Research Funding a Listed Shipping Company Assignment | Get Paper Help

You are to research the types of funds currently available to shipping firms. Based on your research you are to prepare a report for the directors of a fictional fast- growing shipping company, already listed in a stock-market of your choice, making recommendations as to the types of funds they should use to finance its projected continued growth. You should acknowledge the types/sources of funds that are available to the company, and should – at the very least – include a theoretical discussion of the merits of raising debt versus equity, on – or off – the security exchange. Your theoretical framework should be supported by examples drawn from real shipping companies, and make reference to relevant theories, textbooks, journals and reputable internet sources, in accordance with good academic practices. The latest developments in the financial markets and/or relevant corporate regulations should also be taken into consideration. Your report’s conclusion should make clear recommendations concerning how the company’s growth will be funded, underlining how these proposals contribute to the maximisation of shareholders’ wealth. Relevant national laws, financial regulations or corporate procedures concerning the raising of funds are expected to be taken into consideration in order to produce realistic recommendations. Additional guidance Your company is a fictional one. You’ll have to attach in your appendix a simplified profile in order to establish some context for your recommendations. However you are not meant to waste words within the main body of the report to explain the company’s investment strategy, something that the company’s board of directors are already familiar with. In other words: your assignment is about funding and, as such, sections about investment or other strategies will be considered off-topic. Concerning your theoretical framework: a good starting point, besides the material uploaded, to identify the various types of funds available to a shipping company are the textbooks from your reading list. Remember to include a page number when citing from books spanning hundreds of pages. The board of directors would like to know if your framework actually applies to a shipping company such as theirs; you are thus expected to provide a minimum of one example per funding option identified. It is not mandatory for these examples to be from companies listed in the same security exchange – but the effort to find such relevant examples would be appreciated. Your company is already listed on the security exchange. As such it already complies with its corporate governance requirements. You are not asked to repeat what those requirements are – the directors are already aware of them. You are however asked to consider the actual procedures that a company needs to follow, in order to raise funds via the issuing of equity or debt. Be aware that the length and complexity of such procedures vary according to each security exchange – so your initial choice of security exchange is an important one. Similarly, other relevant corporate rules or national laws should be explored if they affect the company’s financing options. Concerning your conclusion section: repeating all the possible funding options, or similar embellishments, will not suffice – you have to identify the best option given the company’s current situation and current market conditions. Finally, please remember that you have a limited word count. Limit yourselves to the task at hand: discussing the company’s funding options. You are not asked to comment on the company’s investing options, crewing practices, past history or colour of the ship-owner’s eyes. Keep the marking criteria in mind; everything else will be considered off-topic. Your report should demonstrate academic qualities including – but not limited – to:  Typical Introduction-Methodology-Results-Discussion structure o Introduction: current context, assignment task, justification of the report’s structure o Methodology: sources of data, theoretical framework used to analyse them, including criteria for deciding on the best funding option o Results: funding examples, security exchange procedures, current and forthcoming financial market conditions and corporate regulatory context o Discussion: confrontation with criteria from theoretical framework, formulation of recommendations, identification of possible alternatives in case market conditions/regulation changes  Abstract, summarising ALL of the above  Page numbers, numbered sections, Table of Contents, List of Figures/List of T ables  Justified, readable text using a conventional font (e.g. size 11 Calibri or size 12 Times New Roman) with 1.5 line spacing  No plagiarism  No off-topics  No redundancies  Summarisations and visual aids (i.e. figures and tables) as appropriate  In-text citations and reference list according to Solent referencing guidelines, including for the figures and tables used

Solent University
Assessment Brief
Assessment Details
Unit Title: Finance and Business Risk
Unit Code: IMS708
Unit Leader: Dr Alex Dimitriadis
Level: 7
Assessment Title: Funding a listed shipping company
Assessment Number: AE1
Assessment Type: Report
Restrictions on Time/Length : 3 000 words (+/- 10%)
Consequence of not meeting
time/word count limit:
There is no penalty for submitting below the
word/count limit, but students should be aware
that there is a risk they may not maximise their
potential mark.
