Company management, especially in established corporations, will formulate a policy that is often called a distribution policy or a payout policy. This policy specifies what management intends to do with the company’s profits and any free cash flow (FCF) generated by the firm. The objective is to create a distribution policy that increases the value of the firm and maximizes the wealth of the firm’s shareholders.

Which of the following factors affects management’s decisions regarding a firm’s distribution policy? Check all that apply.

The level of payout to shareholders that is sustainable in the future

The method of payment to shareholders—cash or stocks

The level of reinvestment in Treasury bills and bonds

The level of retained earnings to maintain

Management can make any form of distribution to the firm’s shareholders using the company’s free cash flow (FCF). The underlying objective is to maximize shareholder wealth by increasing the firm’s value. Any use of FCF that negatively affects the firm’s value is not considered a good use of the FCF.

Which of the following uses is considered to be a good use of free cash flow? Select the better answer.

a) Pay interest expenses

b) Invest in business facility improvement

Theoretically, there are some traditional ways of using FCF. A company invests 15% of its FCF in marketable securities. This makes it difficult for the firm to access its funds to support its growth.

This statement is false because marketable securities ___________ easily liquidated.