3. ASSESSMENT DETAILS AND REQUIREMENTS

Students are to organise themselves into groups of three to complete the assignment and do not have automatic entitlement to adopt some other arrangement (such as completing the assignment individually or in a larger group). Students who have difficulty finding a partner or who encounter other difficulties (for example, their partner withdraws from the course) should consult the Unit Coordinator.

The basic requirement is to make a general analysis of the profitability, efficiency, liquidity, gearing (leverage), and investment performance of a company of your choice from the provided list of companies below, you need to access the company's 2020 and 2021 annual reports available online through the company's website. The suggested companies are, Wesfarmer Group, Woolworths Group, ANZ Bank, Commonwealth Bank, Myer Investor and Media Centre, NAB, Westpac. Each group should choose one company only, it is not allowed for two groups to have the same company.

Students are to use the 'Consolidated' data in conducting their analysis. Note that the 2021 annual report for any company contains comparative data for the year 2020. The assignment will contain two main elements:

SCHEDULE(S) OF RELEVANT RATIOS AND OTHER USEFUL CALCULATIONS

The schedule(s) of relevant ratios and other useful calculations should be incorporated in one or more appendices. Ratios and other calculations should be presented so as to facilitate comparison between 2021 and 2020 data. Students are advised to show the calculations used in determining particular ratios and other figures.

A WRITTEN REPORT

The written report should:

Explain briefly what is revealed by the ratios and other calculations in the context of the

company's profitability, efficiency, liquidity, gearing (leverage) and investment performance. In particular, any important changes from 2020 to 2021 should be identified, discussed and, where possible, explained.

Provide an overall assessment of the company from the perspective of existing and potential equity investors (shareholders).

The written report is not to exceed 2,500 words (excluding the Executive Summary and calculations which are to be incorporated in an appendix). Students are required to use the

"APA system' for the acknowledgment of sources. In order to help ensure that assignments meet required presentation standards, students are strongly advised to use the 'Presentation check-list' attached to these notes.

Students may, if they wish, seek and use additional information about the company from sources other than the annual report (for example, from newspapers, business magazines etc.).

However, it is not envisaged that students will be engaged in extensive research of this nature and it is expected that the annual report provided will be the primary resource relied upon in completing the assignment. Students are expected to obtain relevant share price data for the company so that investment ratios (such as a dividend yield ratio) can be calculated. (It is recommended that students obtain the company's share price as at 30 June 2020 and 30 June 2021 for the purpose of calculating relevant ratios on these dates. Share price data is available, among other sources, from newspapers archived in the library or on the ASX website). Under no circumstances are students to make direct personal contact with the company or its officers (for example by telephone, fax, letter or email) in an attempt to gather further information.