Test Prep CFA® Level 2 Exam Practice Questions (P. 4)

Carol Blackwell, CFA, has been hired to manage trust assets for Blanchard Investments. Blanchard's trust manager, Thaddeus Baldwin, CFA, has worked in the securities business for more than 50 years. On Blackwell's first day at the office, Baldwin gives her several instructions.
Instruction 1: Limit risk by avoiding stock options.
Instruction 2: Above all, ensure that our clients' capital is kept safe.
Instruction 3: We take pride in our low cost structure, so avoid unnecessary transactions.
Instruction 4: Remember that every investment must have the quality to stand on its own.
Baldwin realizes that many of the firm's practices and policies would benefit from a compliance check. Because Blackwell recently received her CFA charter,
Baldwin tells her she is the "perfect person to work with the compliance officer to update the policy on proxy voting and the procedures to comply with Standard VI
(B) Priority of Transactions." Baldwin also wants Blackwell to evaluate whether the firm wants to, or can, claim compliance with the soft dollar standards. Baldwin hands Blackwell a handwritten outline he created, which includes the following statements:
Statement 1: CFA Institute's soft-dollar rules are not mandatory. In any case, ' client brokerage can be used to pay for a portion of mixed-use research.
Statement 2: Investment firms can use client brokerage to purchase research that does not immediately benefit the client. Commissions generated by outside trades are considered soft dollars, but commissions from internal trading desks are not.
During a local society luncheon, Blackwell is seated next to CFA candidate Lucas Walters, who has been assigned the task of creating a compliance manual for
Borchard & Sons, a small brokerage firm. Walters asks for her advice.
When Walters returns to work, he is apprised of the following situation: Borchard & Sons purchased 25,000 shares of CBX Corp. for equity manager Quintux
Quantitative just minutes before the money manager called back and said it meant to buy 25,000 shares of CDX Corp. Borchard then purchased CDX shares for
Quintux, but not before shares of CBX Corp. declined by 1.5%. The broker is holding the CBX shares in its own inventory.
Borchard proposes three methods for dealing with the trading error.
Method 1: Quintux directs additional trades to Borchard worth a dollar value equal to the amount of the trading loss.
Method 2: Borchard receives investment research from Quintux in exchange for Borchard covering the costs of the trading error.
Method 3: Borchard transfers the ordered CBX shares in its inventory to Quintux, which allocates them to all of its clients on a pro-rata basis.
Which of Baldw in's first-day instructions to Blackwell is consistent with the New Prudent Investor Rule?

Carol Blackwell, CFA, has been hired to manage trust assets for Blanchard Investments. Blanchard's trust manager, Thaddeus Baldwin, CFA, has worked in the securities business for more than 50 years. On Blackwell's first day at the office, Baldwin gives her several instructions.
Instruction 1: Limit risk by avoiding stock options.
Instruction 2: Above all, ensure that our clients' capital is kept safe.
Instruction 3: We take pride in our low cost structure, so avoid unnecessary transactions.
Instruction 4: Remember that every investment must have the quality to stand on its own.
Baldwin realizes that many of the firm's practices and policies would benefit from a compliance check. Because Blackwell recently received her CFA charter,
Baldwin tells her she is the "perfect person to work with the compliance officer to update the policy on proxy voting and the procedures to comply with Standard VI
(B) Priority of Transactions." Baldwin also wants Blackwell to evaluate whether the firm wants to, or can, claim compliance with the soft dollar standards. Baldwin hands Blackwell a handwritten outline he created, which includes the following statements:
Statement 1: CFA Institute's soft-dollar rules are not mandatory. In any case, ' client brokerage can be used to pay for a portion of mixed-use research.
Statement 2: Investment firms can use client brokerage to purchase research that does not immediately benefit the client. Commissions generated by outside trades are considered soft dollars, but commissions from internal trading desks are not.
During a local society luncheon, Blackwell is seated next to CFA candidate Lucas Walters, who has been assigned the task of creating a compliance manual for
Borchard & Sons, a small brokerage firm. Walters asks for her advice.
