This course focuses on tools and techniques used in modern financial management. Material in the course has an applied focus and is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills required for understanding, exploring and analysing financial management issues. The course draws upon topical material in order to contextualise theoretical discussion, and present students with examples in practice.

Specific topics to be covered include: financial mathematics, security valuation, techniques for capital investment decisions, financial decision making, corporate capital structure, cost of capital, dividend decision and policy, leasing decision and the analysis of mergers and acquisitions.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Explain the key issues facing financial managers;
2. Perform asset valuation and project evaluation; and,
3. Explain the finance theory underlying financial management.

Research-Led Teaching

While students are not directly engaged in the research as part of the learning process, the course will cover materials that reflect the cutting-edge research around Corporate Finance. My aim is to integrate and emphasize how academic research can influence industry practice and policy making, through which students would be encouraged to think outside of the box. The course will also include parts which involve students in critical analysis of industry-based problems in valuation, capital budgeting and risk assessments. 

Examination Material or equipment

 Scientific (or financial) calculator 

Required Resources

Corporate Finance (Global Edition) by Jonathan Berk and Peter DeMarzo, Pearson; 4th or 5th edition is preferable but earlier editions should be fine. The availability of an e-book copy of the textbook is available via https://library.anu.edu.au/record=b6742055. A small number of hard copies are also available for 2-hour loan in the reserve loan section of the Chifley Library. Additional reading materials including journal articles, newspaper articles will be available on WATTLE.

Staff Feedback

Consultation time will be confirmed at the start of the semester.

General feedback on most matters will be posted on Wattle. Feedback on quizzes will be given in tutorials class with either verbal or written comments. 

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction Review of time value of money and interest rates
2	Project evaluation: principles and methods
3	Application of project evaluation methods
4	Interest rates and CAPM (CAPM is assumed knowledge and will be a review)	Report 1 (10% of grade)
5	The cost of capital
6	Principles of capital structure and capital structure decisions
7	Principles of capital structure and capital structure decisions	Report 2 (15% of grade)
8	Dividends and share buyback decisions
9	Equity financing and debt financing
10	Leasing decisions
11	Mergers and Acquisitions
12	Corporate governance Review	Report 3 (20% of grade)

Tutorial Registration

Tutorials will be available on campus, live through scheduled Zoom sessions and as pre-recorded videos. Information regarding enrolments for these options will be provided on Wattle during 0-week, prior to the start of the semester.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Company Report 1	10 %	19/03/2021	26/03/2021	1,2,3
Company Report 2	15 %	23/04/2021	30/04/2021	1,2,3
Company Report 3	20 %	28/05/2021	02/06/2020	1,2,3
Final Examination	55 %	03/06/2021	01/07/2021	1,2,3

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Integrity . In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Course content delivery will take form of pre-recorded weekly lectures (available via ECHO360 on Wattle), pre-recorded weekly workshops (available via echo 360 on Wattle) and weekly tutorials will be delivered in hybrid format (on campus, live through scheduled Zoom sessions and as pre-recorded videos).

Examination(s)

Centrally scheduled examinations through Examinations, Graduations & Prizes will be timetabled prior to the examination period. Please check ANU Timetabling for further information.

Assessment Task 1

Company Report 1

From a list of the S&P/ASX 300 index member companies (Excel spreadsheet will be provided), pick a company (your company), introduce your company and provide some basic corporate information. Detailed instructions will be provided on Wattle by week 2. The report will be returned in standard one week from submission, with feedback.

 (All reports are individual assignments. not a group project)

Assessment Task 2

Company Report 2

Following Company Report 1, your task will be to compute equity cost of capital in a real world environment. Detailed instructions will be provided on Wattle by week 6. The report will be returned in standard one week from submission, with feedback.  (All reports are individual assignments. not a group project)

Assessment Task 3

Company Report 3

Following Company Reports 1 and 2, your task is to estimate the weighted cost of capital and other corporate policies in the current corporate environment. Detailed instructions will be provided on Wattle by week 8. The report will be returned in standard one week from submission, with feedback.  (All reports are individual assignments. not a group project)

Assessment Task 4

Final Examination

This is an open book exam. A mixture of theory and practical (numerical) questions will be asked. The exam will cover materials for weeks 1 to 12. Students will be provided with further details regarding the exam no later than week 10.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically, committing to honest and responsible scholarly practice and upholding these values with respect and fairness.

The ANU commits to assisting all members of our community to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle and Academic Misconduct Rule, uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with.

The Academic Misconduct Rule is in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Very minor breaches of the academic integrity principle may result in a reduction of marks of up to 10% of the total marks available for the assessment. The ANU offers a number of online and in person services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. Visit the Academic Skills website for more information about academic integrity, your responsibilities and for assistance with your assignments, writing skills and study.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

There is no hardcopy submission in the course.

Late Submission

No submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date will be permitted. If an assessment task is not submitted by the due date, a mark of 0 will be awarded.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students