Challenge: Helping Readymade Securities to Support Their Clients' ESG Goals Readymade Securities is looking for your advice on how to integrate ESG into their business in a bigger way than they are already doing, to meet the evolving needs of their clients, strengthen their own commitment to sustainability, and help them stay competitive. They recognize that one way to grow their expertise is to acquire a company (or companies) with deep ESG experience. Accordingly, your team challenge is to: Identify one company that Readymade Securites should consider as an ESG acquisition opportunity based on Readymade Securites' goals and current financial product offerings. . The company should help Readymade Securities to increase their ESG advisory capabilities. Your proposed solution could involve the acquisition of: a software development company with a solution that helps Readymade Securities' clients report on sustainability data or ESG performance a regulatory company that helps their clients understand ESG and sustainability reporting and regulations a fintech company with a digital platform for fund managers to manage impact funds a fintech company with an investment platform that helps retail investors invest in portfolios consisting of ESG products a data management or analytics company that can analyze data from multiple ESG sources and produce reports for research or the investment process an asset management firm with ESG expertise to support Readymade Securities with ESG investing; an ESG advisory services or consulting firm to support Readymade Securities in refining or growing their ESG strategy or any other company type that would help Readymade Securities increase their ESG advisory capabilities. . Remember: When deciding on your proposed company, make sure it's a reasonable acquisition opportunity (versus one that's more suitable as a merger). While mergers and acquisitions are similar corporate actions, they differ in terms of the outcome. In a merger, two companies make a joint decision to combine forces and become one new entity. In an acquisition, one entity purchases (or takes over) another. An acquisition is usually the purchase of a smaller company by a larger company (in this case, Readymade Securities). Therefore, please keep the size of your company in mind when you are recommending it as an acquisition target. Also, consider the regulatory oversight Readymade Securities is subject to and ensure that the risks with acquisition are holistically considered. Your Action as a Team Over the next four weeks, you will work with your team members throughout the following steps: Step 1: Solve the challenge Prepare your video presentation (you have 3.5 weeks to Step 2: complete starting from March 23) Step 3: Submit your video presentation - due April 17, 2022 We have included a brief summary of the steps below. Detailed instructions on how to solve this challenge and prepare for the presentation are included in the Instruction Guide to the Challenge which is available on your student portal. Be sure you review this guide thoroughly, to ensure you have answered all the questions and are set up to deliver a stellar video presentation. High-Level Challenge Steps Step 1: Solve the Challenge Your team will need to: determine how you will work together to come up with a solution, and then, determine a solution that meets the needs identified in the challenge. . . Challenge: Helping Readymade Securities to Support Their Clients' ESG Goals Readymade Securities is looking for your advice on how to integrate ESG into their business in a bigger way than they are already doing, to meet the evolving needs of their clients, strengthen their own commitment to sustainability, and help them stay competitive. They recognize that one way to grow their expertise is to acquire a company (or companies) with deep ESG experience. Accordingly, your team challenge is to: Identify one company that Readymade Securites should consider as an ESG acquisition opportunity based on Readymade Securites' goals and current financial product offerings. . The company should help Readymade Securities to increase their ESG advisory capabilities. Your proposed solution could involve the acquisition of: a software development company with a solution that helps Readymade Securities' clients report on sustainability data or ESG performance a regulatory company that helps their clients understand ESG and sustainability reporting and regulations a fintech company with a digital platform for fund managers to manage impact funds a fintech company with an investment platform that helps retail investors invest in portfolios consisting of ESG products a data management or analytics company that can analyze data from multiple ESG sources and produce reports for research or the investment process an asset management firm with ESG expertise to support Readymade Securities with ESG investing; an ESG advisory services or consulting firm to support Readymade Securities in refining or growing their ESG strategy or any other company type that would help Readymade Securities increase their ESG advisory capabilities. . Remember: When deciding on your proposed company, make sure it's a reasonable acquisition opportunity (versus one that's more suitable as a merger). While mergers and acquisitions are similar corporate actions, they differ in terms of the outcome. In a merger, two companies make a joint decision to combine forces and become one new entity. In an acquisition, one entity purchases (or takes over) another. An acquisition is usually the purchase of a smaller company by a larger company (in this case, Readymade Securities). Therefore, please keep the size of your company in mind when you are recommending it as an acquisition target. Also, consider the regulatory oversight Readymade Securities is subject to and ensure that the risks with acquisition are holistically considered. Your Action as a Team Over the next four weeks, you will work with your team members throughout the following steps: Step 1: Solve the challenge Prepare your video presentation (you have 3.5 weeks to Step 2: complete starting from March 23) Step 3: Submit your video presentation - due April 17, 2022 We have included a brief summary of the steps below. Detailed instructions on how to solve this challenge and prepare for the presentation are included in the Instruction Guide to the Challenge which is available on your student portal. Be sure you review this guide thoroughly, to ensure you have answered all the questions and are set up to deliver a stellar video presentation. High-Level Challenge Steps Step 1: Solve the Challenge Your team will need to: determine how you will work together to come up with a solution, and then, determine a solution that meets the needs identified in the challenge