You are required to prepare/submit an individual report discussing the following:
Choose a Multinational Enterprise (MNE) listed on an internationally recognised Stock Exchange (including for example, London, Dublin, New York). You are required to:
a. Evaluate two recent developments in the international financial environment which appear to have impacted on your chosen company’s recent performance and development. Analyse how these two developments are likely to impact on the company in the near future. (12 marks)
b. Discuss the following key elements of the MNE’s international financial and/or risk management strategy (and how they appear to have affected the financial performance of your chosen company):
• Sources of finance
• Dividend policy (16 marks)
c. With reference to your chosen Multinational Enterprise (and using the most recent annual report published), analyse the financial performance (in terms of profitability, liquidity, efficiency and investment) of the company in the two most recent consecutive financial periods( e.g. 2020/21 or 2021/22, ) using 8 different accounting ratios (prior year comparative figures will be available in the annual report). (32 marks)
Notes:
(i) You have to choose a multinational company from the companies list spreadsheet provided as a shared link in the Assessment section. When you click the link, you will find separate sheets for the London and Birmingham campus. Each campus list will have their relevant groups. Make sure to go the correct campus and then correct group to register your choice. To register, type your name in the cell against the name of the company. Your name will be saved automatically.
(ii) One company in a group can be chosen by maximum 2 students
(iii) You are only allowed to register your choice for 1 company.
(iv) A folder containing the annual reports can be found in the Assessment section in Blackboard.
(v) It is advisable to choose your multinational company from the list by registering your choice and download the most recent annual report by the end of week 1 – this will facilitate your preparation and allow you to effectively participate in weekly class activities;
Assessment Guidelines
1) The assignment may take the form of an individual written word-processed briefing report of not more than 2500 words, including title page, contents page, intext references and citations, but excluding tables, reference list and appendices.
2) Detailed guidance will be given in the tutorials in weeks 7 to 10, to explore the factors for your chosen case study and provide advice on the use of mediums/technologies for this assessment exercise.
3) This element of coursework accounts for 60% of the overall assessment. Students should refer to the marking criteria attached to provide them with fuller details of marking criteria for each classification band.
