The purpose of this assessment is to evaluate and critically analyse the motivations behind and determinants of performance enhancement of cross-bor

Purpose

The purpose of this assessment is to evaluate and critically analyse the motivations behind and determinants of performance enhancement of cross-border mergers and acquisitions (cross-border M&As) in developed markets initiated by firms from emerging markets.

You will find an emerging market firm (of your choice) from any developing country that has acquired or merged with a firm from a developed country. Through this assessment, you will demonstrate your acumen with the importance and correct execution of corporate-level strategies.

In most peoples career lifespan, the firm you will be working for will either become a target for an M&A, or will be attracted to form an M&A with another company, or your company will already be the byproduct of a larger conglomerate/group of businesses that has gone through M&A(s). The purpose of this assessment is to get you familiar with this strategy and teach you to appreciate the opportunities and costs that come with M&As and, as professionals, to be ready to explore this strategy option for further growing your firm and its product/service portfolios.

Assessment criteria

This assessment will measure your ability to:

Discuss and evaluate the reasons (motivations) for cross-border M&A of emerging market firms (25%)

Assess the success (or not) of the M&A in terms of creating long-term value (e.g. profitability, new market penetration, diversification) for the emerging market firm (35%)

Discuss and appraise the difficulties/problems the firms face(d) before, during and post-M&A (25%)

Write in an academic and professional manner, using APA7 style (15%)

Task details

You will evaluate and critically analyse the motivations behind and determinants of performance enhancement of cross-border mergers and acquisitions (cross-border M&As) in developed markets initiated by firms from emerging markets. Using the learnings from Weeks 3 and 4, you will thoroughly delve into a discussion of M&As as a corporate-level strategy used by emerging market firms to enhance their performance and long-term value.

You will also critically assess when such corporate-level strategies do not work and explain the reasons behind poor-performance M&As, identifying strategies that can assist firms to overcome such obstacles.

You can choose any firm (it can also be the firm you currently work for) from a developing country that has in the past merged or acquired (or both) a firm from a developed country.

Instructions

Your report-style assignment should be written in English with structured sentences that conform to academic writing principles and guidelines, with particular attention to correct and thorough referencing of literature and other sources throughout.

The vast majority (80%+) of your references must come from high-quality academic journals ranked 3/4/4* on theCABS journal ranking list.

You can structure your report in the following format:

Introduction

Introduce your assignments aim and importance and how you will structure your report. By reading your introduction, the reader should be able to get a very good (but brief) understanding of what you will be discussing, how it is structured and a couple of key messages that you want to convey to the reader.

Discuss and evaluate the reasons (motivations) for cross-border M&A of emerging market firms

Introduce the company of your choice and the setting for the M&A. Discuss and evaluate the reasons your chosen firm proceeded to this M&A, focusing on aspects of corporate-level strategy.

Assess the success (or not) of the M&A in terms of creating long-term value (profitability, new market penetration, diversification etc.) for the emerging market firm

Was the M&A successful? How do you measure success for the emerging market firm?

What kind of value did it bring that the firm was lacking before the M&A?

What would have been the alternative option for the firm to increase its performance/value if it couldnt proceed with an M&A?

Discuss and appraise the difficulties/problems the firms face(d) before, during and post-M&A

Thoroughly present any difficulties and problems the firms faced before and during M&A, and any they might potentially face post-M&A.

What could have been done differently to reduce or even eliminate some of the potential problems of this M&A?

Present the problems from both sides (i.e. for both companies involved in this M&A).

References

Use APA7 referencing style in text and in the list of references.

A minimum of 15 high-quality journal article references are required as evidence of basic research skills.

The reference list is not included in the word count. In-text citations are included in the word count.

Academic Integrity Statement

You must include the following statement with your assignment:

I agree that I have followed La Trobe Universitys policy on Academic Integrity as well as the specific instructions for this assessment/exam. I affirm that this task represents my own work, without the use of any unpermitted aids or resources. I understand that there will be no tolerance for academic dishonesty and that cheating can and will lead to investigation and the application of possible penalties by the Academic Misconduct Committee.

CRITERIA A: Excellent

(>80%) B: Very good

(7079%) C: Good

(6069%) D: Acceptable

(5059%) N: Unacceptable

(<50%)

Discuss and evaluate the reasons (motivations) for cross-border M&A of emerging market firms

(25 marks) A comprehensive analysis of the motivations and reasons emerging market firms will opt for a cross-border M&A.