When Walters returns to work, he is apprised of the following situation: Borchard & Sons purchased 25,000 shares of CBX Corp. for equity manager Quintux
Quantitative just minutes before the money manager called back and said it meant to buy 25,000 shares of CDX Corp. Borchard then purchased CDX shares for
Quintux, but not before shares of CBX Corp. declined by 1.5%. The broker is holding the CBX shares in its own inventory.
Borchard proposes three methods for dealing with the trading error.
Method 1: Quintux directs additional trades to Borchard worth a dollar value equal to the amount of the trading loss.
Method 2: Borchard receives investment research from Quintux in exchange for Borchard covering the costs of the trading error.
Method 3: Borchard transfers the ordered CBX shares in its inventory to Quintux, which allocates them to all of its clients on a pro-rata basis.
When updating the proxy-voting policy to conform to CFA Institute recommendations, which of the following recommendations is least appropriate for Blanchard to adopt?

Carol Blackwell, CFA, has been hired to manage trust assets for Blanchard Investments. Blanchard's trust manager, Thaddeus Baldwin, CFA, has worked in the securities business for more than 50 years. On Blackwell's first day at the office, Baldwin gives her several instructions.
Instruction 1: Limit risk by avoiding stock options.
Instruction 2: Above all, ensure that our clients' capital is kept safe.
Instruction 3: We take pride in our low cost structure, so avoid unnecessary transactions.
Instruction 4: Remember that every investment must have the quality to stand on its own.
Baldwin realizes that many of the firm's practices and policies would benefit from a compliance check. Because Blackwell recently received her CFA charter,
Baldwin tells her she is the "perfect person to work with the compliance officer to update the policy on proxy voting and the procedures to comply with Standard VI
(B) Priority of Transactions." Baldwin also wants Blackwell to evaluate whether the firm wants to, or can, claim compliance with the soft dollar standards. Baldwin hands Blackwell a handwritten outline he created, which includes the following statements:
Statement 1: CFA Institute's soft-dollar rules are not mandatory. In any case, ' client brokerage can be used to pay for a portion of mixed-use research.
Statement 2: Investment firms can use client brokerage to purchase research that does not immediately benefit the client. Commissions generated by outside trades are considered soft dollars, but commissions from internal trading desks are not.
During a local society luncheon, Blackwell is seated next to CFA candidate Lucas Walters, who has been assigned the task of creating a compliance manual for
Borchard & Sons, a small brokerage firm. Walters asks for her advice.
When Walters returns to work, he is apprised of the following situation: Borchard & Sons purchased 25,000 shares of CBX Corp. for equity manager Quintux
Quantitative just minutes before the money manager called back and said it meant to buy 25,000 shares of CDX Corp. Borchard then purchased CDX shares for
Quintux, but not before shares of CBX Corp. declined by 1.5%. The broker is holding the CBX shares in its own inventory.
Borchard proposes three methods for dealing with the trading error.
Method 1: Quintux directs additional trades to Borchard worth a dollar value equal to the amount of the trading loss.
Method 2: Borchard receives investment research from Quintux in exchange for Borchard covering the costs of the trading error.
Method 3: Borchard transfers the ordered CBX shares in its inventory to Quintux, which allocates them to all of its clients on a pro-rata basis.
A CFA charterholder who wishes to follow Standard VI(B) Priority of Transactions must:

Carol Blackwell, CFA, has been hired to manage trust assets for Blanchard Investments. Blanchard's trust manager, Thaddeus Baldwin, CFA, has worked in the securities business for more than 50 years. On Blackwell's first day at the office, Baldwin gives her several instructions.
Instruction 1: Limit risk by avoiding stock options.
Instruction 2: Above all, ensure that our clients' capital is kept safe.
Instruction 3: We take pride in our low cost structure, so avoid unnecessary transactions.
Instruction 4: Remember that every investment must have the quality to stand on its own.
