Lehman Brothers Holdings was a global financial services firm which, until declaring bankruptcy in 2008, participated in business in investment banking, equity and fixedincome sales, research and trading, investment management, private equity, and private banking. On September 15, 2008, the firm filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection following a technical run and a significant devaluation of its assets by credit rating agencies. Previously valued at over $60 per share, Lehman was now being traded in pennies. Your reading and research on the failure of the Lehman group will help you to answer the questions below and understand the substantive reason for financial regulation.
1. Identify and discuss the weakness in Lehman's governance practices.
a. What was the quality of the reporting to the Board by management?
b. What was Lehman's treatment of internal limits and risk management mechanisms in an attempt to boost profitability?
2. What is leverage? Was Lehman leverage ratio consistent with that considered safe by regulators? What prevented Lehman from being able to safely and quickly deleverage?
3. List and discuss the financial events led to the erosion of Lehman's capital base?
4. Define stress testing. What weaknesses & unusual practices were identified as it relates to Lehman's stress testing.