ever-increasing performance quarter by quarter. This expectation forces management
to focus on maximizing short-term performance rather than on achieving long-term
public relations with the research analysts, financial journalists, institutional investors,
other stockholders, and market makers— so named because they make a market for the
company’s stock. This is a distraction from their main job, which is running the
company for optimal performance.
stock or stock options, but when it is sinking, it can be demoralizing— especially when
an employee’s options go “underwater” (the stock price falls below the options price).
Underwater options can make it difficult to motivate and retain key employees.
12. Explain why the underwriter of an IPO often tries to lower the price of the stocks in the
offering. (pg. 325)
• Therefore, if underwriters see that the market is not ready to buy all the stock at a set
price before the IPO, they may try to lower the price.
13. Why would a company want to be acquired? (pgs. 326-327)
• Managers can focus on building the company
14. What may be some drawback in getting acquired? (pgs. 326-327)
• Management may prefer to move on to a new venture instead of working through an