Do you believe Senator Warren’s demands that the President replace the chair of the SEC, Mary Jo White, are valid? What is the official charge of the SEC?
EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, is apparently being tweaked, to make it “more” (?) non-GAAP. Should investors be concerned? Should investors be using cash based measures that are harder for firms to tweak? Should the government oversee non-GAAP metrics?
Do you believe it is unusual for governments to relinquish ownership of commercial enterprises in favor of private control? What do the Norwegian and Swedish governments believe that private capital structures could do better than social/public ownership? How would you measure whether private ownership in fact is better?
Can you follow the arithmetic supporting the claim that borrowing to fund pension plan assets can boost EPS more than borrowing to buy back stocks? What is your opinion about this financial strategy?
Public pensions are underfunded by an estimated $1.75 trillion. Can you identify the various causes, as well as possible solutions? Will there be “winners” and “losers”? Can you name them?
Do you think you could have predicted the goodwill impairments for these German firms? What would make good predictors?
What is the purpose of “clawing back” pay to executives and other employees? Do you find the idea substantive? Symbolic? How would you determine how much to claw back? What behaviors should trigger a claw back, if any?
What accounting measurement and reporting issues are particularly applicable to firms with fewer fixed assets?
So the SEC would seemingly like for firms to streamline their financial disclosures, yet firms are afraid to do so for fear of the SEC? Seems like a difficult situation to resolve. What proposals would you have to try to resolve it?
Do you think the FASB should use Actual Realized Gains (ARG) in measuring equity compensation expense, rather than Estimated Fair Value (EFV)? What would be the advantages/disadvantages of ARG over EFV?
Exxon has not impaired certain oil and gas-related assets, even though the price of oil has fallen. What are the two main criteria for recognizing an impairment of these assets? Do you believe both criteria have been met? How could the district attorney litigate against an accounting issue that is so judgment-dependent?
How would you measure and assess whether firms’ cultures would be compatible after a merger? Is there a “match.com” for merger partners?
If you were an employee at a firm with a DB pension plan, would you be worried!? Why is the funded status so low? What could/should firms do to fully fund their plans?
How is a “bad” M&A deal reflected in accounting measures? Do you think firms do pay more for a target in anticipation of being able to carry out the integration efficiently and effectively?
Do you think that policy innovation and related execution is greater at a national level compared to that from a global structure? Do you think Ireland will develop its own independent tax policy, apart from the EU? Is this a positive development? Why or why not?
Apple has been ordered to pay additional tax by the EU on profits in Ireland. Do you agree with the EU ruling? How could you determine if Apple has accrued a liability for potential future taxes on these foreign earnings?
If you were CEO or CFO of a firm, what are the various factors you would consider in whether to buy back stock, pay a dividend, and/or invest in capex? Do you agree that the current trend in the market is unsustainable? What do you foresee happening? When?
Cisco has announced a restructuring charge of up to $700 million to cover layoffs of employees. What entry will Cisco make to record the charges? Will the loss be reported on the income statement “above the line” or “below the line”?
Should gains on property sales for Lenovo be part of operating income (above the line) or should they be below the line? Does it matter?
Do you think the SEC is right to require firms to disclose gender and race of board members? Why or why not?
