1. Undertake investigative analysis and evaluation of a variety of financial problems and/or financial opportunities and financial contexts, which may be faced by an organisation within its life cycle and within global contexts.

2. Critically explain decision making in institutional environments related to corporate finance utilisation and planning and evaluate the sources of finance available to an organisation in global contexts and environments

3. Evaluate advantages and disadvantages of alternative sources of organisational finance and how these contribute to organisational growth including investment, financing and dividend policies and strategies and the conceptual and practical rationales for these in global contexts.

4. Align finance, financial planning, decision making, and financial strategies to concepts of delivering shareholder value within international environments

5. Discuss and evaluate the methods by which a company can grow: (e.g. through organic strategy or through mergers and acquisitions) and conceptually and practically value a company on a variety of different bases

6. Discuss and evaluate the determinants of a firm's cost of capital and capital structure and demonstrate a critical awareness of the role and importance of research in the evolution of corporate finance and international environments.

You are required to selectanxna that has occurred within the last 10years and perform the following analysis for the acquirer (and if possible the target):

(a) Critically reflect on the rationale for the merger;

(b) Compare the profitability ratios pre and post merger;

(c) Examine whether the official announcement elicited stock market reaction Data:

Use relevant databases or annual reports to extract financial information for the companies (s) in question. Your data should be comprehensive enough to investigate the potential differences in the average profitability before and after the merger.