In its 2001 annual report, investors of Adelphia Communications were startled to find a footnote to its financial statements that reported the company had guaranteed as much as $2.7 billion in loans to a private entity owned by CEO John Rigas and his family. As a result of the footnote, Adelphia lost more than 50 percent of its market value in little more than a week.

Required:
Explain why you think the market value of Adelphia fell so dramatically with the footnote disclosure that the company had guaranteed loans to an entity owned by the company's CEO and his family

The transaction of $2.7 billion as a loan lender to a private corporation controlled by the CEO John Rigas plus his family suggests a significant likelihood of asset theft and fraudulent activity. The misappropriation of assets is a sign of a company's financial instability. It implies that people in charge of administration are not using the firm's profits to maximize shareholders' wealth, but rather are advancing the interests of only one shareholder.

As soon as the news reaches the investors, a reasonable investor would sell his stock holdings and divest from the firm. As a result of the bulk of investors' divestment, stock prices have dropped by more than 50% in a week in Adelphia Communications.