Baldwin realizes that many of the firm's practices and policies would benefit from a compliance check. Because Blackwell recently received her CFA charter,
Baldwin tells her she is the "perfect person to work with the compliance officer to update the policy on proxy voting and the procedures to comply with Standard VI
(B) Priority of Transactions." Baldwin also wants Blackwell to evaluate whether the firm wants to, or can, claim compliance with the soft dollar standards. Baldwin hands Blackwell a handwritten outline he created, which includes the following statements:
Statement 1: CFA Institute's soft-dollar rules are not mandatory. In any case, ' client brokerage can be used to pay for a portion of mixed-use research.
Statement 2: Investment firms can use client brokerage to purchase research that does not immediately benefit the client. Commissions generated by outside trades are considered soft dollars, but commissions from internal trading desks are not.
During a local society luncheon, Blackwell is seated next to CFA candidate Lucas Walters, who has been assigned the task of creating a compliance manual for
Borchard & Sons, a small brokerage firm. Walters asks for her advice.
When Walters returns to work, he is apprised of the following situation: Borchard & Sons purchased 25,000 shares of CBX Corp. for equity manager Quintux
Quantitative just minutes before the money manager called back and said it meant to buy 25,000 shares of CDX Corp. Borchard then purchased CDX shares for
Quintux, but not before shares of CBX Corp. declined by 1.5%. The broker is holding the CBX shares in its own inventory.
Borchard proposes three methods for dealing with the trading error.
Method 1: Quintux directs additional trades to Borchard worth a dollar value equal to the amount of the trading loss.
Method 2: Borchard receives investment research from Quintux in exchange for Borchard covering the costs of the trading error.
Method 3: Borchard transfers the ordered CBX shares in its inventory to Quintux, which allocates them to all of its clients on a pro-rata basis.
Are Thaddeus Baldwin's statements on the soft dollar standards correct?

Carol Blackwell, CFA, has been hired to manage trust assets for Blanchard Investments. Blanchard's trust manager, Thaddeus Baldwin, CFA, has worked in the securities business for more than 50 years. On Blackwell's first day at the office, Baldwin gives her several instructions.
Instruction 1: Limit risk by avoiding stock options.
Instruction 2: Above all, ensure that our clients' capital is kept safe.
Instruction 3: We take pride in our low cost structure, so avoid unnecessary transactions.
Instruction 4: Remember that every investment must have the quality to stand on its own.
Baldwin realizes that many of the firm's practices and policies would benefit from a compliance check. Because Blackwell recently received her CFA charter,
Baldwin tells her she is the "perfect person to work with the compliance officer to update the policy on proxy voting and the procedures to comply with Standard VI
(B) Priority of Transactions." Baldwin also wants Blackwell to evaluate whether the firm wants to, or can, claim compliance with the soft dollar standards. Baldwin hands Blackwell a handwritten outline he created, which includes the following statements:
Statement 1: CFA Institute's soft-dollar rules are not mandatory. In any case, ' client brokerage can be used to pay for a portion of mixed-use research.
Statement 2: Investment firms can use client brokerage to purchase research that does not immediately benefit the client. Commissions generated by outside trades are considered soft dollars, but commissions from internal trading desks are not.
During a local society luncheon, Blackwell is seated next to CFA candidate Lucas Walters, who has been assigned the task of creating a compliance manual for
Borchard & Sons, a small brokerage firm. Walters asks for her advice.
When Walters returns to work, he is apprised of the following situation: Borchard & Sons purchased 25,000 shares of CBX Corp. for equity manager Quintux
Quantitative just minutes before the money manager called back and said it meant to buy 25,000 shares of CDX Corp. Borchard then purchased CDX shares for
Quintux, but not before shares of CBX Corp. declined by 1.5%. The broker is holding the CBX shares in its own inventory.
Borchard proposes three methods for dealing with the trading error.
Method 1: Quintux directs additional trades to Borchard worth a dollar value equal to the amount of the trading loss.
Method 2: Borchard receives investment research from Quintux in exchange for Borchard covering the costs of the trading error.
