Students

AFIN3053 – Advanced Corporate Finance

2024 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Keith Woodward
keith.woodward@mq.edu.au
See ilearn
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
20cp at 2000 level including (AFIN250 or AFIN2050 or AFIN252 or AFIN253 or AFIN2053)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit challenges the student to consider a comprehensive set of factors that influence organisations in raising equity, payout policy, investment and finance decisions within a dynamic framework. Students need to be able to appreciate the theoretical and practical implications of the multifaceted nature of corporate finance; the different issues (including flexibility) to be considered, and the different approaches available, in valuing project cash flows; determining capital structure; assessing the costs and benefits of mergers and acquisitions, real options; and the link between corporate governance and finance.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Interpret market data and accounting reports and identify suitable valuation techniques to conduct asset valuation.
  • ULO2: Examine alternative quantitative approaches available in corporate finance in valuating companies and/or projects.
  • ULO3: Analyse the factors that influence companies in their financial decisions.
  • ULO4: Investigate the cost and benefits of mergers and acquisitions and real options.
  • ULO5: Work collaboratively within a team to prepare a business valuation.

General Assessment Information

Late Assessment Submission Penalty (written assessments) 

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern.  

For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Mid Session Test 20% No Wednesday 1 May, start at 9:30am, finish at 10:30am
Group Assignment 30% No Individual: Monday 22 Apr. Group: Monday 13 May, both 23:59
Final Examination 50% No See central exam timetable when available

Mid Session Test

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Wednesday 1 May, start at 9:30am, finish at 10:30am
Weighting: 20%

A mid session test of 60 minutes will be held to give students practice on a summative task and to provide feedback on their progress midway through the session.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Interpret market data and accounting reports and identify suitable valuation techniques to conduct asset valuation.
  • Examine alternative quantitative approaches available in corporate finance in valuating companies and/or projects.
  • Analyse the factors that influence companies in their financial decisions.

Group Assignment

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Individual: Monday 22 Apr. Group: Monday 13 May, both 23:59
Weighting: 30%

The assignment will involve group work (including a case study and presentation) worth 15% and an individual task (separate spreadsheet case study) worth 10%.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Interpret market data and accounting reports and identify suitable valuation techniques to conduct asset valuation.
  • Examine alternative quantitative approaches available in corporate finance in valuating companies and/or projects.
  • Analyse the factors that influence companies in their financial decisions.
  • Investigate the cost and benefits of mergers and acquisitions and real options.
  • Work collaboratively within a team to prepare a business valuation.

Final Examination

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: See central exam timetable when available
Weighting: 50%

A two hour exam will be held during the University Examination Period.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Interpret market data and accounting reports and identify suitable valuation techniques to conduct asset valuation.
  • Examine alternative quantitative approaches available in corporate finance in valuating companies and/or projects.
  • Analyse the factors that influence companies in their financial decisions.
  • Investigate the cost and benefits of mergers and acquisitions and real options.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Learning and Teaching Activities

The content for each week will comprise a live lecture which will be recorded, a set of readings and tutorial questions.

Lectures

A lecture recording will be uploaded each week where readings and case studies are discussed.

Tutorials

Students will need to register for a tutorial. Tutorials are considered compulsory but no marks are allocated. Tutorials will be available for most, but not all weeks of the session. In weeks where there aren't any live (on-campus or online) tutorials, a recording will be provided to cover the relevant material.

The tutorial schedule will be made available on iLearn.

Tutorial enrolment or change of tutorial can be made through eStudent in the first two weeks of the session. No tutorial changes are allowed after Week 2.  Students should attend their allocated tutorial, but exceptions may occur on a one-off basis. That is, where circumstances prevent you from attending your own tutorial in a given week, you may attend an alternative tutorial if room available.

Students are expected to complete the tutorial questions as a self-directed study activity before attending a tutorial. Additional learning support will be available in tutor consultation times.

Timetable for classes can be found on the University web site.

Recommended Text (not compulsory to buy)

Berk J. and P. DeMarzo. 2019. Corporate Finance. Global Edition, 5th Edition, Harlow, Pearson Higher Ed USA. ISBN 9781292304151

Communication Channels

For discussion of subject materials please speak to the lecturer and tutors on ilearn or in consultation. 

Academic Consultation

Staff will be available for academic consultation throughout the session in teaching weeks. A schedule of consultation times and locations will be available on iLearn from Week 2.

Technology Used and Required

The unit will use an online learning and teaching facility known as iLearn, accessed through the following link https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/login/

Students should monitor iLearn content frequently to ensure timely access to announcements, unit material, and assessment information.

To complete the assignment, students will be required to use Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word software.

Calculators will be allowed in the class tests and the final examination but a clear indication of the steps involved in every calculation must be shown. Non-programmable calculators with no text-retrieval capacity are allowed. Financial calculators are allowed. Calculators that have a full alphabet on the keyboard are not allowed. Graphics calculators are not allowed.

Unit Schedule

Week

Week date (Wednesday)

Lecture topic

1

21 Feb

Topic 1: Terminal values using multiples and perpetuities. Inflation-linked bonds (ILB's) and other market-based valuation inputs.

2

28 Feb

Topic 2: Bottom-up analysis: cash flows, profits and balance sheets. Integrated pro-forma financial statement modeling using spreadsheets.

3

6 Mar

 Topic 3: Debt, taxes, capital budgeting and valuation with leverage.

4

13 Mar

Topic 4: Examples of analysts' models and reports. 

5

20 Mar

Topic 5: Top-down analysis.

6

27 Mar

Topic 6: Raising equity.
7 3 Apr

Topic 7: Payout policy.

8

10 Apr

 Topic 8: Mergers and acquisitions.
Mid-session break from Monday 15 April to Sunday 28 April. Individual spreadsheet valuation worth 15% due Monday 22 Apr at 23:55 Sydney time

9

1 May

Mid session online test worth 20% on Wednesday 1 May, start at 9:30am, finish at 10:30am Sydney time. No lecture scheduled. Tutorials runs as normal. 

10

8 May

Topic 9: Options. 

11

15 May

Topic 10: Real options. Group presentation recording worth 15% due Monday 13 May at 23:59 Sydney time

12

22 May

Topic 11: Corporate governance.

13

29 May

Final exam revision.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
18/02/2024 .
18/02/2024 .

Unit information based on version 2024.02 of the Handbook