FINC2011 solutions for reflective task 1 - Reflecting on Corporate Governance and Agency Problem
Task 1 - Reflecting on Corporate Governance and Agency Problem
Task Background:
Welcome to your first individual reflective task. For this task, we would like you to explore the practical applications of what you have learned in the first lecture and tutorial.
During Tutorial 1, you worked on several questions related to corporate governance. Question 2 focused on the different types of board executives and board independence. In Question 3, you were asked to critically analyse the effectiveness of using options as a form of compensation. Additionally, in Question 4, you were asked to discuss how ownership structure could be linked to agency problems.
Task Description:
This task aims to bridge the gap between theoretical concepts and practical applications through an examination of Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ: AAPL.O) approach to corporate governance. You are tasked with writing a maximum of 400-word discussion on how the following three aspects may play a crucial role in managing agency problems:
Board Composition: Investigate the composition of Apple's leadership team. Information can be found hereLinks to an external site..
CEO's Remuneration: Apple's '2022 Employee Stock Plan' awards Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) to its employees as part of their compensation package. RSUs are shares of the company given to employees that are subject to a vesting schedule and restrictions. You are asked to examine the role of RSUs in managing agency conflicts, using Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, as an example. Details on Tim Cook's compensation are available here Download here, and the description of Apple's RSU scheme is available here Download here(Page 48, Note 11).
Ownership Concentration: Refer to the provided Excel spreadsheet here, Download here,which outlines Apple's ownership structure. This Excel includes a breakdown of the firm's ownership, fund ownership, and the holdings of individual shareholders. Reflect on how this ownership structure might influence Apple's agency problem, paying special attention to the degree of ownership concentration.
Note: In your discussion, it's not necessary to define concepts like 'corporate governance' and 'agency problem.' You should assume your readers are familiar with these terms, having attended the lecture and tutorial.
Marking Rubric:
In this task, you will be marked based on your
ability to discuss the three aspects in the context of Apple Inc. For example, what are your observations of the current board composition? (0.45/1 mark).
ability to critically analyse how Apple Inc.'s current corporate governance mechanisms help manage (or fail to manage) the agency problem. Consider both the positives and negatives in your discussion. (0.45/1 mark)
ability to cohesively connect all discussed areas to reach a comprehensive conclusion with an overall clear logic. (0.1/1 mark)
Make sure that you are reflecting in your own words. Turnitin will be used for a similarity check. Provide references where appropriate. You are welcome to share your personal opinion, as there is no right or wrong answer.