Student guide Facoltà di Economia A.A. 2004/05 Lauree Triennali

Cristina Soppelsa

1.       To provide an introduction to the core concepts and key topic areas of corporate finance and to give a general  framework of financial problems within the company;

2.       to understand the relationship between firm and financial market with reference to investment and financing policies;

3.       to identify the decision criteria for maximising corporate’s capital structure;

4.       to analyse the M&A activity and company’s valuation methods.

Introduction to the foundations of corporate finance: role and objectives.

 

1.       Financial statements analysis:

1.1   financial ratio analysis;

1.2   cash flow calculation and interpretation;

1.3   asset conversion cycle and Working Capital management.

 

2.       The investment decision:

2.1   time value of money;

2.2   actualization and capitalization;

2.3   capital budgeting tecniques: NPV, IRR.

 

3.       The financial decision:

3.1   risk and return relationship. Portfolio Theory and Capital Asset Pricing Model;

3.2   the cost of capital: cost of debt, equity and WACC;

3.3   the optimal capital structure: theory and empirical evidence;

3.4   the use of leverage: leveraged buyouts.

 

4.       Basics of company’s valuation:

4.1   the Mergers and Acquisitions market: an overview;

4.2   company’s valuation techniques: Discounted Cash Flow analysis and Comparables analysis.

Damodaran, A., Applied corporate finance. A user’s manual, Wiley and Sons, 1999.

Additional readings will be suggested during the course.

Course’s overheads will be available on the website.

The exam is oral and takes place at the end of the course. A written exam is foreseen for attenders only. Incorrect English or spelling will not be penalised.