The competition is now closed. Results will be announced in March 2012.  Visit http://www.lseemf.com to find out details about our society's upcoming student conference, which will take place in March 2012.

You are challenged to pick one unidentified investment opportunity of your choice within any emerging market. You must then answer all three questions below using 300 words for each answer. Your work will be judged by Credit Suisse's award-winning emerging markets team, and you will have the opportunity to win incredible prizes from Credit Suisse. Entries may be also fast-tracked for our LSE Emerging Markets Forum. 

Task Format

Your idea can be anything from a stock to an industry, project or commodity. The choice is yours. Write about anything from a luxury brand or company in China, a natural gas project in Russia, a lithium mine in Bolivia, or a mobile network in Dhaka. For example, you could explain a niche private-sector infrastructure project within a specific emerging market city.  Picking one idea, answer all three questions in one document upload.

Each question has a strict 300 word limit, and you must write in full prose sentences

Question 1:	What is your opportunity? Why is it so attractive?
Question 2:	How can an investor profit from this opportunity, and what returns can be expected? When will returns start materialising?  If you feel equity is the best way to profit from this opportunity, which companies would you invest in and why? Or, if a more direct  investment strategy is appropriate, explain why this is appropriate and how this can be accomplished.
Question 3:	Evaluate the downside risks of your investment, sector, and market. How does your strategy overcome criticisms or issues that  similar investments have faced?

Judged by Credit Suisse Senior Experts

Entries will be evaluated on the basis of originality, depth of research, and quality of analysis. Emerging market investors and experts will evaluate all applications, and ten short-listed entries will advance to a final round, where senior experts on emerging markets from Credit Suisse will judge the ten best entries to select an overall global winner.


Incredible Prizes

The winner and one runner up will both win the exclusive opportunity to enjoy a top-class dinner with a Credit Suisse Managing Director. Furthermore, both may also be invited to a practice mock interview with Credit Suisse EMEA. One winner will also receive a free day ticket to our flagship LSE Emerging Markets Forum, and have their report recognised at the event. You will also be recognised as our official global winner, a remarkable accomplishment. Alongside being published on our website, and within mailing lists of our partner Universities, you will have an exceptional accomplishment to share on your CV.

Selected entries may also be published alongside our research, which is shared with investment professionals and students throughout the world. The ten shortlisted entries will also receive a Credit Suisse goody bag. Additionally, all shortlisted entries will receive guaranteed VIP admission to the LSE Emerging Markets Forum in March 2012.


Eligibility & Deadlines

To enter, you simply need to be a current Undergraduate or Masters student anywhere in the world. Individual entries only. Judging will not be affected by which subject you are studying, nor by your university. First year undergraduates are highly encouraged to apply.

Our global promotional partners for this competition include student societies at:

• London School of Economics
• University of Oxford
• University of Cambridge
• CASS Business School
• London Business School
• University of Warwick
• Durham University
• Stockholm School of Economics
• Bocconi University
• Lund University
• Singapore Management University

Entries are due by 10 February 2012. We highly encourage you to apply early. You must submit a Word or PDF document containing a maximum of 300 words for every question, and it is advised that you keep a backup of your entry. Upon submission you will receive an automatic email confirmation. Winners will be announced by late February 2012. For specific queries please email competition@lseemf.com