Method 3: Borchard transfers the ordered CBX shares in its inventory to Quintux, which allocates them to all of its clients on a pro-rata basis.
It Walters wants the manual to satisfy the requirements and recommendations of the Code and Standards, which of the following instructions is least appropriate to include in the section on fair dealing?

Carol Blackwell, CFA, has been hired to manage trust assets for Blanchard Investments. Blanchard's trust manager, Thaddeus Baldwin, CFA, has worked in the securities business for more than 50 years. On Blackwell's first day at the office, Baldwin gives her several instructions.
Instruction 1: Limit risk by avoiding stock options.
Instruction 2: Above all, ensure that our clients' capital is kept safe.
Instruction 3: We take pride in our low cost structure, so avoid unnecessary transactions.
Instruction 4: Remember that every investment must have the quality to stand on its own.
Baldwin realizes that many of the firm's practices and policies would benefit from a compliance check. Because Blackwell recently received her CFA charter,
Baldwin tells her she is the "perfect person to work with the compliance officer to update the policy on proxy voting and the procedures to comply with Standard VI
(B) Priority of Transactions." Baldwin also wants Blackwell to evaluate whether the firm wants to, or can, claim compliance with the soft dollar standards. Baldwin hands Blackwell a handwritten outline he created, which includes the following statements:
Statement 1: CFA Institute's soft-dollar rules are not mandatory. In any case, ' client brokerage can be used to pay for a portion of mixed-use research.
Statement 2: Investment firms can use client brokerage to purchase research that does not immediately benefit the client. Commissions generated by outside trades are considered soft dollars, but commissions from internal trading desks are not.
During a local society luncheon, Blackwell is seated next to CFA candidate Lucas Walters, who has been assigned the task of creating a compliance manual for
Borchard & Sons, a small brokerage firm. Walters asks for her advice.
When Walters returns to work, he is apprised of the following situation: Borchard & Sons purchased 25,000 shares of CBX Corp. for equity manager Quintux
Quantitative just minutes before the money manager called back and said it meant to buy 25,000 shares of CDX Corp. Borchard then purchased CDX shares for
Quintux, but not before shares of CBX Corp. declined by 1.5%. The broker is holding the CBX shares in its own inventory.
Borchard proposes three methods for dealing with the trading error.
Method 1: Quintux directs additional trades to Borchard worth a dollar value equal to the amount of the trading loss.
Method 2: Borchard receives investment research from Quintux in exchange for Borchard covering the costs of the trading error.
Method 3: Borchard transfers the ordered CBX shares in its inventory to Quintux, which allocates them to all of its clients on a pro-rata basis.
Which method for dealing with the trading error is most consistent with the Code and Standards?

Charles Connor, CFA, is a portfolio manager at Apple Investments, LLC. Apple is a U.S.-based firm offering a wide spectrum of investment products and services.
Connor manages the Biogene Fund, a domestic equity fund specializing in small capitalization growth stocks. The Biogene Fund generally takes significant positions in stocks, commonly owning 4.5-5% of the outstanding shares. The fund's prospectus limits positions to a maximum of 5% of the shares outstanding.
The performance of the Biogene Fund has been superior over the last few years, but for the last two quarters the fund has underperformed its benchmark by a wide margin. Connor is determined to improve his performance numbers going forward.
The Biogene prospectus allows Connor to use derivative instruments in his investment strategy. Connor frequently uses options to hedge his fund's exposure as he builds or liquidates positions in his portfolio since Biogene's large positions often take several weeks to acquire. For example, when he identifies a stock to buy, he often buys call options to gain exposure to the stock. As he buys the stock, he sells off the options or allows them to expire. Connor has noticed that the increased volume in the call options often drives the stock price higher for a few days. He has seen a similar negative effect on stock prices when he buys large amounts of put options.
The end of the quarter is just a few days away, and Connor is considering three transactions:
Transaction A: Buying Put Options on Stock A
The Biogene Fund owns 4,9% of the outstanding stock of Company A, but Connor believes the stock is fully valued and plans to sell the entire position. He anticipates that it will take approximately 45 trading days to liquidate the entire Biogene position in Stock A.