Evidence of extensive research and synthesis of ideas.

(2025 marks) A thorough analysis of the motivations and reasons emerging market firms will opt for a cross-border M&A.

Evidence of scholarship in research and synthesis of ideas.

(17.519.5 marks) A competent analysis of the motivations and reasons emerging market firms will opt for a cross-border M&A.

Evidence of adequate/good research and synthesis of ideas.

(1517 marks) An adequate analysis of the motivations and reasons emerging market firms will opt for a cross-border M&A.

Evidence of bare minimum research and synthesis of ideas.

(12.514.5 marks) A very limited analysis of the motivations and reasons emerging market firms will opt for a cross-border M&A.

Evidence of weak understanding and narrow range of research and ideas.

(<12.5 marks)

Assess the success (or not) of the M&A in terms of creating long-term value (e.g. profitability, new market penetration, diversification) for the emerging market firm

(35 marks) Excellent identification of the long-term value (e.g. profitability, new market penetration, diversification) for the emerging market firm through the M&A.

Well-supported, in-depth analysis and insightful evaluation and discussion of how the M&A will contribute to the performance of the emerging market firm.

(2835 marks) Thorough identification of the long-term value (e.g. profitability, new market penetration, diversification) for the emerging market firm through the M&A.

Well-supported analysis and insightful evaluation and discussion of how the M&A will contribute to the performance of the emerging market firm.

(24.527.5 marks) Good identification of the long-term value (e.g. profitability, new market penetration, diversification) for the emerging market firm through the M&A.

Coherent analysis and good evaluation and discussion of how the M&A will contribute to the performance of the emerging market firm.

(2124 marks) Adequate identification of the long-term value (e.g. profitability, new market penetration, diversification) for the emerging market firm through the M&A.

Some coherent analysis and some limited evaluation and discussion of how the M&A will contribute to the performance of the emerging market firm.

(17.520.5 marks) Very descriptive (and without critical analysis) identification of very few (or even wrong) arguments about how the M&A will contribute to the performance of the emerging market firm.

Ideas unfocused and unsupported.

(<17.5 marks)

Discuss and appraise the difficulties/problems the firms face(d) before, during and post-M&A

(25 marks) Systematic critical analysis of the difficulties and problems firms might/will face before, during and post-M&A.

Extensive evidence of original thinking, insightful evaluation and excellent use of examples.

(2025 marks) Thorough critical analysis of the difficulties and problems firms might/will face before, during and post-M&A.

Depth of evidence of original thinking, perceptive evaluation and very good use of examples.

(17.519.5 marks) Critical analysis of the difficulties and problems firms might/will face before, during and post-M&A.

Good evidence of some original thinking and argumentation.

Good use of appropriate examples.

(1517 marks) Shows basic (minimum) analysis of the difficulties and problems firms might/will face before, during and post-M&A.

Some limited evidence of original thinking and argumentation, and limited evaluation.

May or may not have used an example.

(12.514.5 marks) Disjointed organisation and unsupported argumentation on the difficulties and problems firms might/will face before, during and post-M&A.

Ideas unfocused and without critical analysis and support.

(<12.5 marks)

Write in an academic and professional manner, using APA7 style(15 marks) Exceptionally clearly and cogently argued within the constraints imposed by the word limit; skilled use of academic conventions.

Academic sources and references are perfectly cited in APA7 style in text and in the list of references.

(1215 marks) Concise and effectively argued, within the length allowed; skilled use of academic conventions; accurate proof-reading.

Academic sources and references are well cited in APA7 style in text and in the list of references.

(10.511.5 marks) Competent control of length; skilled use of academic conventions; almost all errors eliminated in proof-reading.

Academic sources and references are reasonably cited in APA7 style in text and in the list of references.

(910 marks) Length requirements observed; appropriate use of academic conventions; accurate spelling, grammar etc.; careful proof-reading.

Academic sources and references are at the minimum acceptable level cited in APA7 style in text and in the list of references.

(7.58.5 marks) Length requirements not observed; use of unattributed material; incomplete referencing; presentation consistently marred by language errors affecting comprehensibility; inadequate proof-reading.

Academic sources and references are at an unacceptable level and not cited (or with many omissions) in APA7 style in text and in the the list of references.

(<7.5 marks)