Sweet+Opportunities+Project

After you finish reading the client stories in the file, Sweet Opportunities , prepare written recommendations as to which business organization you believe to be best. Provide reasons for their recommendations as well as list at least one negative with suggestions on how to minimize that negative effect.
 * Activity 1: Sweet Opportunities **



In each group research what has happened to the founders and businesses featured in the case studies.
 * Activity 2: ****Sweet Success **

 Read about one of these persons and the business he or she created. Then report their findings about what happened to the entrepreneur and the business. Be sure to include answers to the following questions.
 * 1) History of the company: when was it created, by whom, where and why? (3 slides)
 * 2) Money invested to open business
 * 3) What did they start out selling or making?
 * 4) Etc.
 * 5) What has happened to the founder of the business? (1 slide)
 * 6) Is he or she still involved with the company?
 * 7) What other things has he/she done?
 * 8) Form of Business Ownership (at present)
 * 9) Who owns the business now? How has the ownership of the business changed? (1 slide)
 * 10) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">If so, how and what form of business ownership is it.
 * 11) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">How has the business changed? Grown? (1 slide)
 * 12) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Has the company been involved in any mergers or acquisitions?
 * 13) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sales figures for the company
 * 14) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">What products does the company sell? (1 slide)
 * 15) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Top Selling/ Worst selling product of your company
 * 16) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Etc.
 * 17) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">If the business is a corporation, how much is the stock worth? (1 slide)
 * 18) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">How many shareholders are there?
 * 19) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">How much is the dividend per stock?
 * 20) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">References (1 slide)
 * **[|National Confectioners Association]:** This website will help students research different candy companies, and can direct them to the home pages of these companies.
 * **[|Hoover’s Online Directory]:** If a company has incorporated and is publicly traded, with website will provide more information

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**8. Bakers Chocolate**

 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Activity 3: Private vs. Public Corporations //**

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> A look at Mars, Inc. offers an excellent opportunity to discuss public vs. private corporations. In the 1960s, Forrest Mars, Sr. purchased his stepsister’s interests in Mars, Inc. Owning 80 percent of the company, Forrest then had little problem convincing the rest of the board members to sell their shares to him. Since his death in 1999, his three children have owned and managed the company: Forrest Mars Jr. (President), John Mars (CEO), and Jacqueline Badger Mars (Vice President). As a privately-held (closed) company, Mars, Inc. is not required to report information about its business to the public.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> In contrast, public (open) corporations are required by federal law to disclose information about their finances and operations to anyone interested in reading about them. The purpose of this legislation is to give people information about companies in which they might invest. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is the federal agency that monitors whether public corporations are abiding by the law—providing prospectuses and regular financial reports.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Answer the questions: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">What are the advantages of a privately-held company? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Are there any disadvantages?