Organisations Law Assignment-
Topic
The collapse of retailer Dick Smith has been in the news since late 2015. Your assignment is to write a briefing note for Mr Scomo, Australian Treasurer, outlining:
1. The history of the group of companies (keep this brief);
2. The structure of the group (use a diagram if you wish);
3. Some details about the group from the most recent consolidated financial statements - eg. The identities of the board of directors, value of assets, value of liabilities and reported profits.
4. The events that led to the appointment of voluntary administrators and then receivers to the companies;
5. What happened during the administration and receivership; and
6. The implications of the collapse for at least two of the following:
-Directors,
-Employees,
-Customers generally,
-Customers holding gift cards.
Hint: The key to doing well with this assignment is to focus on the really important issues and be able to describe and discuss these issues knowledgeably and concisely. Rather than try to include every piece of information that might be relevant, try and work out what information would be useful for the Treasurer.
It is recommended that you try to keep the briefing note to the recommended word length between 2500 and 3000 words as concise and intelligible writing is an important skill in the business world.
The assignment topic requires you to read about and discuss areas of the law that you have not yet covered in class. Hopefully this will spark your interest in those future topics.
The markers are aware that you will not have studied all relevant topics by the time you submit your assignment and they will mark accordingly.
To assist you to begin your research, the following are links to relevant material:
https://asic.gov.au/about-asic/media-centre/key-matters/dick-smith-holdings-limited/
https://www.accc.gov.au/update/consumer-information-on-closure-of-dick-smith-holdings
https://www.asx.com.au/asx/statistics/announcements.do?by=asxCode&asxCode=DSH&timeframe=D&period=M6
https://dicksmithholdings.com.au/asx-announcements/
https://www.nickxenophon.com.au/media/releases/show/legislative-move-to-save-dick-smith-gift-card-holders/
https://dicksmithholdings.com.au/about-us/
1 Introduction
2 Group structure
3 Corporate governance and management
4 Financial difficulties
5 External administration
6 Implications of collapse for
• Directors
• Employees
• Customers generally
• Customers holding gift cards
ESSENTIAL TEXTBOOK READINGS:
• Commercial Applications of Company Law.
• Understanding Company Law.
References
Ciro, T and Symes, C. (2014). Corporations law in principle (10thed.). Pyrmont, NSW: Lawbook Co.
Cassidy, J (2013). Corporations Law - text and essential cases (4th ed) Sydney, NSW The Federation Press
Ford, H.A.J., Austin, R.P. & Ramsay, I.M. (2011) Ford's Principles of Corporations Law, (14th ed.), Chatswood, NSW: LexisNexis Butterworths
Gibson, A., Fraser, D. (2013) Business Law, (7thed) Frenchs Forest, NSW: Pearson Education
Hanrahan, P., Ramsay, I. &Stapledon, G. (2016). Commercial Applications of Company Law. (17thed.).South Melbourne, VIC: Oxford University Press
Harris, J. (2012) Company Law: theories, Principles and Applications Chatswood, NSW: LexisNexis Butterworths
Lipton, P., Herzberg, A., & Welsh, M. (2015). Understanding Company Law.(18thed.). Pyrmont, NSW: Lawbook Co.