Students
MMBA8058 – Corporate Acquisitions
2021 – Term 3, 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
Professor Mark Stewart
Contact via Email
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
((MGSM840 or MMBA8040) and (MGSM835 or MMBA8035)) or (AFCP801 or AFCP8001 or AFCP8102)
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
The study of corporate mergers/acquisitions is truly interdisciplinary. The unit will draw on material from the fields of strategy, accounting, law, economics and corporate finance. The unit broadly covers each of the following topics: (1) Evaluation of the strategy and motives for acquisitions; (2) Valuing targets to determine optimum acquisition price; (3) Financing considerations for acquisitions; (4) Deal design and structure; (5) The common forms of corporate combinations and their motivation; (6) Due diligence; and (7) transctions planning and implementation. |
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: Examine key factors relevant to corporate transactions in order to make well developed and commercially robust business decisions involving mergers, acquisitions and divestments.
- ULO2: Assess and analyse stakeholder interests relevant to corporate development strategies involving mergers, acquisitions and divestments with a view to creating value for the firm and arising benefits to its stakeholders.
- ULO3: Explore issues relating to transaction implementation processes to ensure the success of the corporate transaction.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual Assignment | 35% | No | to be advised on iLearn |
| Quizzes | 30% | No | to be advised on iLearn |
| Syndicate Assignment | 35% | No | to be advised on iLearn |
Individual Assignment
Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: to be advised on iLearn
Weighting: 35%
Students will submit a 3,000 word report analysing a case study.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Examine key factors relevant to corporate transactions in order to make well developed and commercially robust business decisions involving mergers, acquisitions and divestments.
- Assess and analyse stakeholder interests relevant to corporate development strategies involving mergers, acquisitions and divestments with a view to creating value for the firm and arising benefits to its stakeholders.
- Explore issues relating to transaction implementation processes to ensure the success of the corporate transaction.
Quizzes
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: to be advised on iLearn
Weighting: 30%
Two quizzes consisting of multiple choice/short answer questions will be held online and/or in class.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Examine key factors relevant to corporate transactions in order to make well developed and commercially robust business decisions involving mergers, acquisitions and divestments.
- Assess and analyse stakeholder interests relevant to corporate development strategies involving mergers, acquisitions and divestments with a view to creating value for the firm and arising benefits to its stakeholders.
- Explore issues relating to transaction implementation processes to ensure the success of the corporate transaction.
Syndicate Assignment
Assessment Type 1: Project
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: to be advised on iLearn
Weighting: 35%
Students will work in small groups to produce a Report and a Board Presentation that addresses a proposed transaction (as developed by each group). This includes the submission of a Report (MSWord or similar, maximum 4,000 words) and an Executive Summary Board Presentation (voice over Powerpoint or similar, maximum of 12 slides)
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Examine key factors relevant to corporate transactions in order to make well developed and commercially robust business decisions involving mergers, acquisitions and divestments.
- Assess and analyse stakeholder interests relevant to corporate development strategies involving mergers, acquisitions and divestments with a view to creating value for the firm and arising benefits to its stakeholders.
- Explore issues relating to transaction implementation processes to ensure the success of the corporate transaction.
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
Readings - materials will be made available on iLearn
Case studies - materials will be made available on iLearn or distributed in class, depending upon the case
Pre reading for class - instructions will be made available on iLearn
There is no prescribed text for this unit.
Students are expected to have access to a standard Corporate Finance text
(such as Brealey, Myers, Partington and Robinson, Principles of Corporate
Finance, Australian Edition (McGraw-Hill).
More specialised texts, such as those below, may be useful for reference:
• Damodaran, Investment Valuation: Tools and Techniques for Determining the Value of Any Asset, University Edition (Wiley)
• Koller, Goedhart and Wessels, Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies, 6th edition (Wiley)
• Bruner, Applied Mergers and Acquisitions, University Edition (Wiley)
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:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
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.
Unit information based on version 2021.03 of the Handbook