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 corporate policy, 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. 

Field Trips

N/A

Additional Course Costs

N/A

Examination Material or equipment

 Scientific (or financial) calculator 

Required Resources

Corporate Finance  (Global Edition) by Jonathan Berk and Peter DeMarzo, Pearson; The new and any recent editions should be fine. The availability of an e-book copy of the textbook is available via https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/anu/reader.action?docID=5785541. 

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

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). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Other Information

Course content delivery will take the form of a weekly on-campus lectures (recorded and available via echo360 on Wattle), and weekly tutorials delivered on campus.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	IntroductionReview of time value of money and interest rates Explanation of the Report(No tutorial)
2	Project evaluation: principles and methods (Tutorial: Wk1 Questions)
3	Application of project evaluation methods (Tutorial: Wk2 Questions)
4	Interest rates and CAPM (CAPM is assumed knowledge. There will be a review.)   (Tutorial: Wk3 Questions)
5	The cost of capital (Tutorial: Wk4 Questions)	Practice Quiz (0% of grade)
6	Principles of capital structure and capital structure decisions(Tutorial: Wk5 Questions)	Company Report 1 (15% of grade)
7	Principles of capital structure and capital structure decisions(Tutorial: Wk6 Questions)	Feedback to Report 1
8	Dividends and share buyback decisions(Tutorial: Wk7 Questions)
9	Equity financing and debt financing(Tutorial: Wk8 Questions)
10	Leasing decisions(Tutorial: Wk9 Questions)	Company Report 2 (25% of grade)
11	Mergers and Acquisitions(Tutorial: Wk10 Questions)	Feedback to Report 2
12	Corporate governanceReview(Tutorial: Wk11 Questions)

Tutorial Registration

Tutorials will be available on campus. Information regarding enrolments for these options will be provided on Wattle during 0-week, prior to the start of the semester. Students would enrol in their tutorial using MyTimetable. "ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage (https://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/timetabling)"

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Practice Quiz	0 %	19/03/2025	26/03/2025	1,2,3
Company Report Part 1	15 %	26/03/2025	02/04/2025	1,2,3
Company Report Part 2	25 %	07/05/2025	14/05/2025	1,2,3
Final Examination	60 %	29/05/2025	26/06/2025	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 Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

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 Skills 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.

Participation

Course content delivery will take form of weekly on-campus lectures (available via ECHO360 on Wattle) and weekly tutorials will be delivered on campus (available via ECHO360 on Wattle).

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

Practice Quiz

Review practice quizzes will be released during the semester to enable students to receive feedback on their learning and understanding of the material. The quizzes

will not count towards the assessment for the course, but will rather assist students in assessing their learning and understanding. The first one will be released as per the schedule. Another one will be released closer to the final exam. Please note the quiz will be released via Wattle, with solutions posted the following week.

Assessment Task 2

Company Report Part 1

From a list of the ASX 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 in the lectures and on Wattle as contents are covered in the lectures. The report will be returned in one week from submission, with feedback. All reports are individual assignments, not a group project. Submission using Turnitin. Report 1 is worth 15% of the total grade, which is also redeemable.

Assessment Task 3

Company Report Part 2

Using the company you selected for Part 1, your task is to estimate the weighted cost of capital and other corporate policies in the current corporate environment. Detailed instructions will be provided in the lectures and on Wattle as contents are covered in the lectures. The report will be returned in one week from submission, with feedback.  All reports are individual assignments, not a group project. Submission using Turnitin. Report 2 is worth 25% of the total grade, which is also redeemable.

Assessment Task 4

Final Examination

This is a closed book exam held in person. A mixture of theory and practical (numerical) questions will be asked. The exam will cover materials for weeks 1 to 12. The exam is 2 hours long. No dictionary is allowed.

Further details will be available on Wattle and in lectures before the exam. The exam is worth 60% of your grade. Your final mark will be decided as follows: The larger of (0.4*Report+0.6*Exam) or (1.0*Exam), which means the assignment report is redeemable. It also means, if you decide not to turn in the assignment report, your grade will be based only on the exam.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

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 hard copy 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 without an extension, a mark of 0 will be awarded.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

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 Accessibility 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 supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students