Consider a multinational listed company that has recently carried out an acquisition. You may also select a company that carried out an acquisition long ago as long as there is information available. Using the published annual reports, you are required to critically evaluate and discuss the following topics:

a) Evaluate the disclosures on pensions and other employee benefits that are reported in the section of accounting policies and in the notes to the accounts of the annual report.

b) Analyse the main sources of finance of the company. Evaluate the reported off-balance sheet financing disclosures. Discuss the use of leasing and the effects on the company's financial structure.

c) Briefly comment on the reported disclosures on the tax exposure of the company.

d) Analyse the acquisition motives, process, planning and integration. Make recommendations for improvement should any future acquisitions / mergers be contemplated. Discuss the procedure adopted to carry out the acquisition, compare the before and after period and assess whether the acquisition was beneficial for the company. You may use any information that you find in the annual report that describes the acquisition characteristics and experience of the company.