Assignments should be presented appropriately in
line with the restrictions stated above; if an
assignment exceeds the time/word count this will
be taken in account in the marks given using the
assessment criteria shown.
Individual/Group: Individual
Assessment Weighting: 100%
Issue Date: Week commencing 24-Feb-20
Hand In Date: 01-June-20
Planned Feedback Date: within 20 working days of the submission date
(this does not apply to work submitted late)
Mode of Submission: Online via turnitin
Number of copies to be submitted: 1
Anonymous Marking This assessment will be marked anonymously.
Assessment Task
You are to research the types of funds currently available to shipping firms. Based
on your research you are to prepare a report for the directors of a fictional fastgrowing
shipping company, already listed in a stock-market of your choice, making
recommendations as to the types of funds they should use to finance its projected
continued growth.
You should acknowledge the types/sources of funds that are available to the
company, and should – at the very least – include a theoretical discussion of the
merits of raising debt versus equity, on – or off – the security exchange.
Your theoretical framework should be supported by examples drawn from real
shipping companies, and make reference to relevant theories, textbooks, journals
and reputable internet sources, in accordance with good academic practices. The
latest developments in the financial markets and/or relevant corporate regulations
should also be taken into consideration.
Your report’s conclusion should make clear recommendations concerning how the
company’s growth will be funded, underlining how these proposals contribute to
the maximisation of shareholders’ wealth. Relevant national laws, financial
regulations or corporate procedures concerning the raising of funds are expected
to be taken into consideration in order to produce realistic recommendations.
Additional guidance
Your company is a fictional one. You’ll have to attach in your appendix a simplified
profile in order to establish some context for your recommendations. However you
are not meant to waste words within the main body of the report to explain the
company’s investment strategy, something that the company’s board of directors
are already familiar with. In other words: your assignment is about funding and, as
such, sections about investment or other strategies will be considered off-topic.
Concerning your theoretical framework: a good starting point, besides the
material uploaded, to identify the various types of funds available to a shipping
company are the textbooks from your reading list. Remember to include a page
number when citing from books spanning hundreds of pages.
The board of directors would like to know if your framework actually applies to a
shipping company such as theirs; you are thus expected to provide a minimum of
one example per funding option identified. It is not mandatory for these
examples to be from companies listed in the same security exchange – but the
effort to find such relevant examples would be appreciated.
Your company is already listed on the security exchange. As such it already
complies with its corporate governance requirements. You are not asked to repeat
what those requirements are – the directors are already aware of them. You are
however asked to consider the actual procedures that a company needs to follow,
in order to raise funds via the issuing of equity or debt. Be aware that the length
and complexity of such procedures vary according to each security exchange – so
your initial choice of security exchange is an important one. Similarly, other
relevant corporate rules or national laws should be explored if they affect the
company’s financing options.
Concerning your conclusion section: repeating all the possible funding options, or
similar embellishments, will not suffice – you have to identify the best option
given the company’s current situation and current market conditions.
Finally, please remember that you have a limited word count. Limit yourselves to
the task at hand: discussing the company’s funding options. You are not asked to
comment on the company’s investing options, crewing practices, past history or
colour of the ship-owner’s eyes. Keep the marking criteria in mind; everything
else will be considered off-topic.
Your report should demonstrate academic qualities including – but not limited – to:
 Typical Introduction-Methodology-Results-Discussion structure
o Introduction: current context, assignment task, justification of the
report’s structure
o Methodology: sources of data, theoretical framework used to analyse
them, including criteria for deciding on the best funding option
o Results: funding examples, security exchange procedures, current and
forthcoming financial market conditions and corporate regulatory
context
o Discussion: confrontation with criteria from theoretical framework,
formulation of recommendations, identification of possible
alternatives in case market conditions/regulation changes
 Abstract, summarising ALL of the above
 Page numbers, numbered sections, Table of Contents, List of Figures/List of
Tables
 Justified, readable text using a conventional font (e.g. size 11 Calibri or size
12 Times New Roman) with 1.5 line spacing
 No plagiarism
 No off-topics
 No redundancies
 Summarisations and visual aids (i.e. figures and tables) as appropriate
 In-text citations and reference list according to Solent referencing
guidelines, including for the figures and tables used
 Anonymously submitted via TurnItIn, using your student ID instead of your
name. For more information about the submission process please refer to
your Student Handbook and the Submitting Assignments Online SOL page.
