Please discuss the following topics.

1. Last August, a group of the nation's most powerful chief executives abandoned the idea that companies must maximize profits for shareholders. Instead, they agreed todeliver value to "stakeholders" who do not necessarily own any shares.They believe companies should commit to balancing the needs of shareholders with customers, employees, suppliers, and local communities. The statement can be found here:https://opportunity.businessroundtable.org/ourcommitment/

What are your thoughts about this new statement? A federal financial regulator sees the Roundtable heading to a "very dangerous place," which will invite outside groups to demand metrics having nothing to do with serving shareholders, customers, or workers. Do you think the statement would change the ways corporations conduct business? Please discuss.

2. On 4/1/2020, Xerox Holdings Corp. announced that it is pulling the plug on its hostile bid to buy larger rival HP Inc. after the coronavirus pandemic undermined the copier maker's ability to pull off the debt-laden merger. Xerox said it is ending both its more than $30 billion tender offer and a proxy fight to replace the printer and PC maker's board. Xerox concluded it is no longer prudent to pursue the deal given the public health crisis and resulting market swoon. News reported earlier that Xerox planned to abandon its efforts. The move puts the kibosh on one of the biggest mergers in the works and underscores the blow that the coronavirus has dealt to the world of deal-making.

Xerox's move to acquire HP, a company three times their size, was considered audacious and, in hindsight, it does not seem surprising that they have ended their efforts. Based on the article, why was Xerox initially confident of its approach?As a result of the COVID-19 crisis, what challenges do you think Xerox faced in the run-up to the method HP shareholders meeting that led to its decision to abort the takeover of HP? Irrespective of the transaction, what are the challenges that the two companies face going forward?