Ask Financial Management Expert

The article “Fin-tech” (The Economist, Jan 26, 2016) traces today’s venture capital industry to 19th century whaling firms in and around New Bedford, Massachusetts. It describes these firms as “the first venture capitalists” and argues that, while whaling soon disappeared,

“the business structures pioneered in New Bedford remain as relevant as they ever were. Without them, the tech booms of the 1990s and today would not have been possible.”

It then goes on to describe the following system:

“At the top of the New Bedford hierarchy was an agent or firm of agents like Gideon Allen, responsible for the purchase and outfitting of the ship, the hiring of the crew and the sale of the catch. To give them an incentive to cut the best deals possible, the agents put up a big share of the investment. Those with the best reputation received better terms from the other investors. Captains, who ran the show while the ship was at sea, often put up capital as well. A similar system of incentives is used in the riskier reaches of the investment-management business today, notes Mr Nicholas.

Investors received half to two-thirds of the profits. The rest was divided among the crew in what was known as the “lay” system. A captain might get a 12th lay (one-twelfth of the remaining profit). In Melville’s novel, Ishmael, who was new to the business, was originally offered a 777th lay but managed to haggle a 300th. Although that would probably have proved a paltry amount, it was a stake nonetheless, and set a benchmark for future pay. Ishmael’s friend Queequeg, a cannibal from the South Sea islands, got a 90th lay because he had experience with a harpoon.”

Suppose the investors in Melville’s novel got two-thirds of the profits. What was the sensitivity of pay to performance of the pay package that Ishmael managed to negotiate (where performance is measured by profits)? Enter your answer in percent (e.g. if you think the answer is 25.75% enter 25.75).

Financial Management, Finance

  • Category:- Financial Management
  • Reference No.:- M92341932

Have any Question?


Related Questions in Financial Management

Assignment problems1 on the day harry was born his parents

Assignment Problems 1. On the day Harry was born, his parents put $1600 into an investment account that promises to pay a fixed interest rate of 5 percent per year. How much money will Harry have in this account when he ...

1 activities of a company that require the spending of cash

1) Activities of a company that require the spending of cash are known as: A) Uses of cash. B) Cash on hand. C) Cash receipts. D) Sources of cash. E) Cash collections. 2) Relationships determined from a firm's financial ...

Module discussion forumto prepare for this discussion

Module : Discussion Forum To prepare for this discussion, review "Basics of Speechwriting" and "Basics of Giving a Speech" in textbook Chapter 15. Then watch this video of Apple founder and CEO Steve Jobs giving the 2005 ...

Launching a new product linefor this portfolio project

Launching a New Product Line For this Portfolio Project Option, you will act as an employee in a large company that develops and distributes men's and women's personal care products. The company has developed a new produ ...

Question 1 discuss valuing bonds and how interest rates

Question : 1) Discuss valuing bonds and how interest rates affect their value. Also consider the importance of the yield-to-maturity (YTM). 2) Discuss common stocks and preferred stocks. Also, which common stock valuatio ...

Introductionlast week you determined the root causes of the

Introduction Last week, you determined the root cause(s) of the problem you are trying to resolve for your final paper. As a reminder, the decision you are working on is the one that you selected in week two. This week, ...

You have owned and operated a successful brick-and-mortar

You have owned and operated a successful brick-and-mortar business for several years. Due to increased competition from other retailers, you have decided to expand your operations to sell your products via the Internet. ...

You will be conducting an interview with a market research

You will be conducting an interview with a market research professional or a company representative. Use the results of your research to make specific recommendations on how market research can be applied to the Marketpl ...

Question 1 what is marketing research what are the two

Question 1: What is marketing research? What are the two primary types of research? Question 2: What factors influence marketing research? Question 3: The role of statistics in business decision-making? Assignment : Sele ...

Chapter 74 for commercial banks what is meant by a managed

Chapter 7 4. For commercial banks, what is meant by a managed liability? What role do liquid assets play on the balance sheet of commercial banks? What role do money market instruments play in the asset and liability man ...

  • 4,153,160 Questions Asked
  • 13,132 Experts
  • 2,558,936 Questions Answered

Ask Experts for help!!

Looking for Assignment Help?

Start excelling in your Courses, Get help with Assignment

Write us your full requirement for evaluation and you will receive response within 20 minutes turnaround time.

Ask Now Help with Problems, Get a Best Answer

Why might a bank avoid the use of interest rate swaps even

Why might a bank avoid the use of interest rate swaps, even when the institution is exposed to significant interest rate

Describe the difference between zero coupon bonds and

Describe the difference between zero coupon bonds and coupon bonds. Under what conditions will a coupon bond sell at a p

Compute the present value of an annuity of 880 per year

Compute the present value of an annuity of $ 880 per year for 16 years, given a discount rate of 6 percent per annum. As

Compute the present value of an 1150 payment made in ten

Compute the present value of an $1,150 payment made in ten years when the discount rate is 12 percent. (Do not round int

Compute the present value of an annuity of 699 per year

Compute the present value of an annuity of $ 699 per year for 19 years, given a discount rate of 6 percent per annum. As