Assignment 4: Merger, Acquisition, and International Strategies
Due Week 8 and worth 300 points

Choose two (2) public corporations in an industry with which you are familiar – one (1) that has acquired another company and operates internationally and one (1) that does not have a history of mergers and acquisitions and operates solely within the U.S. Research each company on its own Website, the public filings on the Securities and Exchange Commission EDGAR database (http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml), in the University’s online databases, and any other sources you can find. The annual report will often provide insights that can help address some of these questions.

Write a six to eight (6-8) page paper in which you:

1. For the corporation that has acquired another company, merged with another company, or been acquired by another company, evaluate the strategy that led to the merger or acquisition to determine whether or not this merger or acquisition was a wise choice. Justify your opinion.
2. For the corporation that has not been involved in any mergers or acquisitions, identify one (1) company that would be a profitable candidate for the corporation to acquire or merge with and explain why this company would be a profitable target. 
3. For the corporation that operates internationally, briefly evaluate its international business-level strategy and international corporate-level strategy and make recommendations for improvement. 
4. For the corporation that does not operate internationally, propose one business-level strategy and one corporate-level strategy that you would suggest the corporation consider. Justify your proposals.
5. Use at least three (3) quality references. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not quality as academic resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Identify various levels and types of strategy in a firm.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in business administration.
• Write clearly and concisely about business administration using proper writing mechanics.

DISCUSSION QUESTION MUST BE 8+ SENTENCES AND PEER REVIEWS MUST BE 6+ SENTENCES BE POLITE, STAY ON TOPIC, AND DO NOT COMMENT ON GRAMMAR ERRORS (WHEN DOING PEER REVIEWS TALK DIRECTLY TO CLASSMATE)

1) DISCUSSION POST

Read Zipcar: Refining the Business Model case (The Case is attached), answer questions below.

1. How did the company utilize debt financing? -4pts
   1. Identify the instances of debt financing in the case and the amount that was borrowed.
   2. What stage was the business at each of these instances?
   3. Why was debt utilized in this instance? What factors made this a good or bad choice?
2. How did the company utilize equity financing? -4pts
   1. Identify the instances of equity financing in the case and the amount that was borrowed.
   2. What stage was the business at each of these instances?
   3. Why was equity utilized in this instance? What factors made this a good or bad choice?
3. How did the company utilize bootstrapping? -4pts
   1. Identify the instances of bootstrapping.
   2. What stage was the business at each of these instances?
   3. Why was bootstrapping utilized in this instance? What factors made this a good or bad choice?
4. In your opinion, how well did Zipcar utilize the different funding sources? Did they use each source appropriately? – 4pts
5. Based on the information you have read by the end of this case, is Zipcar a good investment? Is Zipcar making a good decision to seek the funding they are seeking? – 4pts

*Clarification on question 5: If you were an investor at the Springboard 2000 New England venture forum, would you be interested in participating in a $1.3MM funding round for Zipcar? And then, from the Zipcar perspective, do you think they should be seeking $1.3MM and do you think this is the right type of funding to be seeking (equity financing from a venture capital forum)? Explain your answers and provide supporting facts.

 In an essay that includes facts, names and dates, provide an answer to the question below:

According to Elie Wiesel, “the literature of the Holocaust does not exist, cannot exist. It is a contradiction in terms, as is the philosophy, the theology, the psychology of the Holocaust. Auschwitz negates all systems, opposes all doctrines… A novel about Treblinka is either not a novel or not about Treblinka; for Treblinka means death—absolute death—death of language and of imagination.”

Who is Wiesel? Do you agree or disagree with his statement? Can literature, poetry, and art of the Holocaust exist after the event, or does, as Wiesel asserts, Auschwitz negate all systems? Why? Why not? Does Wiesel’s statement apply to other forms of memory, memorialization or representation? If Wiesel is correct, what are the wider implications for the study of the Holocaust? If we cannot represent it can we ever fully understand it?

Although no prescribed length is required, your essay must be long enough to answer the question. Remember to think critically and to provide analysis in your answer. Feel free to incorporate any ideas or quotations from our course readings and other sources that you wish, in fact I encourage you to do so. You must however, provide citations and use an appropriate system of citation (i.e. MLA or the Chicago Manual of Style).

Directions: Select one short story from Module Three and analyze how the author constructs the work of fiction to represent a specific aspect of human culture or human relationships. Develop a thesis of your own that 1) illuminates how the short story represents a specific yet significant aspect of human culture or human relationships (for example, family dynamics, cultural values or social conditions) and 2) explains how the author’s choices in style, language, dialogue, symbolism or other literary elements work to shape that particular representation. Incorporate at least two quotations from the short story to support your thesis. Required length: 500 – 700 words. 

Readings and Resources

• Read these selected short stories (in public domain):
  • Nathaniel Hawthorne, “The Birth-Mark”
  • Edgar Allen Poe, “The Purloined Letter”
  • John Milton Oskison, “The Problem with Old Harjo”
  • Jack London, “South of the Slot”
  • Stephen Crane, “The Open Boat”
  • Katherine Mansfield, “The Garden Party”
  • Virginia Woolf, “Kew Gardens”
  • James Joyce, “Araby”