Corporate Finance

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• The operations of a finance department and the raising of capital;
• How to evaluate a firm's operating, financing, investing and wealth distribution decisions;
• How to make investment decisions as well as how to measure investment and corporate performance;
• How to manage a portfolio of investments and financial assets as well as assess the risk-return trade off.
• Corporate governance and agency theory;

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Write effectively for business purposes;
• Interpret and analyse quantitative data related to business issues, using appropriate financial and/or statistical skills and models to solve problems.
• Manage time and tasks effectively in the context of individual study and group work activities;

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Measure the returns and risks associated with financial assets;
• Determine the optimal capital structure and the costs of capital;
• Analyse the firm's business environment using demand and supply analysis.
• Deal with corporate governance issues and agency problems in corporations;
• Value company assets and financial securities;

The Finance Function

Corporate governance and agency theory

Measurements of financial performance

Capital markets and market efficiency

Short-term finance and the management of working capital

Long-term finance: equity finance

Long-term finance: debt finance, hybrid finance and leasing

Investment appraisal methods

Portfolio theory and the capital asset pricing model

The cost of equity and debt capital and the optimum capital structure

Dividend policy and the methods to distribute wealth to shareholders

The microeconomics of demand and supply

Teaching methods include

• Guided background reading
• Lectures
• Informal group work
• The exploration of mini case studies
• In-class discussions based on financial market developments current at the time of the course

Learning activities include

• Group exercise
• Private study
• Written exam

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

In-class formative opportunities

• Assessment Type: Formative
• Feedback: Students will be given formative feedback as part of the exercises, mini case studies and discussions that the tutor will assign and manage in the classroom.
• Final Assessment: No
• Group Work: No

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.