Activision Blizzard, Inc., reported the following in the notes to its financial statements.
Stock Split-In July, the Board of Directors approved a two-for-one split of our outstanding common shares effected in the form of a stock dividend ("the split"). The split was paid September 5 to shareholders of record as of August 25. The par value of our common stock was maintained at the pre-split amount of $.000001 per share.
Required:
1. Describe the effects that this transaction would have had on the company's financial statements. Assume that 600 million shares were outstanding at the time of the transaction, trading at a stock price of $33.
2. Why might the board of directors have decided to declare a stock dividend rather than a stock split?