Harvey Norman Capital structure, asset financing policy and distribution policy This assignment has a 40% weighting in your overall mark for this unit and focuses on content from Weeks 5 and 6. It will be marked out of 40. Marks will be allocated as indicated below. Your submission should not exceed seven (7) A4 pages, excluding cover sheet and reference list. For this assignment you are required to further analyse the ASX listed company you studied in Assignments 1 and 2. As in Assignment 1, use DatAnalysis to access the required company financial data. You may also need to consult the company’s annual report, particularly the directors’ report and notes to the financial statements. The main objective of the analysis is to examine and critique the financing and distribution policies of the company; specifically, capital structure, asset financing policy and the level, form and stability elements of distribution policy. For each policy area, use the following broad analysis approach: 1. Describe the relevant policy based on current and historical data. 2. Make an informed judgement on appropriate/optimal policy using theory and practical considerations as applied to the company’s current characteristics and situation. 3. Finally, compare your judgement to your earlier description and identify any changes you think the company needs to make. It is possible that you will not recommend any changes but this should follow logically from your earlier work. Your analysis will be mostly qualitative but quantitative measures should be used in describing the company’s policies. Marks allocated to the analysis of each policy area are as follows: • Capital structure – 15 marks • Asset financing policy – 5 marks • Distribution policy (level, form, stability) – 20 marks Within each area, 40% of marks will be allocated to the thoroughness and relevance of your description, 40% of mark will be allocated to your ability to make an informed judgement by applying the theories and other practical considerations covered in the unit, and 20% of the marks will be allocated to the logic of your recommendations on whether or not the company needs to make any policy changes. The assignment is expected to be of a high quality with respect to spelling, grammar, written expression, presentation, formatting and referencing. The marking criteria and maximum possible marks per policy area are summarised below: Policy area Criteria Capital structure Asset financing policy Distribution policy (level, form, stability) Thoroughness and relevance of description 6 2 8 Informed judgement reached by appropriately applying theory and practical considerations 6 2 8 Logical recommendations 3 1 4 Total maximum possible marks 15 5 20