Individual Assignment
Due date : 23.59AEST 17 Sept 2017 weighting : 25%
Word limit : 2,000 words ±10% words excluding references and appendices. Submission : ONLY Via Turnitin using the Turnitin Individual Assignment link.
The 2014/15 annual report for Dick Smith Holdings, a major electronics retailer, published in August 2015 was upbeat about the prospects for the company and yet only 5 months later it went into administration.
The administration was followed by suspension of trading in its shares via the ASX. The company’s press release announcing the administration referred to disappointing sales and cash generation in the second quarter of the 2015/16 financial year. Many small investors have, collectively, lost millions of dollars because of this collapse. Many people are now asking how such positive messages in August can be followed by such disappointing results for the period October to December of the same year and whether the original messages were accurate.
The Chief Executive of the company has subsequently resigned. Many people, including the founder of the company Dick Smith, have also criticized the former owners of the business, Anchorage Capital Partners. The suggestion is that Anchorage Capital Partners misrepresented the true value and prospects of the firm when it listed the business on the ASX in 2013.
Your assignment is to provide:
(i) a brief summary of the ownership history of the Dick Smith brand,
(ii) a critical evaluation of the valuation of DSH when DSH was acquired by Anchorage Capital Partners and at its initial public offering (IPO), and
(iii) An assessment the ethical dilemmas facing two separate sets of people: Anchorage Capital Partners in respect of the flotation of the business, and the directors and senior executives of Dick Smith Holdings in respect of statements made in the 2014/15 report and accounts.
Marking Guide
Section Available marks
Introduction 2
A brief summary of the ownership history of the Dick Smith brand 2
a critical evaluation of the valuation of DSH when DSH was acquired by Anchorage Capital Partners and at its initial public
offering (IPO) 8
an assessment the ethical dilemmas facing two separate sets of people: Anchorage Capital Partners in respect of the flotation of the business, and the directors and senior executives of Dick Smith Holdings in respect of statements made in the 2014/15 report and accounts. 8
Conclusions 2
Discretionary (e.g. spelling, grammar, presentation) 3
Total 25
The report should comprise the following sections:
• Assignment cover sheet
• Table of contents
• Introduction
• Body (answers to each question)
• Conclusion
• Bibliography
The report must:
• Be accompanied with a cover sheet
• Be typed using one-and-a half (1.5) spacing left justified.
• Use Arial or Times New Roman font size 12.
• Display a one inch margin on all sides.
• Appropriately cite reference original work, author(s) etc. Citation and referencing must conform to Harvard or APA referencing system.
The assignment is to be submitted via Turnitin and will be checked for originality. A Turnitin similarity score of 10% or greater will be considered cause for concern.
The assignment is to be submitted via Turnitin by 23.59AEST 17 Sept 2017. Penalties will be applied for late submission. Assessment tasks submitted after the due or extended date will incur, for each whole or part of a calendar day that the work is overdue, a 5% penalty of the maximum marks available for that assessment task up to a maximum of 15%. Assessment tasks received more than three calendar days after the due or extended date will not be allocated a mark.
Assessment Rubric - Assignment 1
LOs
HD
DI
CR
PA
NN
LO1
Introduction
A concise statement clearly explaining the purpose of the report, sources used to answer questions and a brief summary of conclusions reached and the order of presentation
A very good introduction describing aims, sources used and the conclusions reached and the order of presentation,
A good introduction describing aims, sources used and the conclusions reached and the order of presentation,
Brief introduction without fully describing aims, sources used and the conclusions reached and the order of presentation,
A scrappy presentation, untidy or rushed, or no introduction at all.
LO1
Knowledge
Displays an excellent grasp of the material, applications and implications.
Displayed good understanding of the material, applications and implications.
Displayed above-average grasp of the material, applications and implications.
Displayed some understanding of the material, applications and implications.
Displayed a poor grasp of the material, applications and implications.
LO1
Arguments
Demonstrates exceptionally insightful and interesting arguments. A highly-structured and comprehensive response to the task.
Demonstrates high standard of insight and originality..
Arguments with reasonable support
Arguments are generally plausible with some evidence.
Arguments are implausible and unsubstantiated.
Fails to address the question posed.
LO2
Research
Extensive and relevant research
Substantial research
Adequate research
Some research
Limited and /or irrelevant research
LO1
Report organisation
Extraordinary organised presentation with respect to organisation, clarity of expression, grammar, punctuation, pagination, spacing)
Extraordinary organized presentation
Adequate organization
Not always clear or concise
Disorganised, incoherent or no referencing
LO1
Referencing
Accurate and consistently referencing with no error
Correct referencing with minor errors
Mostly accurate referencing
Reasonably accurate referencing
Poor referencing