For the purpose of the assignment, ASSUME that you are the most senior financial officer in the firm, and has responsibility for treasury. In its financial advisory capacity, you have been requested by the Board to evaluate the firm's performance with a view to recommending a financially justified growth strategy for the next strategic planning horizon (3 years). The recommended strategy could be either an acquisition, or that the firm be acquired, or that the firm seeks growth organically by a change in strategy, or any other viable alternative. The outcome of the evaluation should reflect your opinions of what the strategy should be, and how it should be implemented.

You are required to think innovatively (not just adopt the existing growth strategy of the firm), and make assumptions where necessary to overcome the hurdles you confront. These hurdles include any deficiencies in data availability about the firm, itsindustry, and its competitors, and company.

Preparing the report

To prepare the report students will need to complete the following steps:

1. Understand and evaluate the firm's present products and/or services and markets (research its web site and annual reports). DO NOT CONTACT THE COMPANY DIRECTLY. (Most companies have better things to do than to respond to lots of questions from university students!) If the firm has more than one operating division, each with very different products and services, focus on the major division  and its products and services only.

2. Undertake a review of the firm'sindustry, includingits major competitors (do not agonise over exact matches for competitors - be practical based on what information is reasonably readily available),