The Biogene Fund owns 5% of the outstanding stock of Company B. Connor believes there is significant appreciation potential for Stock B, but the stock price has dropped in recent weeks. Connor is hoping that by taking an option position, there will be a carryover effect on ihe stock price before quarter end.
Transaction C: Selling the Biogene Fund's Entire Position in .Stock C
Connor believes that Stock C is still attractive, but he is selling the stock with the idea that he will repurchase the position next month. The motivation for the transaction is to capture a capital loss that will reduce the Biogene Fund's tax expense for the year.
Apple has an investment banking department that is active in initial public offerings (IPOs). George Arnold, CFA, is the senior manager of the IPO department.
Arnold approached Connor about Stock D, a new IPO being offered by Apple. Stock D will open trading in two days. Apple had offered the IPO to all of its clients, but approximately 20% of the deal remained unsold. Having read the prospectus, Connor thinks Stock D would be a good fit for his fund, and he expects Stock D to improve his performance in both the short and long term. Connor is not aware of any information related to Stock D beyond that provided in the prospectus.
Connor asked to purchase 5% of the IPO, but Arnold limited Biogene's share to 2%, explaining:
"With Biogene's reputation, any participation will make the unsold shares highly marketable. Further, we may need Biogene to acquire more Stock D shares at a later date if the price does not hold up."
Connor is disappointed in being limited to 2% of the offering and suggests to Arnold in an e-mail that, given the 2% limitation, Biogene will not participate in the
IPO. Arnold responded a few hours later with the following message:
"I have just spoken with Ms. D, the CFO of Stock D. Although it is too late to alter the prospectus, management believes they will receive a large contract from a foreign government that will boost next year's sales by 20% or more. I urge you to accept the 2%""you won't be sorry!"
After reviewing Arnold's e-mail, Connor agrees to the 2% offer.
By executing Transaction A, Connor is:

Charles Connor, CFA, is a portfolio manager at Apple Investments, LLC. Apple is a U.S.-based firm offering a wide spectrum of investment products and services.
Connor manages the Biogene Fund, a domestic equity fund specializing in small capitalization growth stocks. The Biogene Fund generally takes significant positions in stocks, commonly owning 4.5-5% of the outstanding shares. The fund's prospectus limits positions to a maximum of 5% of the shares outstanding.
The performance of the Biogene Fund has been superior over the last few years, but for the last two quarters the fund has underperformed its benchmark by a wide margin. Connor is determined to improve his performance numbers going forward.
The Biogene prospectus allows Connor to use derivative instruments in his investment strategy. Connor frequently uses options to hedge his fund's exposure as he builds or liquidates positions in his portfolio since Biogene's large positions often take several weeks to acquire. For example, when he identifies a stock to buy, he often buys call options to gain exposure to the stock. As he buys the stock, he sells off the options or allows them to expire. Connor has noticed that the increased volume in the call options often drives the stock price higher for a few days. He has seen a similar negative effect on stock prices when he buys large amounts of put options.
The end of the quarter is just a few days away, and Connor is considering three transactions:
Transaction A: Buying Put Options on Stock A
The Biogene Fund owns 4,9% of the outstanding stock of Company A, but Connor believes the stock is fully valued and plans to sell the entire position. He anticipates that it will take approximately 45 trading days to liquidate the entire Biogene position in Stock A.
The Biogene Fund owns 5% of the outstanding stock of Company B. Connor believes there is significant appreciation potential for Stock B, but the stock price has dropped in recent weeks. Connor is hoping that by taking an option position, there will be a carryover effect on ihe stock price before quarter end.
Transaction C: Selling the Biogene Fund's Entire Position in .Stock C
Connor believes that Stock C is still attractive, but he is selling the stock with the idea that he will repurchase the position next month. The motivation for the transaction is to capture a capital loss that will reduce the Biogene Fund's tax expense for the year.
