Question Details

FIN 515 
WEEK 1 
Mini Case (p. 45) 
Assume that you recently graduated and have just reported to work as an investment advisor at the brokerage firm of Balik and Kiefer Inc. One of the firm- clients is Michelle DellaTorre, a professional tennis player who has just come to the United States from Chile. DellaTorre is a highly ranked tennis player who would like to start a company to produce and market apparel she designs. She also expects to invest substantial amounts of money through Balik and Kiefer. DellaTorre is very bright, and she would like to understand in general terms what will happen to her money. Your boss has developed the following set of questions you must answer to explain the U.S. financial system to DellaTorre.
a.	Why is corporate finance important to all managers?
Describe the organizational forms a company might have as it evolves from a start-
b.	up to a major corporation. List the advantages and disadvantages of each form.
How do corporations go public and continue to grow? What are agency problems? 
c.	What is corporate governance?
d.	What should be the primary objective of managers?
(1)	 Do firms have any responsibilities to society at large?
(2)	 Is stock price maximization good or bad for society?
(3)	Should firms behave ethically?
e.	What three aspects of cash flows affect the value of any investment?
f.	What are free cash flows?
g.	What is the weighted average cost of capital?
h.	a firm- value?
How do free cash flows and the weighted average cost of capital interact to determine 
Who are the providers (savers) and users (borrowers) of capital? How is capital 
i.	transferred between savers and borrowers?
What do we call the price that a borrower must pay for debt capital? What is the 
price of equity capital? What are the four most fundamental factors that affect the 
j.	cost of money, or the general level of interest rates, in the economy?
What are some economic conditions (including international aspects) that affect the 
k.	cost of money?
l.	What are financial securities? Describe some financial instruments.
m.	List some financial institutions.
n.	What are some different types of markets?
o.	How are secondary markets organized?
(1)	 List some physical location markets and some computer/telephone networks.
(2)	communications networks (ECNs).
Explain the differences between open outcry auctions, dealer markets, and electronic 
Briefly explain mortgage securitization and how it contributed to the global economic 
p.	crisis.
2-6 Statement of Retained Earnings 
In its most recent financial statements, Newhouse Inc. reported $50 million of net income and 
$810 million of retained earnings. The previous retained earnings were $780 million. How 
much in dividends was paid to shareholders during the year?
2-7 Corporate Tax Liability (calculate tax liability and AT income) 
costs but before (1) interest charges of $50,000, (2) dividends received of $15,000, (3) 
The Talley Corporation had a taxable income of $365,000 from operations after all operating 
dividends paid of $25,000, and (4) income taxes. What are the firm- income tax liability and 
its after-tax income? What are the company- marginal and average tax rates on taxable 
income?
2-9 Corporate After-Tax Yield (muni, corp, PS)
The Shrieves Corporation has $10,000 that it plans to invest in marketable securities. It is 
5% (but are not taxable), and AT&T preferred stock, with a dividend yield of 6%. Shrieves- 
choosing among AT&T bonds, which yield 7.5%, state of Florida muni bonds, which yield 
corporate tax rate is 35%, and 70% of the dividends received are tax exempt. Find the after-
tax rates of return on all three securities.