Response to the following questions:
1. What obligation does an entrepreneur (owner) have to investors that purchase bonds to finance the business?
2. On January 1, 2011, the $1,000,000 par value bonds of Gruden Company with a carrying value of $1,000,000 are converted to 500,000 shares of $0.50 par value common stock. Record the entry for the conversion of the bonds.
3. Compute the debt-to-equity ratio for each of the following companies. Which company appears to have a riskier financing structure? Explain.
Canal Company Sears Company
Total liabilities . . . . . . . . $492,000 $ 384,000
Total equity . . . . . . . . . . 656,000 1,200,000