Dublin Business School

Assessment Brief

Assessment Task : NB refer to Marking Scheme

Lecturer will assign you a FTSE [LONDON] listed company.

Requirements

1. Analyse and discuss its financial performance and financial position. Your analysis will be supported by appropriate and relevant ratio calculations and explanatory comments. Trends should be identified and analysed. All workings to be presented.                                                                                                                                     60 marks
2. Recommend TWO initiatives the company might take in order to improve the position as shown by your analysis of the ratios. 20 marks
3. A competitor organisation wishes to buy 10% of your company’s shares.

Estimate the value of a 10% stake, using at least two valuation methods, showing and explaining your workings.                                                                                               20 marks

                                                                                                                                    Total = 100 marks

Listed FTSE [London] companies

http://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/prices-and-markets/stocks/indices/constituents-indices.html?index=UKX

Further Information

1. Merely computing ratios and observing whether they are improving/disimproving is NOT analysis – the requirement is to establish WHY the ratios are trending as they are. It is STRONGLY recommended that you examine competitors’ ratios, seek industry norms, and source published professional opinions [eg brokers’ / investment reports]. Please refer to Marking Scheme.

2. The lecturer has at his disposal, academic software which compares each assignment with every previous assignment. Any instance of collusion / academic impropriety will be dealt with severely.

Other Requirements :

1. Word count to be noted on front page of submission, together with name and number

2. Late Submissions: Assignments submitted after the latest deadline (date and time) specified, including any extension, are deemed to be ‘late’ and are penalised, as per regulations.

3. Extensions to assignment submission deadlines will be not be granted, other than in exceptional circumstances. To apply for an extension please go to http://www.dbs-students.com/Registrar/ and download the Assignment Extension Request Form.  Once completed this form should then be returned to your Programme Leader, for approval.

4. Students are required to retain a copy of each assignment submitted, and the submission receipt (If a physical submission is required) until the issuing of a transcript indicating the mark awarded.

5. Students are required to refer to the assessment regulations in their Student Guides and on the Student Website.

6.                   Dublin Business School penalises students who engage in academic impropriety (i.e. plagiarism, collusion and/or copying). It is STRONGLY recommended that you attend a referencing advisory session [provided by the Library].

7.                   To prevent plagiarism please follow this link to the Harvard Style Referencing Guide – all referencing is required in this format.

http://issuu.com/dbslibrary/docs/harvard-referencing-guide/1?mode=a_p

(Guide on referencing is also available under DBS library guides at www.library.dbs.ie)

8. In relation to electronic submissions:

1. All assignments should be submitted to your subject/course page on Moodle by the deadline date.
2. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure their file is uploaded correctly.
3. When an assignment is submitted, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the file is in the correct format and opens correctly.
4. When you submit your assignment you will be asked to click on a button which will declare the following:

By submitting this assignment I confirm that I am aware of DBS’s policy regarding cheating, plagiarism and all other forms of academic impropriety.  The coursework submitted is my own or my group’s work, and all other sources consulted have been appropriately acknowledged.   I am aware that in the case of doubt an investigation will be held.

1. Include an electronic cover sheet with the following details to the front of the assignment:

Electronic Assignment Cover sheet

Please fill out and attach as the first page of Assignment.

Student (s) Number as per your student card:

____________________________                                             __________________________

____________________________                                             __________________________

_____________________________                                           __________________________

Course Title:

Lecturer Name:

Module/Subject Title:

Assignment Title:

No of Words:

Marking Scheme – Individual Assignment

Q1

1. Computation of 5 sets of ratios over at least 3 years = 10 marks

2. Interpretation of ratios to include competitor comparison, industry standards, researched professional opinion = 50 marks

Q2

3. Two well argued and explained initiatives, 10 marks each

Q3

4. Valuation of 10% investment – needs 2 methods – 10 marks each