Apple has an investment banking department that is active in initial public offerings (IPOs). George Arnold, CFA, is the senior manager of the IPO department.
Arnold approached Connor about Stock D, a new IPO being offered by Apple. Stock D will open trading in two days. Apple had offered the IPO to all of its clients, but approximately 20% of the deal remained unsold. Having read the prospectus, Connor thinks Stock D would be a good fit for his fund, and he expects Stock D to improve his performance in both the short and long term. Connor is not aware of any information related to Stock D beyond that provided in the prospectus.
Connor asked to purchase 5% of the IPO, but Arnold limited Biogene's share to 2%, explaining:
"With Biogene's reputation, any participation will make the unsold shares highly marketable. Further, we may need Biogene to acquire more Stock D shares at a later date if the price does not hold up."
Connor is disappointed in being limited to 2% of the offering and suggests to Arnold in an e-mail that, given the 2% limitation, Biogene will not participate in the
IPO. Arnold responded a few hours later with the following message:
"I have just spoken with Ms. D, the CFO of Stock D. Although it is too late to alter the prospectus, management believes they will receive a large contract from a foreign government that will boost next year's sales by 20% or more. I urge you to accept the 2%""you won't be sorry!"
After reviewing Arnold's e-mail, Connor agrees to the 2% offer.
By executing Transaction B, Connor is:

Charles Connor, CFA, is a portfolio manager at Apple Investments, LLC. Apple is a U.S.-based firm offering a wide spectrum of investment products and services.
Connor manages the Biogene Fund, a domestic equity fund specializing in small capitalization growth stocks. The Biogene Fund generally takes significant positions in stocks, commonly owning 4.5-5% of the outstanding shares. The fund's prospectus limits positions to a maximum of 5% of the shares outstanding.
The performance of the Biogene Fund has been superior over the last few years, but for the last two quarters the fund has underperformed its benchmark by a wide margin. Connor is determined to improve his performance numbers going forward.
The Biogene prospectus allows Connor to use derivative instruments in his investment strategy. Connor frequently uses options to hedge his fund's exposure as he builds or liquidates positions in his portfolio since Biogene's large positions often take several weeks to acquire. For example, when he identifies a stock to buy, he often buys call options to gain exposure to the stock. As he buys the stock, he sells off the options or allows them to expire. Connor has noticed that the increased volume in the call options often drives the stock price higher for a few days. He has seen a similar negative effect on stock prices when he buys large amounts of put options.
The end of the quarter is just a few days away, and Connor is considering three transactions:
Transaction A: Buying Put Options on Stock A
The Biogene Fund owns 4,9% of the outstanding stock of Company A, but Connor believes the stock is fully valued and plans to sell the entire position. He anticipates that it will take approximately 45 trading days to liquidate the entire Biogene position in Stock A.
The Biogene Fund owns 5% of the outstanding stock of Company B. Connor believes there is significant appreciation potential for Stock B, but the stock price has dropped in recent weeks. Connor is hoping that by taking an option position, there will be a carryover effect on ihe stock price before quarter end.
Transaction C: Selling the Biogene Fund's Entire Position in .Stock C
Connor believes that Stock C is still attractive, but he is selling the stock with the idea that he will repurchase the position next month. The motivation for the transaction is to capture a capital loss that will reduce the Biogene Fund's tax expense for the year.
Apple has an investment banking department that is active in initial public offerings (IPOs). George Arnold, CFA, is the senior manager of the IPO department.
Arnold approached Connor about Stock D, a new IPO being offered by Apple. Stock D will open trading in two days. Apple had offered the IPO to all of its clients, but approximately 20% of the deal remained unsold. Having read the prospectus, Connor thinks Stock D would be a good fit for his fund, and he expects Stock D to improve his performance in both the short and long term. Connor is not aware of any information related to Stock D beyond that provided in the prospectus.
Connor asked to purchase 5% of the IPO, but Arnold limited Biogene's share to 2%, explaining:
"With Biogene's reputation, any participation will make the unsold shares highly marketable. Further, we may need Biogene to acquire more Stock D shares at a later date if the price does not hold up."
