Bill Gross, a manager of a bond investment fund, “denounced a ‘lack in candor’ related to GE’s recent debt deal.” He said, “it was the most recent and most egregious example of how bondholders are mistreated.” Gross argued that GE was not forthright when GE Capital recently issued $11 billion in bonds, one of the largest issues ever from a U.S. corporation. What bothered Gross is that three days after the issue the company announced its intention to sell as much as $50 billion in additional debt, warrants, preferred stock, guarantees, letters of credit, and promissory notes at some future date.”
In your opinion, did GE Capital act unethically by selling $11 billion of long-term debt without telling those investors that a few days later it would be filing documents to prepare for another $50 billion debt offering? Please explain why the action is unethical and if the action is illegal as well.