Assessment Criteria
A1 – A2 A3 – A4 B1 – B3 C1 – C3 D1 – D3 F1 F2 – N
Theoretical
evaluation of the
different sources
of finance.
(20%)
Excellent
selection and
critical evaluation
of the difference
between debt and
equity, and how
capital structure
contributes to
shareholders’
wealth.
Exceptional depth
and breadth with a
critical evaluation
of the difference
between debt and
equity, and how
capital structure
contributes to
shareholders’
wealth.
Good use of a
relevant range of
differences
between debt
and equity, with
significance of
capital structure
explicitly
addressed.
Accurate use of a
relevant range of
differences
between debt and
equity, with most
relevant issues
critically
addressed.
Some relevant
explanations and
appraisal of
differences
between debt and
equity. Largely
accurate, but
limited in
appreciation of
theoretical aspects
of capital
structure.
Limited appraisal
and discussion of
the difference
between debt and
equity. Some
recognition of the
significance of
capital structure,
but insufficiently
developed.
Relies on a
restricted
range for
discussion.
Aspects not
covered or
inadequate.
Relevant
examples of
listed shipping
companies used
to support the
theoretical
discussion.
(20%)
Creative and
compelling use of
current examples
to support a
critical evaluation,
used judiciously
in the discussion.
Excellent
coverage of
multiple current
examples to
support a critical
evaluation in the
discussion.
A good range of
relevant,
evaluated
corporate
examples used
in the
discussion.
An appropriate
range of relevant,
evaluated
corporate
examples used to
support the
discussion,
showing
satisfactory topic
research.
Some relevant
examples used to
support the
discussion that
would support a
basic competence
at this level.
Examples tend not
to be relevant, or
there are few
attempts to
support the
discussion.
Little or no
attempt to
support the
discussion
with relevant
examples.
(continued) A1 – A2 A3 – A4 B1 – B3 C1 – C3 D1 – D3 F1 F2 – N
Critical
appraisal of
corporate laws,
regulations and
procedures that
affect the
financing of
listed shipping
firms.
(20%)
Theory critically
applied to support
all corporate finance
regulations
identified as
applicable to
shipping finance.
Thorough
coverage of
relevant corporate
laws and
processes, as well
as critical
assessment of the
wider regulatory
environment’s
impact on
finance.
Good range of
material used,
covering
relevant
corporate
finance laws,
rules and
processes.
Relevant
financial laws,
rules and
process
applicable
identified.
Accurate and
coherent in
breadth.
Some recognition
of rules governing
financing are
identified, but not
sufficiently
developed.
Understanding of
more abstract
aspects sometimes
less developed.
Recognition of the
types of financing
available identified
but limited
coverage of the
rules governing it.
No evidence of
critical evaluation.
Negligible or
no contextualisation
of
financing for
listed
companies.
Justification and
articulation of a
recommended
approach for the
types of finance
to be used.
(20%)
Critical reflection
and evaluation that
justifies the
recommendation,
linking it to earlier
discussion and the
company’s current
situation.
Clear and
justified
recommendation
that has been
linked to earlier
theory, regulation
and
corresponding
examples.
A clear
recommendation
which has
been linked to
the earlier
discussion,
evaluated from
the perspective
of a listed
maritime
company.
A recommendation
which has
been linked to
the earlier
discussion and
which is
relevant to a
listed maritime
company.
Recommendation
provided with
some justification
for a listed
maritime
company, but with
some limitations
for the scenario
given.
Little evidence or
reason for the
recommendation.
Poor relevance of
recommendation
for a listed
maritime company.
Poorly
supported or
no recommenation
for a
listed
maritime
company.
