FINANCE 751 : Modern Corporate Finance

Business and Economics

2022 Semester Two (1225) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Examines fundamental principles of corporate financial theory and discusses current issues, seminal theoretical contributions and empirical evidence regarding those theories. Specific topics will be chosen from capital structure, dividend policy, security issuance, mergers and acquisitions, corporate control and initial public offerings.

Course Overview

This course covers contemporaneous issues in corporate finance and builds on knowledge acquired in Finance 351. The material studied during the course is a blend of key theoretical and empirical corporate finance work, with particular emphasis on the interface between theoretical models and empirical tests of these models. 
The course is designed to immerse post-graduate students in key corporate finance research and research methodologies, thereby providing them with a framework for considering other corporate finance problems and issues.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Acquire and apply knowledge of empirical corporate finance research topics, appropriate research design and common econometrical techniques (Capability 1)
  2. Come up with interesting corporate finance questions, design empirical strategies and identify necessary datasets (Capability 2, 3 and 5.1)
  3. Apply presentation and group discussion skills (Capability 4.1)
  4. Write concisely and support an argument with robust evidence (Capability 2 and 4.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Presentation 10% Group & Individual Coursework
Discussions 10% Individual Coursework
Assignments 10% Group & Individual Coursework
Take-home quizzes 70% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Presentation
Discussions
Assignments
Take-home quizzes

Workload Expectations

This course is based on seminars in which students present papers. There will be two or three papers assigned in each week. Each paper will be presented by a student or a team, and a group discussion will follow in which all are expected to participate.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Online delivery is available for off-shore students (if the border remains closed).

Seminar attendance is required to complete components of the course.
Lectures will not be available as recordings (except for online delivery to off-shore students if the border remains closed). 
Attendance on campus is required for the exam if the border opens. Exam will be delivered online  if the border remains closed. 

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

The contents will include more teaching from the staff.

Other Information

None.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 30/06/2022 09:50 a.m.