm will not need to retain any earnings, so all of its after-tax income will be paid out to its investors, who will have to pay personal taxes on whatever they receive. What is the difference in the percentage of the firm's pre-tax income that investors actually receive and can spend under the corporate and partnership forms of organization?

A) 20.0%
B) 20.4%
C) 20.8%
D) 21.3%
E) 21.7%

Question 63

New Business is just being formed by 10 investors, each of whom will own 10% of the business. The firm is expected to earn $1,000,000 before taxes each year. The corporate tax rate is 35% and the personal tax rate for the firm's investors is 38%. The firm does not need to retain any earnings, so all of its after-tax income will be paid out as dividends to its investors. The investors will have to pay personal taxes on whatever they receive. How much additional spendable income will each investor have if the business is organized as a partnership rather than as a corporation?

A) $20,015
B) $20,424
C) $20,841
D) $21,266
E) $21,700

Question 64

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

A) Hostile takeovers are most likely to occur when a firm's stock is selling below its intrinsic value as a result of poor management.
B) The efficiency of the U.S. economy would probably be increased if hostile takeovers were absolutely forbidden.
C) Hostile takeovers are most likely to occur when a firm's stock sells at a price above its intrinsic value because its management has been issuing overly optimistic statements about its likely future performance.
D) In general, it is more in bondholders' interests than stockholders' interests for a firm to shift its investment focus away from safe, stable investments and into risky investments, especially those that involve primarily research and development.
E) Stockholders in general would be better off if managers never disclosed favorable events and therefore caused the price of the firm's stock to sell at a price below its intrinsic value.

Question 65

Charleston Corporation (CC) now operates as a "regular" corporation, but it is considering a switch to S Corporation status. CC is owned by five stockholders who each hold 20% of the stock, and each faces a personal tax rate of 38%. The firm earns $2,000,000 per year before taxes, and since it has no need for retained earnings, it pays out all of its earnings as dividends. Assume that the corporate tax rate is 35% and the personal tax rate is 38%. How much more (or less) spendable income would each stockholder have if the firm elected S Corporation status?

A) $85,064
B) $86,800
C) $88,536
D) $90,307
E) $92,113

Question 66

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

A) One disadvantage of operating as a corporation rather than as a partnership is that corporate shareholders are exposed to more personal liability than are partners.
B) Relative to sole proprietorships, corporations generally face fewer regulations, and they also find it easier to raise capital.
C) There is no good reason to expect a firm's stockholders and bondholders to react differently to the types of assets in which it invests.
D) Stockholders should generally be happier than bondholders to have managers invest in risky projects with high potential returns as opposed to safe projects with lower expected returns.
E) Bondholders should generally be happier than stockholders to have managers invest in risky projects with high potential returns as opposed to safe projects with lower expected returns.

Question 67

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

A) Since in bankruptcy they must be paid in full before stockholders receive anything, corporate bondholders generally prefer to see corporate managers invest in high risk/high return projects rather than low risk/low return projects.
B) Since bondholders receive fixed payments, they do not share in the gains if risky projects turn out to be highly successful. However, they do share in the losses if risky projects fail and drive the firm into bankruptcy. Therefore, bondholders generally prefer to see corporate managers invest in low risk/low return projects rather than high risk/high return projects.
C) One advantage of operating a business as a corporation is that stockholders can deduct their pro rata share of the taxes the firm pays, thereby eliminating the double taxation investors would face in a partnership.
D) One drawback of forming a corporation is that you lose the limited liability that you would otherwise receive as a sole proprietor.
E) Potential conflicts between stockholders and bondholders are increased if a firm's bonds are convertible into its common stock.