Assignment:
I. BUSINESS ENTITIES:.
a. What are your company's trading symbol? What sectors are "your" companies in? What were the closing prices of "your" company's stock on Tuesday November 28, 2017? On what exchanges do "your" companies trade? What is the significance of a company being a publicly traded corporation?
b. Where are "your" corporations headquartered? Where are "your" corporations incorporated? Some corporations are headquartered and incorporated in different locations. Explain the significance. What is the most common state of incorporation? Why does this one state have a huge advantage? (CAVEAT -Remember to include the significant rationale from a legal environment of business perspective as opposed to a tax focus).
B. THE MANAGEMENT Teams:Locate the Board of Directors and Senior Management in your annual reports. Explain their different roles and functions. On what pages do they appear? Are they photographed? Specifically identify by name the Chief Executive Officers and the Chairmen of the Board for "your" companies. Describe their roles and how they differ. Identify only 2 additional corporate officers by name and their titles for "your" companies.
a. What is a "fiduciary?" What group or type of people must act as fiduciaries in "your" corporations?
b. Would you expect the Management Teams in "your" corporations to support tort reform? Why or why not? Be specific.Can "your" corporations be seen as a "deep pocket?" Why or Why not? Would your management teams be in favor of "class action" lawsuits to efficiently resolve business disputes?
c. Describe a products liability fact pattern in which one of "your" corporations could be involved. Then do a 4 - part analysis that would establish the basis for a negligence claim against one of your companies. If you were a manager for one YOUR companies, how would you go about hiring a lawyer to help defend against the products liability suit you described above?
d. What is a shareholder?What are the rights and obligations of a shareholder? What is a shareholder proposal? Understanding "your" company, create an example of a "shareholder proposal" that would be appropriate for "your" company? How does a shareholder differ from a stakeholder?
e. Which independent accounting firms do "your" companies use to perform the auditing role? Are they part of the Big 4? Identify the other firms that comprise the Big 4? Explain how the role of the auditor has changed since
f. the passage of the Sarbanes Oxley Act. Be specific.
h. The Trump administration is dissatisfied with many aspects of Dodd Frank.
Therefore, we may see a dismantling of the current Dodd Frank Act. Using "a reliable source," find a newspaper article that addresses several proposed changes that the Trump administration supports. In a paragraph or 2, identify a few changes that may be made to the Dodd Frank Act in the near future.
i. What is ADR? If you were a manager for one of your companies would you recommend the use of ADR to avoid litigation? Why or why not? Be specific as to what type of ADR would be most beneficial.
j. Where in the annual reports might companies deal with their current or future litigation concerns? Is it prominently displayed? Is it described in great detail? What significance does litigation have to a business manager? Give an example.