DEGREE: MSc.

Finance And Investments

Module: Mergers and Acquisitions Private Equity

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Assignment Title: Mergers and Acquisitions
Assignment Type:
Word Limit: 3000 words (+/- 300)
Weighting: 100%
Issue Date: 02.12.2021
Submission Date: 08.02.2022
Feedback Date: 22.02.2022

Issued by:
Dr. Amina Momin
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Plagiarism:
When submitting work for assessment, students should be aware of the
InterActive/Canvas guidance and regulations in concerning plagiarism. All submissions
should be your own, original work.
You must submit an electronic copy of your work. Your submission will be
electronically checked.

Learner declaration

I certify that the work submitted for this assignment is my own and research sources
are fully acknowledged.

Student signature: Date:

Harvard Referencing:
The Harvard Referencing System must be used. The Wikipedia, UKEssays.com or
similar websites must not be used or referenced in your work.

1
Introduction

Learning Outcomes:

LO1 Critically analyse the relative importance of different types of drivers of mergers and
acquisitions and private equity.

LO2 Discuss value creation and critically assess the success or otherwise of a range of
mergers and acquisitions and private equity using leading edge research and advanced
scholarship.

LO3 Critically analyse the current mergers and acquisitions and private equity
strategies of a selected global organisation; provide and critically appraise creative and
innovative suggestions for improvement of these practices.

LO4 Critically evaluate the relative importance of the key elements in successful mergers and
acquisitions and private equity transactions.

Assessment Criteria: Weighting 100%

3000 words

Tasks (All tasks are equally weighted):

Task 1: Describe in brief the common aspects examined in Due Diligence by the acquirer team during
Mergers with references.

Task 2: Explain the concept of takeovers. State and explain the different types of takeover strategies
with relevant examples.

