Students

AFIN8008 – Corporate Finance

2021 – Session 1, Special circumstances

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face-to-face and online activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Wei Cui
wei.cui@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
(Admission to MActPrac or MFin) or (ACST603 or ACST6003 or MGNT603 or ACCG6003) or (AFIN8009 or AFIN858 or MGNT808)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

The objective of this unit is to explore the theory and application of corporate finance issues at an advanced level, and to equip students with the required depth of knowledge and skill expected of a professional. Following a brief revision of basic financial concepts covered in earlier finance courses, the unit investigates the more complicated theoretical issues and analytical techniques in corporate finance. In particular, a critical approach is adopted which involves identifying the assumptions and limitations of these techniques when applied to the real world. Students are encouraged to understand that often the best method is a matter of debate, and that they must choose a method from a group of methods all of which have various limitations. This critical approach is reinforced by examining a number of real life corporate finance projects.

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: Apply investment and financing concepts to business decisions.
  • ULO2: Evaluate cost of capital, project risks and the financial viability of projects.
  • ULO3: Assess the effect of capital structure on value of firms and projects.
  • ULO4: Use options methodology to value business opportunities and firms.

General Assessment Information

Assessment criteria for all assessment tasks will be provided on the unit iLearn site.

It is the responsibility of students to view their marks for each within-session-assessment on iLearn within 20 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.

Late submissions and extensions

Tasks 10% or less – No extensions will be granted. Students who have not submitted the task prior to the deadline will be awarded a mark of 0 for the task, except for cases in which an application for special consideration is made and approved.

Tasks above 10% - No extensions will be granted. 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. No submission will be accepted after solutions have been posted.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Online Quizzes 5% No Week 3
Mid Session Test 20% No Week 7
Individual Research Report 25% No Week 10
Final Examination 50% No University examination period

Online Quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 3
Weighting: 5%

 

Online quizzes consisting of multiple choice and/or short answer questions.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply investment and financing concepts to business decisions.
  • Evaluate cost of capital, project risks and the financial viability of projects.
  • Assess the effect of capital structure on value of firms and projects.
  • Use options methodology to value business opportunities and firms.

Mid Session Test

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 20%

 

An online open book test of 60-75 minutes will be held during the session.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply investment and financing concepts to business decisions.
  • Evaluate cost of capital, project risks and the financial viability of projects.
  • Assess the effect of capital structure on value of firms and projects.

Individual Research Report

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 10
Weighting: 25%

 

Students will research a topic and prepare a 1,500 word report.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply investment and financing concepts to business decisions.
  • Evaluate cost of capital, project risks and the financial viability of projects.
  • Assess the effect of capital structure on value of firms and projects.
  • Use options methodology to value business opportunities and firms.

Final Examination

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: University examination period
Weighting: 50%

 

A two hour online open book exam will be held during the University Examination Period.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply investment and financing concepts to business decisions.
  • Evaluate cost of capital, project risks and the financial viability of projects.
  • Assess the effect of capital structure on value of firms and projects.
  • Use options methodology to value business opportunities and firms.

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

Required Text:

Ross, Westerfield and Jaffe. Corporate Finance, 11th Edition, McGraw Hill Irwin. ISBN:9780077861759

The prescribed text can be purchased from the Macquarie University Co-op Bookshop.
Unit Web Page:

AFIN8008-iLearn:

The unit Website is only available to students enrolled in AFIN8008 and AFIN7008. Students will be able to access the unit web page by the use of their normal university user/password details. Please contact the IT Help Desk if you have any difficulties accessing the unit web page:

             Phone:(02)9850HELP(4357) Option1 or Freecall:1800063191

              24/7Email:help@mq.edu.au

 The Website will contain important unit materials, including:

  • Course details — An outline of the unit, including assessment tasks
  • Announcements—notices updating students on important matters regarding the unit.
  • Assignment
  • Suggested answers and solutions to homework questions
  • Results — for assignment and other assessable material.
Technology Used and Required: The Text book provides access to various on-line resources. Further, a number of the class exercises are designed to be completed using excel.  Students are encouraged to use excel when attempting these exercises.

Unit Schedule

Week  Topics

Ross et al. Chapters
1 TOPIC 1- Overview of corporate finance and valuation  1, 4, 5
2 TOPIC 2- Project evaluation and project risk analysis  6, 7 (not sec. 7.3)
3 TOPIC 3- Alternative theories on risk and return  11,12
4

TOPIC 4- Capital structure and limits to use of debt

 16, 17
5 TOPIC 5 - Valuation and capital budgeting for levered firm  18
6 TOPIC 6 - Raising capital  19
7

Mid- Semester Test (No lecture) 

  
8 TOPIC 7 - Dividend policy  20
9 TOPIC 8 - Convertible bonds, warrants and lease finance  29.13; BMA* 32
10

TOPIC 9 - Financial options 

 22
11 TOPIC 10 - Real options  23 and JP Ch. 22**
12 TOPIC 11 - Mergers, acquisitions and divestitures  29
13 TOPIC 12 - PE and LBO AND  Exam Overview  iLearn Materials

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

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 help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

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

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

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@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.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
08/02/2021 Unit is co-taught with AFIN7008

Unit information based on version 2021.02 of the Handbook