Assignemnt: Ralph Lauren's Strategic Options
For the last two years you have served on the strategy team for Ralph Lauren (Ticker Symbol: RL). As you know, Ralph Lauren sells men's, women's and children's apparel, accessories, fragrances, and home furnishing to customers worldwide.
The CEO of the company confided in you that Ralph Lauren desperately needs to find ways to grow the business, minimize costs, and increase market share. The CEO informed you that she is considering acquiring, merging with, or forming some sort of strategic partnership with one or more of the following companies:
• Oxford Industries (Ticker Symbol: OXM)
The CEO has charged your team with the responsibility of performing a preliminary analysis of each of these companies to make a recommendation of what action the company should pursue. Should you seek a merger, acquire, form an alliance, or create a strategic partnership with one or more of the above-mentioned companies? Is there a company that is not on the list that should be considered?
In performing your analysis, it is recommended that you consider the following:
Ralph Lauren Corporation's current strategy
External analysis
Internal analysis
Understand each of the companies with whom you are considering a merger/acquisition/partnership (strategic fit, financial health, size, etc.).
Is there another company that you discovered during your research that you think might be a better fit?
What are the three best strategic options to consider? Justify your recommendations with data.
How would you go about executing your preferred strategic option?
The CEO has asked that you prepare a report with your recommendations. You have a lot of flexibility in your report. The only guideline is that the CEO has told you that she never reads a document that is more than 4 pages long. "If somebody can't tell me what I need to know in 4 pages or less then it is obvious that they need to think more deeply about the problem," she once confided in you. Tables, charts, graphs, and other visuals are often a valuable way to concisely show data, but they are not required.
There are many online resources than can be used to research this assignment. The Research Help page on Canvas is a great place to start. Company annual reports and analyst reports are available through company websites or your favorite finance websites (Yahoo Finance, CNN Money, Fortune, or your favorite financial services site). Independent industry and company research reports (e.g. IBISWorld, Euromonitor and others available through the library) may all be valuable resources. Be sure to include citations for all of your sources in your report.
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
1. The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
2. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
3. Also include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.