Leverage and Risk Financing in Corporate Financial Management: A Report on a Public Listed Company

Brief History of the Chosen Corporation

Write a report discussing leverage and risk financing in corporate financial management. In particular, you need to choose a public listed company and write a report which could include:

1)A brief history of the chosen corporation, including  an outline of the key corporate events over the past five years (e.g. any M&A, change of directors, significant increases/decreases of earnings, litigation cases/financial penalties).

2)Calculate and evaluate the corporation’s leverage ratio(s) for the past 5 years;

3)Compare the calculated leverage ratio(s) to the ratios of major competitor(s) and/or sector average if possible;

4)A brief review the alternative capital structure theories.

The assignment topic will be discussed in more details in the class after the topic is released, and questions of the assignment will also be answered.

You should provide evidence for your argument from different sources. All sources must be referenced. Any source which can be referenced in English is acceptable. You should keep the total number of words strictly to less than 2,000 words and submit online to CANVAS.

Your work is of an exceptionally high standard which has the potential for submission for publication in a peer reviewed journal or equivalent.  

Your work demonstrates a sophisticated and comprehensive knowledge of the subject area. You have shown an exceptional ability in the appropriate use of the relevant literature, theory, methodologies, practices or tools to analyse and synthesise at Masters level. Your work is well-constructed and demonstrates a professional approach to academic practice (citation and referencing; appropriate presentation format; clear, accurate English). It addresses the learning outcomes/assessment criteria fully.

Your work demonstrates strong knowledge of the subject area and the ability to develop an independent and sophisticated argument or evaluation. The ideas you put forward demonstrate exceptional clarity and focus and your work adheres to the principles of good academic practice (citation and referencing; appropriate presentation format; clear, accurate English). It addresses the learning outcomes/assessment criteria fully.

Your work demonstrates a well-developed critical and comprehensive understanding of the topic.  It shows evidence that you have thoroughly researched the topic(s) and are able to construct an independent, logical argument or evaluation.  Your work demonstrates a high degree of ability in the appropriate use of relevant literature, theory, methodologies, practices or tools to analyse and synthesise at Masters level.  Your work is well-structured and logically written and demonstrates good academic practice (citation and referencing; appropriate presentation format; clear, accurate English). There is a good attempt to address the learning outcomes/assessment criteria, meeting all of them to some extent and some of them well.

Your work demonstrates knowledge of the subject area and the ability to develop an independent, logical argument or evaluation.  It shows competence in the appropriate use of literature, theory, methodologies, practices or tools. The development of some ideas in your work is limited but it attempts to analyse materials critically. At times the expression and structure of your work is not clear and you have not consistently followed good academic practice (citation and referencing; presentation format; clear, accurate English).  Your work provides some level of response to the learning outcomes/assessment criteria but does not fully address all of the criteria.

Your work contains some weaknesses.  It provides some evidence that you have understood the topic and that you are able structure arguments or evaluation.  Your work demonstrates some ability in the appropriate use of literature, theory, methodologies, practices or tools but not at Masters level.  Your work fails to address one or more criteria fully.