2
GUIDANCE ON ASSESSMENT
All materials must be properly referenced under Harvard conventions. The length required is 3000 words with tasks equally weighted. The writing style should be formal academic /
report writing style with in-text referencing to support your comments and observations. Originality, quality of argument and good structure are required. The report should demonstrate
sound understanding and ability to apply knowledge and theory of Mergers and Acquisitions. Additional marks being awarded for juxtaposition and insight of issues.
Grading Criteria
Generic Criteria
Knowledge of contexts,
concepts, technologies and
processes
The extent to which knowledge
is demonstrated:
relevant contextual or
theoretical issues are identified,
defined and described
historical or contemporary
practices are identified, defined
and described
appropriate technologies,
methods and processes are
identified, defined and
described
Level 7
Understanding through
application of knowledge
The degree to which
research methods are
demonstrated:
relevant knowledge and
information is compared,
contrasted, manipulated,
translated and interpreted
knowledge and information
is selected, analysed,
synthesized and evaluated
in order to generate
creative ideas, solutions,
arguments or hypotheses
90 – 100 80 - 89
Exceptional and Excellent and highly
remarkable critical sophisticated critical
understanding of current understanding of current
issues and historical issues and historical
contexts demonstrating contexts demonstrating
knowledge at the forefront knowledge
of the discipline at the forefront of the
discipline
Exceptional and highly
original understanding of An excellent and highly
techniques methods and impressive understanding
processes of techniques, materials
and processes
Exceptional and Excellent and highly
remarkable demonstration sophisticated
of research methods which demonstration of research
generate highly developed methods leading to
critical insights into impressive critical insights
existing knowledge into existing knowledge
Exceptional and
remarkable critical Excellent and highly
evaluation of existing sophisticated critical
knowledge leading directly evaluation of existing
to new hypotheses knowledge working
towards new hypotheses
Exceptional and
remarkable judgements Excellent and highly
made in relation to sophisticated judgements
creative practice, current made in relation to
ideas, arguments and creative practice, current
hypotheses ideas, arguments and
hypotheses
70 – 79
Comprehensive critical
understanding of current issues
and historical contexts much of
which is at, or informed by, the
forefront of the discipline.
Comprehensive knowledge of
techniques and processes, and a
critical understanding of their
potential to advance scholarship
in the discipline.
Rigorous use of established
methods of research combined
with the ability to generate new
concepts or insights into existing
knowledge.
Critical evaluation of current
knowledge to evaluate
methodological practices and
propose new hypotheses.
Carefully considered
judgements on highly complex
or ‘under-researched’ problems
showing evidence of systematic
analysis and deduction and
creative processes to resolve
them.
60 - 69
Significant
understanding of current
issues and historical
contexts, much of which is
at, or informed by, the
forefront of the discipline.
Significant knowledge of the
techniques and processes
applicable to understanding
research and advanced
scholarship in the discipline
Confident use of established
methods of research
combined with the ability to
recognise new concepts
using existing knowledge.
Critical evaluation of current
knowledge to analyse
methodological practices
and propose hypotheses
Informed judgements made
on highly complex research
problems showing evidence
of systematic analysis and
deduction and creative
processes to resolve them
50 - 59 40 - 49 30 - 39 0 - 29
Sound understanding of Passable understanding Insufficient Very poor
knowledge of current of knowledge of current understanding of demonstration of
issues and historical issues and historical knowledge of the understanding of
contexts, some of which contexts, some of which contextual, historical contextual, historical
is at, or informed by, the is at, or informed by, the or theoretical issues or theoretical issues
forefront of the forefront of the that inform the that inform the
discipline. discipline. discipline. discipline.
Sound knowledge of the Acceptable knowledge of
techniques and processes the techniques and Insufficient Very weak knowledge
applicable to research processes applicable to knowledge of of technologies,
and advanced scholarship research and advanced techniques methods and processes
in the discipline scholarship in the applicable to
discipline research and
advanced scholarship
in the discipline.
Sound use of established Passable use of Insufficient use of Inability to use and
methods of research to established methods of existing interpret existing
develop and interpret research to develop and methodologies to research
existing knowledge. interpret existing develop knowledge. methodologies
knowledge.
Inability to fully
Critical evaluation of Evidence of critical understand or
current knowledge and evaluation of current interpret relevant
recognition of knowledge and knowledge and
methodological practices. recognition of methodological Little or no ability to
methodological practices. practices. evaluate existing
Sound judgements made knowledge
on complex research Passable judgements
problems showing made on complex Research problems
evidence of systematic research problems are insufficiently Inability to define a
analysis and deduction showing evidence of complex and require research problem and
and creative processes to systematic analysis and mainly routine to generate solutions
resolve them. deduction and creative analytic and creative or hypotheses through
processes to resolve processes to resolve research and practice
them. them.
3
Application of technical
and professional skills
The degree to which:
appropriate materials and
media are selected, tested
and utilised to realise and
present ideas and solutions
appropriate technologies,
methods and processes are
demonstrated
transferable, professional
skills are effectively
demonstrated
self management and
independent learning are
demonstrated
Exceptional and Excellent and highly Evidence of a high level of Evidence of the critical and Evidence of the critical Evidence of the critical Inability to Very poor ability to
remarkable critical and sophisticated critical and critical and evaluative skills in evaluative skills necessary and evaluative skills and evaluative skills demonstrate the apply appropriate
evaluative skills utilised evaluative skills utilised order to create original solutions to construct solutions to a necessary to identify necessary to identify critical and materials and media to
leading to highly original leading to impressive to a range of highly complex range of complex problems solutions to a range of solutions to a range of evaluative skills present ideas and
solutions to very complex solutions to very complex problems. complex problems. varied problems. necessary to identify solutions
problems problems solutions to
Application of advanced Application of advanced problems
Outstanding application of Highly impressive skills, techniques and processes skills, techniques and Application of advanced Application of advanced
advanced technical skills application of advanced that challenge knowledge and processes that contribute to skills techniques and skills techniques and Very poor judgement
that fundamentally technical skills that understanding of the discipline. knowledge and processes that sustain processes that sustain Insufficient ability to shown in choice of
challenges current challenge current understanding of the independent learning in independent learning in demonstrate the methods and processes
understanding and understanding and Demonstration of a very high discipline. the discipline. the discipline. skills necessary for
practices practices level of professionalism, self- sustained
management and independent Demonstration of a Clear demonstration of Acceptable independent learning Inability to manage
Exceptional and Excellent demonstration of learning competent level of professionalism, self- demonstration of self, meet deadlines,
remarkable demonstration professionalism, self- professionalism, self- management and professionalism, self- work professionally
of professionalism, self- management and management and independent learning management and Insufficient evidence and independently
management and independent learning independent learning independent learning of professional and
independent learning transferable skills