Connor is disappointed in being limited to 2% of the offering and suggests to Arnold in an e-mail that, given the 2% limitation, Biogene will not participate in the
IPO. Arnold responded a few hours later with the following message:
"I have just spoken with Ms. D, the CFO of Stock D. Although it is too late to alter the prospectus, management believes they will receive a large contract from a foreign government that will boost next year's sales by 20% or more. I urge you to accept the 2%""you won't be sorry!"
After reviewing Arnold's e-mail, Connor agrees to the 2% offer.
By executing Transaction C, Connor is:

Charles Connor, CFA, is a portfolio manager at Apple Investments, LLC. Apple is a U.S.-based firm offering a wide spectrum of investment products and services.
Connor manages the Biogene Fund, a domestic equity fund specializing in small capitalization growth stocks. The Biogene Fund generally takes significant positions in stocks, commonly owning 4.5-5% of the outstanding shares. The fund's prospectus limits positions to a maximum of 5% of the shares outstanding.
The performance of the Biogene Fund has been superior over the last few years, but for the last two quarters the fund has underperformed its benchmark by a wide margin. Connor is determined to improve his performance numbers going forward.
The Biogene prospectus allows Connor to use derivative instruments in his investment strategy. Connor frequently uses options to hedge his fund's exposure as he builds or liquidates positions in his portfolio since Biogene's large positions often take several weeks to acquire. For example, when he identifies a stock to buy, he often buys call options to gain exposure to the stock. As he buys the stock, he sells off the options or allows them to expire. Connor has noticed that the increased volume in the call options often drives the stock price higher for a few days. He has seen a similar negative effect on stock prices when he buys large amounts of put options.
The end of the quarter is just a few days away, and Connor is considering three transactions:
Transaction A: Buying Put Options on Stock A
The Biogene Fund owns 4,9% of the outstanding stock of Company A, but Connor believes the stock is fully valued and plans to sell the entire position. He anticipates that it will take approximately 45 trading days to liquidate the entire Biogene position in Stock A.
The Biogene Fund owns 5% of the outstanding stock of Company B. Connor believes there is significant appreciation potential for Stock B, but the stock price has dropped in recent weeks. Connor is hoping that by taking an option position, there will be a carryover effect on ihe stock price before quarter end.
Transaction C: Selling the Biogene Fund's Entire Position in .Stock C
Connor believes that Stock C is still attractive, but he is selling the stock with the idea that he will repurchase the position next month. The motivation for the transaction is to capture a capital loss that will reduce the Biogene Fund's tax expense for the year.
Apple has an investment banking department that is active in initial public offerings (IPOs). George Arnold, CFA, is the senior manager of the IPO department.
Arnold approached Connor about Stock D, a new IPO being offered by Apple. Stock D will open trading in two days. Apple had offered the IPO to all of its clients, but approximately 20% of the deal remained unsold. Having read the prospectus, Connor thinks Stock D would be a good fit for his fund, and he expects Stock D to improve his performance in both the short and long term. Connor is not aware of any information related to Stock D beyond that provided in the prospectus.
Connor asked to purchase 5% of the IPO, but Arnold limited Biogene's share to 2%, explaining:
"With Biogene's reputation, any participation will make the unsold shares highly marketable. Further, we may need Biogene to acquire more Stock D shares at a later date if the price does not hold up."
Connor is disappointed in being limited to 2% of the offering and suggests to Arnold in an e-mail that, given the 2% limitation, Biogene will not participate in the
IPO. Arnold responded a few hours later with the following message:
"I have just spoken with Ms. D, the CFO of Stock D. Although it is too late to alter the prospectus, management believes they will receive a large contract from a foreign government that will boost next year's sales by 20% or more. I urge you to accept the 2%""you won't be sorry!"
After reviewing Arnold's e-mail, Connor agrees to the 2% offer.
By offering Biogene the opportunity to participate in the IPO of Stock D, Apple Investments has violated CFA Institute Standards relating to: