Students
ACST603 – Principles of Finance
2016 – S1 External
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Gail Curry
Contact via gail.curry@mq.edu.au
By mutual agreement. Send an email to the Unit Convenor to arrange a time.
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| Credit points |
Credit points
4
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MActPrac or MCom or MEc or MIntBus or MAcc(Prof)MCom or MBioBus or MBioTechMCom or MIntBusMIntComm or MIntBusMIntRel or MBkgFin
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit aims to provide students with a knowledge and understanding of the principles and techniques underlying theory and practice in corporate finance.
Topics include:
- basic financial mathematics: interest rates, present values, future values, annuities, perpetuities;
- valuation and analysis of debt and equity securities;
- methods for investment evaluation and capital budgeting: NPV, IRR, PP;
- financial markets and raising finance by issuing new securities;
- risk and return, and the cost of capital;
- capital structure and dividend policy;
- derivative securities: forward, futures and option contracts, and applications to corporate finance;
- corporate liabilities and international finance; and
- introduction to risk management.
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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:
- to be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the principles and techniques underlying theory and practice in Corporate Finance and Capital Markets
- develop expertise in using excel spreadsheet software to build the financial models and perform the calculations for security valuation and corporate decision making
- demonstrate awareness of different financial instruments and their valuation and usefulness in a Corporate Finance context
- be able to explain the concepts covered in the course in a clear and concise manner and be able to communicate it to others effectively
General Assessment Information
It is the responsibility of students to view their marks for each within session assessment on iLearn within 20 working days of posting. If there are any discrepancies, students must contact the unit convenor immediately. Failure to do so will mean that queries received after the release of final results regarding assessment tasks (not including the final exam mark) will not be addressed.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Due |
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| Assessed coursework | 20% | Week 3, 5, 6, 9 |
| Class test | 20% | Week 8 |
| Assignment | 20% | Week 10 |
| Final exam | 40% | University Examination Period |
Assessed coursework
Due: Week 3, 5, 6, 9
Weighting: 20%
There are 4 tasks, worth 5% each. These are individual, not group assignments.
Task 1, 2 and 4 are due during weeks 3, 5 and 9 respectively, the exact dates to be advised.
Task 3 will be an online quiz held during week 6. The details will be announced on iLearn.
Submission for Task 1, 2, and 4.
The submissions for task 1, 2 and 4 should be typed into word and converted to pdf, or an excel spreadsheet file created, or both. The tasks are to be submitted electronically via ilearn. The due dates may change. We will advise students of any such changes to the due dates. The details of how to submit your work and the exact date and time will be announced on iLearn at the time the details of the assignment are made available. Students will have at least one week to complete these tasks.
Extension
No extensions will be granted for tasks 1, 2, and 4. Late tasks will be accepted up to 72 hours after the submission deadline. There will be a deduction of 10% of the total available marks made from the total awarded mark for each 24 hour period or part thereof that the submission is late (for example, 25 hours late in submission – 20% penalty). This penalty does not apply for cases in which an application for special consideration is made and approved.
For task 3 students who have not sat the online quiz will be awarded a mark of 0 for the task except for cases in which an application for special consideration is made and approved.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- develop expertise in using excel spreadsheet software to build the financial models and perform the calculations for security valuation and corporate decision making
- demonstrate awareness of different financial instruments and their valuation and usefulness in a Corporate Finance context
Class test
Due: Week 8
Weighting: 20%
The test will be an openbook online test conducted on campus during week 8. The date, time and location of the test will be announced on iLearn.
Extension
No extensions will be granted. Students who have not sat the exam / test will be awarded a mark of 0 for the task, except for cases in which an application for special consideration is made and approved
On successful completion you will be able to:
- to be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the principles and techniques underlying theory and practice in Corporate Finance and Capital Markets
- demonstrate awareness of different financial instruments and their valuation and usefulness in a Corporate Finance context
- be able to explain the concepts covered in the course in a clear and concise manner and be able to communicate it to others effectively
Assignment
Due: Week 10
Weighting: 20%
Assignment: Due week 10
The exact date for release and submission of the assignment will be announced on iLearn during the semester. The due date may change from the above. If so we will advise students of the changes.
This is an individual assignment, not group work.
Submission:
Essay type responses to be submitted online via iLearn / turnitin. Excel spreadsheet solutions to be submitted electronically via iLearn.
