Section 1

This part is weighted at 80% of marks available for this project assignment, contributing a maximum of 40% of the total marks available for this module. There is one requirement in this section. Your response to the requirement should be between 4,000 and 4,800 words. Penalties apply for exceeding the word count. No formal penalties apply for using fewer than 4,000 words but in so doing you may be penalizing yourself as it is likely to be challenging to respond to the requirement in less than 4,000 words. State an accurate word count at the end of this Part. Failure to do so will result in 5 marks being deducted from your score.

Context and Requirement Context

This assignment draws upon topics covered in Theme 5 of the programme. In the current financial environment Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) activity is high and conglomerate as well as cross-border (international) mergers are common. In any M&A activity it is imperative that the management of the acquiring firm persuade the shareholders of the target firm that their offer is best and will enhance value in the longer run. It is generally believed that shareholders in the target company gain more in the short and medium terms compared to shareholders in the acquiring company.

Required

Critically assess the view that shareholders in the target company gain more in the short and medium term compared to shareholders in the acquiring company. Your answers should include relevant examples. Your conclusions should review the “who gains” and “who loses” in the short, medium and longer terms and whether the gains, if they exist, are found in all cases. In responding to this requirement, you should certainly refer to relevant MPAcc materials as appropriate. You are encouraged to also draw upon other materials, as appropriate, from journal articles and/or business reports and/or news reports.

Section 2

This part is weighted at 20% of marks available for this project assignment, contributing a maximum of 10% of the total marks available for this module. There is one requirement in this section. Your response to the requirement must be between 1,200 and 2,000 words. Penalties apply for exceeding the word count. No formal penalties apply for using fewer than 2,000 words but in so doing you may be penalizing yourself as it is likely to be challenging to respond to the requirement in less than 2,000 words.

Required

Look back over your studies in this GIFP module made up of six themes. Identify any two ideas from within the six themes, ideas which you feel are relevant to work practice, be that previous work, and/or current work, and/or work you aspire to. Justify the ideas identified for inclusion in your list of two. It may be appropriate to identify ideas which are perhaps very new to you and/or ideas which although you were already familiar with, your studies have thrown new light on them, prompting new insights.