This course introduces students to the academic research in corporate finance. Corporate finance theory deals with the roles of corporations in the capital market and the interactions between investors, managers, regulators and other stakeholders. The objectives of this course are to learn the theories of corporate finance, analyse the research questions, and critically evaluate the academic papers.

This course focuses on selected classic and contemporary theoretical and empirical academic papers and provides students with an advanced and rigorous background in mainstream issues in modern corporate finance research. 

At the end of the course, it is expected that the students have developed an appreciation of the role of theory in corporate finance research, an in-depth knowledge of the research methods and philosophies employed in researching a wide range of corporate finance problems and issues, and an ability to critically analyse, and evaluate the literature in corporate finance.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Use an appropriate framework for considering corporate finance problems and issues;
2. Develop and test corporate finance research questions and communicate the results; and,
3. Critically analyse, and evaluate the corporate finance literature.

Research-Led Teaching

Based on selected classic and contemporary papers published in top academic journals, this course is to lead students to walk into the world of research in corporate finance, acquire rele- vant knowledge from both theoretical and empirical perspectives, and develop important research capabilities with regard to communication, presentation, analysis, writing, and critical thinking.

Examination Material or equipment

No formal examinations for this course.

Required Resources

All required readings can be assessed via Wattle.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course: marks and verbal comments to the whole class, groups, and individuals.

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.

Other Information

Scaling'

Your final mark for the course will be based on the raw marks allocated for each of your assess- ment items. However, your final mark may not be the same number as produced by that formula, as marks may be scaled. Any scaling applied will preserve the rank order of raw marks (i.e. if your raw mark exceeds that of another student, then your scaled mark will exceed the scaled mark of that student), and may be either up or down.

Announcements Students are expected to check the Wattle site for announcements about this course, e.g. changes to timetables or notifications of cancellations. Notifications of emergency cancellations of lectures will be posted on the door of the relevant room.

 Assessment Requirements

As a further academic integrity control, students may be selected for a 15 minute individual oral examination of their written assessment submissions.

Any student identified, either during the current semester or in retrospect, as having used ghost writing services will be investigated under the University’s Academic Misconduct Rule.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction
2	Capital structure	Presentation
3	Capital structure	Presentation/Comments
4	Equity and debt financing	Presentation
5	Capital investment	Presentation
6	Payout policy	Presentation Replication Project Due
7	Corporate governance	Presentation/Comments
8	Mergers and acquisitions	Presentation
9	CEO compensation	Presentation
10	Review/Consultation/Presentation depending on class size	Presentation Project due
11	Project presentation	Presentation/Comments
12	Project presentation	Presentation

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Comments	15 %	09/03/2020	23/03/2020	1,2,3
Replication project	25 %	30/03/2020	13/04/2020	1,2,3
Presentation	20 %	02/03/2020	05/06/2020	1,2,3
Project	40 %	11/05/2020	05/06/2020	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 ANU Online website. 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.

Assessment Task 1

Comments

There will be a task for making comments on an assigned paper. Comments are to be done in groups. Comments should not exceed 250 words. The comments are to be submitted by one group member through TurnitIn, with an included cover sheet noting the members of the group. The first one is due on the third week for every group. The return of assessment date in assessment summary corresponds to the first submission. There will be two more submissions in addition to the first submission. The group size will be around 4-6 students and groups will be randomly generated. The task and assigned paper will be notified to students by the first week of the course.

Assessment Task 2

Replication project

Replication project is to be done in groups. Students are required to conduct empirical analysis on the given data set. The submission should include one mini report including necessary tables, figures, and data analysis and a description of sample construction procedure. Data will be provided in Wattle. The output is to be submitted by each student through TurnitIn, with an included cover sheet noting the members of the group. Groups will be the same as for Assessment Task 1. The task and assigned paper will be notified to students by mid-semester.

Assessment Task 3

Presentation

Every week, there will be a student presentation in class. Presentations are to be done in groups. Students are required to summarize and evaluate an academic paper. Presentation slides need to be sent to Wattle through Turnitin on the date before the group presentation. All members need to participate in the presentation and each student is to submit the presentation slides through TurnitIn, with an included cover sheet noting the members of the group. Groups will be the same as for Assessment Task 1. The task and assigned paper will be notified to each group one week before the group's presentation date. 

Assessment Task 4

Project

Project is to be done INDIVIDUALLY and need to be submitted on Wattle through Turnitin. More detailed instruction will be included in Wattle by the first week of the course. In the last two weeks, each student presents her project. Half of grade is associated with slides and the other half with presentation.

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

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

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.

Returning Assignments

Assignments are returned with grades. For the group work, comments are also attached. For the individual work, I leave comments if there are issues from which students can improve their performance substantially.

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