Extension
No extensions will be granted. Late tasks will be accepted up to 72 hours after the submission deadline. There will be a deduction of 10% of the total available marks made from the total awarded mark for each 24 hour period or part thereof that the submission is late (for example, 25 hours late in submission – 20% penalty). This penalty does not apply for cases in which an application for special consideration is made and approved.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- to be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the principles and techniques underlying theory and practice in Corporate Finance and Capital Markets
- develop expertise in using excel spreadsheet software to build the financial models and perform the calculations for security valuation and corporate decision making
- demonstrate awareness of different financial instruments and their valuation and usefulness in a Corporate Finance context
- be able to explain the concepts covered in the course in a clear and concise manner and be able to communicate it to others effectively
Final exam
Due: University Examination Period
Weighting: 40%
This will be a 3 hour invigilated open book online exam conducted on campus. The date, time and location of the exam will be advised on iLearn.
Extension
No extensions will be granted. Students who have not sat the exam / test will be awarded a mark of 0 for the task, except for cases in which an application for special consideration is made and approved.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- to be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the principles and techniques underlying theory and practice in Corporate Finance and Capital Markets
- demonstrate awareness of different financial instruments and their valuation and usefulness in a Corporate Finance context
- be able to explain the concepts covered in the course in a clear and concise manner and be able to communicate it to others effectively
Delivery and Resources
Classes
For campus students:
A 3-hour combined lecture / tutorial / computer lab session will be held each week . Normally the lecture part takes up the first 1.5 - 2.0 hours and the tutorial / lab session the last 1.0 - 1.5 hours.
All lecture content and tutorial exercises and solutions will be available on iLearn.
For distance students:
All lecture content and tutorial exercises and solutions will be available on iLearn. This will be available in pdf form and mp4 files.
The timetable for classes can be found on the University web site at:http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au/
There are no prizes for this unit.
Required and Recommended Texts and/or Materials
Textbooks:
The textbook for this unit is "Fundamentals of Corporate Finance" by Parrino et al (ISBN 9780730305422). An electronic version of the book is available from Wiley Direct and is cheaper than the paper version. This book covers most but not all of the topics in the unit. The lecture notes will also cover what you need to know. Additional readings may be assigned for the various topics each week. This will either be journal articles, or other materials available on the web or available electronically e.g. via the Macquarie University Library.
Reference Books:
Berk, J and Demarzo, P. Corporate Finance, Pearson (ISBN 9780273756033)
Beninga Principles of Finance with Excel, Oxford (ISBN 978 0 19 975547 9) This book may be used to by students to learn about using excel for the various financial calculations involved in the course, during the tutorial / computer lab sessions.
Copeland, Weston and Shastri, Financial Theory and Corporate Policy 4th Edition, Pearson (ISBN 0-321-22353-5)
Grinblatt and Titman, Financial Markets and Corporate Strategy 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill (ISBN 0-07-229433-7)
Hull, Options, Futures and Other Derivatives 8th Edition, Prentice Hall
Technology Used and Required
Students will require access to the internet to download lecture slides and tutorial solutions.
The assignment and most tutorial exercises will require the use of word processing and/or spreadsheet programs.
In most weeks we will be using excel spreadsheets for the various financial calculations needed. Our classes are held in a computer laboratory and all students will have access to a computer with the required software installed on it.
Students will be instructed in how to use excel for the purposes of the unit.
Students may wish to bring a headset to class so they can view and listen to the mp4 video files of lectures / tutorials / excel demonstrations.
