Dividend constraints

The Howe Company's stockholders' equity account is as follows:

Common stock (600,000 shares at $4 par) $2,400,000   

Paid-in capital in excess of par                          3,000,000

Retained earnings 1,700,000

Total stockholders' equity                                  $7,100,000

The earnings available for common stockholders from this period's operations are $100,000, which have been included as part of the $1.71 million retained earnings.

a. What is the maximum dividend per share that the firm can pay? (Assume that legal capital includes all paid-in capital.)

b. If the firm has $180,000 in cash, what is the largest per-share dividend it can pay without borrowing?

c. Indicate the accounts and changes, if any, that will result if the firm pays the dividends indicated in parts a and b.

d. Indicate the effects of an $80,000 cash dividend on stockholders' equity.