In August 2009, General Electric Corporation agreed to pay $50 million to settle a suit filed by the SEC that said the company “used improper accounting methods to increase its reported earnings or revenue and avoid reporting negative financial results” (From the SEC press release 2009-178, found at www.sec.gov/news/press/2009/2009-178.htm). Go to GE’s Web site at www.ge.com and read about the company’s corporate governance (under Our Company).

What is your impression of its governance, particularly in light of the SEC settlement?