Unit Web Page
Course material is available on the learning management system (iLearn)
Unit Schedule
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Important information: 1) Timetable for lectures is available at: https://timetables.mq.edu.au/2016/ 2) Semester dates: http://students.mq.edu.au/student_admin/enrolmentguide/academicdates/ 3) Weeks 1-6: 29 February - 8 April 2016, Weeks 7-13: 25 April - 10 June 2016, Mid Term Break 11 April - 22 April 2016. Note that Monday 28 March 2016 and Monday 25 April 2016 are Public Holidays. |
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Date |
Topic |
Readings |
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Week 1 |
Introduction to Finance, Different forms of business organisation Measurement of Financial Condition and Profit - Financial Statements and Analysis. Taxation Depreciation Introduction to using spreadsheets |
lecture notes & text Ch 1 (1.1, 1.2); Ch 3, Ch4 |
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Week 2
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The time value of money and interest rates. Introduction to financial mathematics. Simple and compound interest Various types of interest rate Valuation of single payment cashflows Spreadsheet implementation of financial calculations. |
lecture notes & text Ch 5
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Week 3
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Valuation of multi-payment cashflows annuities & perpetuities Present value and future value Sinking funds Loans, leases, amortizing loans Nominal and effective interest rates Spreadsheet implementation of financial calculations |
lecture notes, & text Ch 6 |
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Week 4
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Valuation of shares and fixed income bonds Bond terminology, Yield to maturity RBA bond valuation formula Solving for the bonds price, coupon rate, or yield Dividend discount model for share valuation Gordon growth model Share valuation using multiples Net Asset Valuation Spreadsheet implementation of financial calculations |
lecture notes & text ch 8, 9 |
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Week 5
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Public Holiday - online lecture Capital Budgeting – project evaluation methods Weighted Average Cost of Capital Internal rate of return, net present value, payback period Definition and measurement of cashflow Sensitivity analysis and breakeven analysis Excel implementation of calculations
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lecture notes text ch 10, 11, 13 |
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Week 6
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The term structure of interest rates and corporate bond valuation Zero Coupon Bonds The relationship between zero coupon bonds and normal coupon bearing bonds & the law of one price The bootstrap method Spot and forward yield curves Applications of zero coupon bond pricing Corporate Debt Finance Valuing corporate bonds |
lecture notes text ch 8 |
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| Week 7 |
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Week 8
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Raising new capital – Debt & Equity IPO SEO Placement Rights Issue Dividend Reinvestment Plan Issuance Costs Mid semester test |
lecture notes, text ch 15 |
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Week 9
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Randomness, probability and statistical concepts: What is randomness The structure of randomness - probability distributions: Bernoulli, binomial, uniform and normal distributions Expected value, variance, standard deviation, Correlation, covariance, linear regression and forecasting Measurement of risk Results for portfolios |
lecture notes
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Week 10
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Tradeoff between risk and return Random walks, market efficiency law of one price, implications for investment and finance measurement of risk and return, estimation of risk and return. Risk and return for portfolios the capital asset pricing model and the security market line Spreadsheet implementation of methods used.
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lecture notes text ch 7 |
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Week 11
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Capital Structure & Payout Policy Debt vs equity vs hybrid securities Features of debt and equity Impact on stakeholders dividend policy Optimal capital structure Different forms of payout Interaction between payout policy and capital structure Pecking order hypothesis |
lecture notes text ch 16, 17 |
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Week 12
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lecture notes text ch 20 |
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Week 13
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Revision |
lecture notes
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Learning and Teaching Activities
Lectures and Tutorials
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
New Assessment Policy in effect from Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html. For more information visit http://students.mq.edu.au/events/2016/07/19/new_assessment_policy_in_place_from_session_2/
Assessment Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Results
Results shown in iLearn, 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.
Supplementary Exams
Further information regarding supplementary exams, including dates, is available here
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
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.
Graduate Capabilities
Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills
Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- to be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the principles and techniques underlying theory and practice in Corporate Finance and Capital Markets
- develop expertise in using excel spreadsheet software to build the financial models and perform the calculations for security valuation and corporate decision making
- demonstrate awareness of different financial instruments and their valuation and usefulness in a Corporate Finance context
- be able to explain the concepts covered in the course in a clear and concise manner and be able to communicate it to others effectively
Assessment tasks
- Assessed coursework
- Class test
- Assignment
- Final exam
Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking
We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- to be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the principles and techniques underlying theory and practice in Corporate Finance and Capital Markets
- develop expertise in using excel spreadsheet software to build the financial models and perform the calculations for security valuation and corporate decision making
- demonstrate awareness of different financial instruments and their valuation and usefulness in a Corporate Finance context
- be able to explain the concepts covered in the course in a clear and concise manner and be able to communicate it to others effectively
Assessment tasks
- Assessed coursework
- Class test
- Assignment
- Final exam
Effective Communication
We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- to be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the principles and techniques underlying theory and practice in Corporate Finance and Capital Markets
- develop expertise in using excel spreadsheet software to build the financial models and perform the calculations for security valuation and corporate decision making
- demonstrate awareness of different financial instruments and their valuation and usefulness in a Corporate Finance context
- be able to explain the concepts covered in the course in a clear and concise manner and be able to communicate it to others effectively
Assessment tasks
- Assessed coursework
- Class test
- Assignment
Changes from Previous Offering
There are some changes to the assessment structure. The content of the course is essentially unchanged.
Research and Practice
This unit gives you practice in applying research findings in your assignments
This unit gives you opportunities to conduct your own research