Submission Deadline Marks and Feedback

Before 10am on: 20 working days after deadline (L4, 5 and 7)

15 working days after deadline (L6)
Click or tap to enter a date. 10 working days after deadline (block delivery)

Click or tap to enter a date.

Unit title & code Accounting and Finance AAF044-6

Assignment number and title Assignment one - Referral
Assignment type Case study
Weighting of assignment 40%
Size or length of assessment 2,500 words
Unit learning outcomes 1.Demonstrate the following knowledge and understanding:
Demonstrate a deep and systematic understanding and broad knowledge of
financial statements and the concepts of corporate finance and investment
appraisal in order to evaluate management decisions against strategic
corporate objectives.
2. Demonstrate the following skills and abilities:
Analyze financial statements and evaluate management decisions through the
application of relevant financial tools and techniques to assess their validity in
achieving strategic corporate objectives.

What am I required to do in this assignment?

You are to write a 2500-word report on the financial position and performance of Orient Overseas
Container Line Limited (OOCL) and one of its key competitors. To do this you need the latest and
previous year annual reports of the two companies. You are expected to research for more information on
the companies and cite the material correctly using the Harvard referencing system
1. Introduction: To provide a context for your assignment, you should provide a short introduction to
OOCL plc (its key features), and its current financial position (key metrics). Then identify the key
resources of the organization, before providing a brief comment on its management issues and the
 challenges it faces in meeting its objectives in its markets (15 marks).

2. Critically evaluate the performance of OOCL over the last two years in financial and non-financial
terms (30marks)

3. Compare the performance of OOCL to that of one of its key competitors. Did the competitor face the
conditions and same challenges as your chosen company? (25 marks)

4. Critically evaluate whether or not you would recommend buying shares in OOCL based on its
performance over the period under review (15 marks)

5. Conclusion You should finish your assignment with a reflective conclusion in which you record how
the work you have undertaken in your assignment has helped in your appreciation of the financial
position and performance of organizations (10 marks)

6. Structure & Referencing (5 marks)-You are expected to research for more information on the
companies and cite the material correctly using the Harvard referencing system.

What do I need to do to pass? (Threshold Expectations from UIF)

In order to pass Assessment 1 you will need to:

Analyze financial data and other relevant information of an organization and refer to relevant literature to
form a judgment on the relative performance and the effectiveness of management in meeting the strategic
corporate objectives in a given scenario.

How do I produce high quality work that merits a good grade?

Your work should show a critical insightful evaluation of corporate objectives, key opportunities and
problems and how they have changed over the three years. There should be high level of creativity, and
independent thought.
Extensive evidence of advanced applications and/or empirical results, where applicable, informed
extensively by current research and practice in the area
Your work should show very high level of competence in analysing and interpreting the financial
performance of the listed company and its main competitors and in communicating the outcome

The conclusions should be outstanding, logical and consistent with the corporate objectives, key
opportunities and problems and financial performance and the performance of main competitors

Overall, the work should be Outstanding, well-directed presentation, logically and coherently structured,
using correct grammar, spelling and accurate referencing and presentation

How does this assignment relate to what we are doing in scheduled sessions?
Session Topic Atrill &McLaney (2014) Chapter

2
 1 Intro to Accounting and Finance 1
Measuring and Reporting Financial
2 Performance 2
Analysing and Interpreting Financial
3 Statements 7
4 Cost Behaviour and Relevant Costs 9
5 Budgeting 12
6 Capital Investment Appraisal 14
7 Sources of Finance and Capital Structure 15
8 Managing Working Capital 16
9 Agency theory and Corporate Governance 5

How will my assignment be marked?

Your assignment will be marked according to the threshold expectations and the criteria on the following page.

You can use them to evaluate your own work and consider your grade before you submit.

Pass – 40-49% Pass – 50-59% Commendation – 60- Distinction– 70%+

69% Comment [VF1]: see my feedback on
A1 Main,

The case is presented An overview of the case A very good overview is A clear overview of the
Introduction with a basic description is presented identifying presented with key issues case presented identifying
of the organization. No at least one key issues identified the decision areas
(10%)
key issues or decision
areas identified

Analysing and Good categorization of Good categorization of Very good categorization Excellent categorization of
interpreting the the ratios but basic ratios and limited of ratios and good ratios and detailed
financial analyses of ratios analyses of ratios but analyses on ratios with analyses of how each ratio
performance of demonstrates links sound rationales and has been changed with
the listed between ratios and non- demonstrates limited sound rationales and able
company financial information. knowledge on how non- to link with non-financial
financial activities could information
(35%) reflect on ratios

3
 Poor comparison of Limited comparison of Very good comparison of Excellent comparison of
company’s performance company’s performance company’s performance ratios and results with
Comparing the over the past three with competitors, and with competitors, and detailed analyses and
company’s years compares with its has included a limited has included a limited sound rationales including
financial main competitors. Not common size statement common size statement common size statements
performance with included a common size & limited demonstration & limited demonstration and able to link
one of its statement on how non-financial on how non-financial performances in the
competitors activities have reflected activities have reflected companies to market
(40%) on results of the on results of the conditions.
companies companies

Qualitative factors Limited or no qualitative Qualitative factors Very good and Provides excellent
should to consider factors or of little included but could be appropriate qualitative qualitative factors to
in evaluating the relevance to issue or the developed in greater factors identified that demonstrate greater
performance of development of depth or in more to show insight and insight and
the two understanding. appropriate areas. understanding. understanding
companies (20%)
Recommendations Failure to make Draws Very good-Draws Draws insightful
of how the recommendations recommendations appropriate recommendations
financial and/or grounded in analysis of recommendations thoroughly grounded in
performance of recommendations not practical situation. well-grounded in in-depth analysis of
the worst grounded in analysis. analysis of practical practical situation.
performing Contains plagiarised situation.
business of the
material.
two could be
improved (20%)
Limited or no personal Personal reflection Very good and Provides excellent
Conclusion reflection or of little included but could be appropriate personal personal reflection to
(5%)
relevance to issue or developed in greater reflection to enhance demonstrate greater
the development of depth or in more insight and insight and
understanding. appropriate areas. understanding. understanding.

Reasonable structure Well-structured Well-structured Very well-structured

and proposal presentation of the proposal which is proposal which is
presentation with proposal, linking to the linked to the research strongly linked to the
Structure and
reasonable grammar question through to question. Appropriate research question.
Referencing (5%)
and supporting data collection to use of references. Presentation of
referencing. findings. Good use of supporting references.
references.