Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Narelle Gordon
Contact via narelle.gordon@mq.edu.au
See ilearn
Angela Chow
Angela Chow
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Credit points |
Credit points
4
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
ACST603 or AFIN858
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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 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.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Grading Policy: assessment in this unit is informed by the MQ Grading Policy.
Feedback Prior Census Date: A self-assessment online quiz will be released in Week 3 for feedback prior to the census date. The quiz outcome does not form part of the course marks but is as an indicator of whether you are progressing satisfactorily in the unit. If you are having difficulties, please see the Unit Convenor and consider withdrawing before the census date.
Assessment Criteria: Assessment criteria for all assessment tasks will be provided on the unit iLearn site.
Rubric: the Presentations will be assessed against criterion and performance standards set out in a marking Rubric, which will be provided to students on the iLearn..
Disruption to Study: if your disruption to study is deemed 'Serious and Unavoidable', and thus meets the criteria for Special Consideration set out in the Disruption to Studies Policy, you will receive an additional opportunity to demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes for this assessment task. Otherwise, there will be no provision of an additional assessment task. For information, including results of disruption e.g. preparation affected' or 'examination performance affected', please refer to the Disruption to Studies Policy Outcomes and Supporting Evidence.
Viewing Within Session Assessment Task Marks: 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 marks (not including the final exam mark) will not be addressed.
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
---|---|---|---|
Assessed Coursework | 5% | No | Random weeks |
Presentation | 15% | No | Allocated week |
Class Test | 20% | No | Week 7 |
Final Exam | 60% | No | See Exam Timetable |
Due: Random weeks
Weighting: 5%
Each collection is worth a maximum of 2.5%. There will be two random collections during the semester. To get full marks students need to add some insight to the standard solution. Students who copy the text-book solution word for word will receive 0 marks.
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 Disruption to Studies is made and approved
Due: Allocated week
Weighting: 15%
Students will be formed into groups. Each group will be allocated a topic on a key concept or an application of finance. The group will research the topic, prepare a report and present it to the class in 20 minutes (including 5 minutes for discussions) in their allocated week. The report will be a combination of notes and presentation slides. It will be submitted through Turnitin and a hard-copy will be handed-in to the lecturer in the allocated week. The presentation will be graded based on content and delivery: depth of research, relevance of contents to the topic, organisation of ideas and students' ability to give the audience insights - to engage, inspire, persuade, and energise the audience. Every student must participate in the group presentations and report so that individual student contribution to the group presentations and report can be identified. Each member of a group will be required to complete an assessment of the contributions of individual members.
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 Disruption to Studies is made and approved.
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 20%
The 65-minute "closed book" in-class test will be conducted in the week 7 class. Please present yourself at the enrolled time and place of your lecture. The test will contain both theoretical and calculation questions. A formula sheet will be provided with the test paper. If you are unable to attend the test and your Disruption to Studies request is approved, a supplementary assessment task will be offered. The supplementary assessment task may involve a verbal or written component, or both.
Due: See Exam Timetable
Weighting: 60%
The content of the "closed book" final exam will give greater weight to topics covered later in the course (that is, topics not covered by the class test). Total time available will be 120 minutes plus 10 minutes of 'reading' time. Students will be permitted one 'Reference Sheet' in the examination room comprising ONE A4 page of paper containing reference material printed on both sides. The material may be handwritten and/or typed. The page will not be returned to students at the end of the final examination. No separate formula sheet will be provided.
Students who are unable to attend the exam and who have a Disruption to Studies application approved, will be granted the opportunity to sit a Supplementary Exam.
In addition, make sure to read the current Final Examination Policy and Final Examination Procedure.
CLASSES
The Unit involves 3 hours face-to-face teaching per week consisting of a 3 hour seminar. There will be thirteen lectures. The timetable for classes can be found on the University website at:
http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au/
Attendance at seminars is a compulsory component of the Unit, and students are expected to attend all classes.
REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED TEXTS AND/OR MATERIALS
Prescribed
Ross, Westerfield, Jaffe and Jordan. Corporate Finance, 11th Edition, McGraw Hill Irwin. ISBN: 9780077861759
The prescribed text can be purchased from the Macquarie University Co-op Bookshop.
AFIN808-iLearn:
The unit Website is only available to students enrolled in AFIN808. 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
FacetoFace: ITHelpDesk, C5C244
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.
LEARNING AND TEACHING ACTIVITIES
This is meant to be a 2nd unit in corporate finance. Most students will have completed an introductory financial management / corporate finance unit. As a more advanced unit, some of the topics covered will be familiar to students but we will be covering them at a more in - depth level. Some other topics will be completely new. As in the introductory unit, students need to work through the quantitative and other problems which are selected each week from the text. However, an important objective of this unit is to make the student aware of the limitations of financial theory and of the assumptions made in making finance and investment decisions.
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.
CHANGES TO THE UNIT SINCE LAST SEMESTER
There are no major changes to the topics or text.
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 and dividend policy | 19, 20 |
7 |
IN-CLASS TEST (Week 7) TOPIC 7 - Private equity and corporate restructuring |
29.13, BMA* 32 |
MID-SEMESTER BREAK (16th SEPT to 2nd OCT) |
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8 |
TOPIC 8 - Convertible bonds & warrants and lease finance |
21, 24 |
9 | TOPIC 9 - Corporate finance applications of options - I | 22 |
10 | TOPIC 10 - Corporate finance applications of options - II | 23 and JP Ch. 22** |
11 | TOPIC 11 - Mergers, acquisitions and divestitures | 29 |
12 | TOPIC 12 - Project & infrastructure financing | Reading on the iLearn |
13 | Revision |
* BMA Ch. 32 - Brealey, Myers and Allen (2014), Principles of Corporate Finance, 11e, McGraw-Hill Irwin.
**JP Ch. 22 – Jonathan Berk, Peter DeMarzo (2013), Corporate finance, 3e, Pearson Global Edition.
C - questions prefixed by 'C' refer to the concept questions at the end of the chapter
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
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.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 (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html
Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
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
Information regarding supplementary exams, including dates, is available at:
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
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.
Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Research and Practice
There is a close relationship between theory and practice in corporate finance. Every day the media is filled with events relevant to corporate finance. Students should constantly be looking for examples of the theory from a topic, as reflected in a media story.