CORPFIN 7005NA - Principles of Finance (M)

Ngee Ann Academy - Trimester 1 - 2014

This course introduces you to the world of modern finance, especially to the financial operations of a business. It covers the concepts of time value of money, basic asset valuation, risk and return paradigm, capital budgeting and financing decisions. Upon completion, students will be able to value bonds and stocks, estimate asset returns according to their risk characteristics and identify capital projects that maximize shareholder's wealth using a wide range of analytical tools. They will also develop a good understanding on how firms finance their capital expenditure and the levels of dividends and other payouts for their shareholders.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code CORPFIN 7005NA
    Course Principles of Finance (M)
    Coordinating Unit Adelaide Business School
    Term Trimester 1
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s Ngee Ann Academy
    Units 3
    Corequisites ACCTING 7019NA
    Assumed Knowledge COMMERCE 7033NA
    Course Description This course introduces you to the world of modern finance, especially to the financial operations of a business. It covers the concepts of time value of money, basic asset valuation, risk and return paradigm, capital budgeting and financing decisions. Upon completion, students will be able to value bonds and stocks, estimate asset returns according to their risk characteristics and identify capital projects that maximize shareholder's wealth using a wide range of analytical tools. They will also develop a good understanding on how firms finance their capital expenditure and the levels of dividends and other payouts for their shareholders.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Yessy Peranginangin

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

    Please refer to Ngee Ann-Adelaide Education Centre Schedule.
  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes

    Learning Outcomes

    By the end of this course students should be able to:

    1.  Explain the financial goal governing a firm’s decisions
    2.  Apply various valuation models to value bonds, preference shares and ordinary shares
    3.  Explain the importance, role and techniques of capital budgeting in a firm
    4.  Understand risk and return, diversifiable and non-diversifiable risk, and asset pricing models
    5.  Understand how to determine the cost of capital of a firm
    6.  Explain operating and financial leverage, and implications for the target capital structure
    7.  Discuss theories and issues related to dividend policy
    8.  Identify & apply ethical principles relevant to the finance profession

    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7
    The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6
    Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 3, 4 & 5
    A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 2 & 3
    An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities. 8
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Textbook:
    Ross, Christensen, Drew and Bianchi, Fundamentals of Corporate Finance, 6th Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2013.

    Calculator:
    This course requires considerable mathematical computation. If you intend to purchase a calculator for this course, you will find it useful to purchase a financial calculator.
    Recommended Resources
    Reference Books

    Berk, DeMarzo, Harford, Ford, Mollica & Finch, Fundamentals of Corporate Finance, 2nd edition, Pearson, 2013.

    Brigham and Houston, Fundamentals of Financial Management, 13th Edition, Thomson, 2013.

    Pierson, Brown, Easton, Howard and Pinder, Business Finance, 11th Edition, McGraw Hill, 2011.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course will offer 2 intensive seminars. In each intensive seminar, lecturer will go through about five topics.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    The University expects full-time students (i.e. those taking 12 units per semester) to devote a total of 48 hours per week (over 12 weeks) to their studies. This means that you are expected to commit approximately 108 hours (9 hours x 12 week) for a three-unit course of private study outside of your intensive seminars. Students are expected to attend both intensive seminars.
    Learning Activities Summary
    TOPIC     TOPICS AND SUB-TOPICS
    1 Introduction Issues in Corporate Finance – the scope and activities of corporate
    finance, principles roles of corporate finance manager & the key objective of financial
    management.
    2 Valuing Bonds and Shares – introduction to bonds, valuation of bonds, introduction
    to shares & valuation of shares.
    3 Capital Budgeting – introduction to various capital budgeting criteria, application of
    criteria to investment proposals, advantages and disadvantages of each criteria.
    4 Cash Flow Estimation and Analysis of Risk – determination of relevant cash flows
    for investment analysis, sources of risk in cash flow forecasting, assessment of
    forecasting risk, implications of management options in project evaluation.
    5 Risk and Return, and Capital Market Efficiency – introduction to the concept of
    expected returns & volatilities for individual assets and for portfolios of assets, a brief
    discussion about efficient market hypotheses.
    6 Portfolio Management and Asset Pricing – introduction to the concept of
    diversification strategy and Capital Asset Pricing Model.
    7 Cost of Capital – determination of cost of equity, cost of preference share, cost of
    debt and weighted average cost of capital (WACC).
    8 Capital Structure and Leverage – introduction to common types of long term
    capital, Modigliani and Miller capital structure decision, effects of corporate taxes and
    effects of financial distress.
    9 Dividend Policy – distribution to shareholders in dividends and share repurchases.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment      Due Date and Time      Weighting      Related Learning Outcome     
    Class Tests TBA 40% 1 - 6
    Final Exam 1 March 2014 60% 1 - 7
    Total 100%
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Statutory obligations in Singapore are such that attendance in person is a compulsory
    condition of passing a course. Our specific requirements are that students must attend at least
    80% of class sessions to be graded for that course. For these purposes each intensive weekend
    is defined as comprising 5 sessions with 1 on Friday evening and 2 on each of Saturday and
    Sunday. Each course in total comprises 10 sessions; Students must attend a minimum of 8
    sessions to be eligible to be given a grade for the course. Students failing to meet these
    requirements will be automatically graded 0% Fail (F) on their transcripts.

    Besides meeting the statutory obligations in Singapore, to gain a pass for this course, a mark of
    at least 50% (out of 100%) must be obtained for the final examination as well as a total of at least
    50% overall. Students not achieving the minimum exam mark will be awarded no more than 49%.

    Legible hand-writing and the quality of English expression are considered to be integral parts of
    the assessment process. Marks may be deducted in all assessments because of poor handwriting
    or English expression.

    Students in this course are not permitted to take a DICTIONARY (English or English-Foreign)
    into the examination. The use of calculators in the examination is permitted in this course.
    Academic Honesty Policy: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/230/ 
    Assessment Detail

    No information currently available.

    Submission

    No information currently available.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.