The stockholders’ meeting for Kissinger Corporation has been in progress for some time.

The chief financial officer for Kissinger is presently reviewing the company’s financial statements and is explaining the items that comprise the stockholders’ equity section of the balance sheet for the current year. The stockholders’ equity section of Kissinger Corporation at December 31, 2014, is as follows.
Kissinger Corporation Balance Sheet (partial)
December 31, 2014 Paid-in capital Capital stock Preferred stock, authorized 1,000,000 shares cumulative, $100 par value, $8 per share, 6,000 shares issued and outstanding $ 600,000 Common stock, authorized 5,000,000 shares, $1 par ;value, 3,000,000 shares issued, and 2,700,000 |outstanding 3,000,000 Total capital stock 3,600,000 Additional paid-in capital In excess of par—preferred stock $ 50,000 In excess of par—common stock 25,000,000 Total additional paid-in capital 25,050,000 Total paid-in capital 28,650,000 Retained earnings 900,000 Total paid-in capital and retained earnings 29,550,000 Less: Treasury stock (300,000 common shares) 9,300,000 Total stockholders’ equity $20,250,000 At the meeting, stockholders have raised a number of questions regarding the stockholders’
equity section.
Instructions With the class divided into groups, answer the following questions as if you were the chief financial officer for Kissinger Corporation.

(a) “What does the cumulative provision related to the preferred stock mean?”

(b) “I thought the common stock was presently selling at $29.75, but the company has the stock stated at $1 per share. How can that be?”

(c) “Why is the company buying back its common stock? Furthermore, the treasury stock has a debit balance because it is subtracted from stockholders’ equity. Why is treasury stock not reported as an asset if it has a debit balance?”
Communication Activity