Final answer:
The least desirable reason for investing in securities would be to weaken the company's supply chain, as it does not align with the goal of long-term growth and sustainability of the company.
Step-by-step explanation:
The least desirable business reason for a company to invest in debt or equity securities is to weaken the investing company's supply chain. Investing in debt and equity securities is generally undertaken for reasons such as to generate investment income, to invest short-term excess cash, or to pursue certain business strategies. However, weakening one's own supply chain would be counterproductive and not serve the interests of the company's long-term sustainability and growth, making it an undesirable motive.
Companies can access financial capital by borrowing through loans or issuing bonds, both of which incur scheduled interest payments irrespective of the company's profitability, potentially straining cash flow. A firm maintains control over its operations when borrowing, as opposed to issuing stock, which involves selling a part of the company to the public and giving up some control to the shareholders and a board of directors. This trade-off between control and financial obligations is crucial in strategic planning.