Professional
qualities:
relevance,
presentation and
referencing.
(20%)
Exceeds
expectations.
Professional
presentation.
Academic
referencing.
No off-topics.
Commendable
presentation. Rich
referencing.
Mostly ontopic.
Good
presentation.
Consistent
referencing.
Reasonably
relevant.
Coherent
presentation.
Minor
referencing
issues.
Barely on-topic.
Passable
presentation.
Referencing
problems.
Multiple off-topics.
Sloppy
presentation.
Haphazard
referencing.
Little or no
relevance to
the
assignment
task. Baffling
presentation.
No
referencing.
Learning Outcomes
This assessment will enable students to demonstrate in full or in part the learning
outcomes id4entified in the unit descriptors.
Knowledge and Understanding
K1 Evaluate how financial management theories might be applied to complex
management problems.
Cognitive Skills
C1 Independently and critically synthesise, analyse and evaluate complex information,
ideas, data or propositions that may be incomplete or contradictory and that
include aspects of new knowledge or cutting-edge practice.
C2 Critically evaluate the contribution that financial theory can provide in support of
finance-based management problem resolution.
Practical and Professional Skills
P1 Display expertise and autonomy in conducting advanced and specialised research
tasks to a professional or equivalent level.
Transferable and Key Skills
T1 Manage financial information within a work environment to make key strategic
decisions.
Late Submissions
Students are reminded that:
i. If this assessment is submitted late i.e. within 5 working days of the
submission deadline, the mark will be capped at 40% if a pass mark is
achieved;
ii. If this assessment is submitted later than 5 working days after the submission
deadline, the work will be regarded as a non-submission and will be awarded
a zero;
iii. If this assessment is being submitted as a referred piece of work then it must
be submitted by the deadline date; any Refer assessment submitted late will
be regarded as a non-submission and will be awarded a zero.
http://portal.solent.ac.uk/documents/academic-services/academic-handbook/
section-2/2o-assessment-principles-and-regulations.pdf?t=1534423842941
Extenuating Circumstances
The University’s Extenuating Circumstances procedure is in place if there are
genuine circumstances that may prevent a student submitting an assessment. If
students are not ‘fit to study’, they can either request an extension to the
submission deadline of 5 working days or they can request to submit the
assessment at the next opportunity (Defer). In both instances students must
submit an EC application with relevant evidence. If accepted by the EC Panel
there will be no academic penalty for late submission or non-submission dependent
on what is requested. Students are reminded that EC covers only short term issues
(20 working days) and that if they experience longer term matters that impact on
learning then they must contact the Student Hub for advice.
A summary of guidance notes for students is given below:
http://portal.solent.ac.uk/documents/academic-services/academic-handbook/
section-2/2p-extenuating-circumstances.pdf?t=1534423896787
Academic Misconduct
Any submission must be students’ own work and, where facts or ideas have been
used from other sources, these sources must be appropriately referenced. The
University’s Academic Handbook includes the definitions of all practices that will
be deemed to constitute academic misconduct. Students should check this link
before submitting their work.
Procedures relating to student academic misconduct are given below:
http://portal.solent.ac.uk/support/official-documents/information-for-students/
complaints-conduct/student-academic-misconduct.aspx
Ethics Policy
The work being carried out by students must be in compliance with the Ethics
Policy. Where there is an ethical issue, as specified within the Ethics Policy, then
students will need an ethics release or an ethical approval prior to the start of the
project.
The Ethics Policy is contained within Section 2S of the Academic Handbook:
http://portal.solent.ac.uk/documents/academic-services/academic-handbook/
section-2/2s-university-ethics-policy.pdf
Grade marking
The University uses a letter grade scale for the marking of assessments. Unless
students have been specifically informed otherwise their marked assignment will
be awarded a letter grade. More detailed information on grade marking and the
grade scale can be found on the portal and in the Student Handbook.
http://portal.solent.ac.uk/documents/academic-services/academic-handbook/
section-2/2o-annex-2-assessment-regulations-grade-marking-scale.pdf?
t=1534424273208
Guidance for