ADVANCED CORPORATE FINANCE
Instructional goals
The course has the objective to lead students to build operative, excel-based models for capital budgeting decisions, stock valuation,
calculation of the cost of capital, company valuation. To reach this objective, the course will strengthen the theoretical and methodological
bases of the students and present data cases to apply theories and methods to real world problems.
Intended learning outcomes
Ability to analyze and manage financial decisions. Understanding of the tools to perform financial evaluations. In particular, the intended learning outcomes are reported below in greater detail.
Knowledge and understanding.
The course will strengthen the theoretical and methodological foundations of corporate finance. It will offer also practical tools to manage real financial problems
Applying knowledge and understanding.
Students will be able to assess the role of the financial manager and the impact of his decisions on company’s value creation process, to apply
Investment decision making techniques, within different scenarios and uncertainty; to apply the main analytical tools, functions and online
resources for business and financial modeling.
Making judgements.
Students are expected to acquire the ability to collect and interpret real financial data in order to deal with investment decision analysis and to
judge company’s value creation process. The Course will lead students to solve and manage real business cases both at Corporate and Business
levels.
Communications Skills.
Students will develop the ability to communicate the problem solving and the financial analysis both in written form (texts and exercises) and in
oral form by attending individual and group teaching activities. The enhancement of written and oral communication skills will be also
encouraged by the optional participation in group work and business cases’ analysis during the Course. The communication skills will in
particular be oriented to the critical analysis and solution of financial management problems within the company in different economic and
business contexts, as well as to the development of active and critical comparisons with respect to the business issues addressed.
Learning skills.
Students will acquire the knowledge and analysis tools that will allow them to deal with financial problems in a complex and dynamic context.
Students will acquire the basic theoretical and practical knowledge to act as independent financial analyst. They will be able to develop
discernment skills of the various problems relating to investments and the acquisition of financial resources by companies following strictly
financial logics; these skills will be preparatory to the development of further advanced specialized knowledge which can be acquired through
both further studies foreseen in the Degree Program and the learning
experiences in the workplace.
Course Contents
ADVANCED CAPITAL BUDGETING
1) Free cash flow models
2) Sensitivity analysis
VALUING STOCKS
1) Valuing stocks
RISK AND THE COST OF CAPITAL
1) Capital markets and the pricing of risk
2) Applications and estimation of Capital asset pricing model
3) Alternative models of systematic risk
CAPITAL STRUCTURE AND VALUATION
1) WACC
2) Adjusted Present Value
3) Flow to Equity
4) Business Valuation
Reference Books
Berk, J., DeMarzo, P. (2023). Corporate Finance (Sixth, Global Ed.). Pearson
Teaching Methods
- traditional lectures
- individual exercises
- cases studies
- presentations and assignments
- lab sessions
The course focuses on on-campus and online sessions. Each session is structured on three
learning levels:
• Theory: the presentation of the main financial issues, rules and techniques.
• Applied theory, that is a focus on practical application of the financial rules in real contexts.
• Practice, that is, the ability to solve financial problems and to test the techniques presented.
In addition to that, classroom exercises, data cases, assignments and external professional guests will complete the educational offer.
Assessment Method
- written test
- assignments/project work executed during the course
The written exam is targeted at appraising the theoretical and practical comprehension of the topics covered. The evaluation will be based on the assessment of the knowledge of the theoretical contents and on the students’ capability to apply them for the solution of practical financial
problems, multiple choice questions and open questions.
Students’ participation during lectures is strongly encouraged also with the participation to assignments and project works as this will be
considered in the final assessment.
Thesis assignment criteria
Students have to prepare a research proposal (2 pages max plus bibliography) structured as follows:
1. Content index
2. Introduction & Research question
3. Existing literature (with bibliography on the subject at the end) & research hypotheses (the research question and its hypotheses should be about the study of an original topic with the aim of investigating topics not yet covered by existing research work)
4. Analytical methodology: authoritative source of data and statistical/econometric techniques to be used.
5. The originality of research and practical implications for companies, policy makers and institutions (this is a crucial point).
Research Topics:
• Fintech
• Banking
• Crowdfunding
• Venture capitalist
• Fundraising
• Start-up
• Green bond
• M&A
Strongly recommended prerequisites: statistical/econometric knowledge, English language, and computer skills (use of office package, and statistical/econometric analysis software).
Week 1
Course Presentation
Fundamentals of capital budgeting: an introduction (VAN, IRR and FCF)
Berk, J., DeMarzo, P. (2023). Corporate Finance (Sixth, Global Ed.), Pearson, Chapter 8
Week 2
Fundamentals of capital budgeting: Free cash flow models and sensitivity
analysis
Lab session on capital budgeting and Data Case
Berk, J., DeMarzo, P. (2023). Corporate Finance (Sixth, Global Ed.). Pearson: Chapter 8
Week 3
Business Valuation and Financial Modeling: The Discounted Cash Flow Method (DCF) and the Flow to Equity (FTE)
Lab session and exercises on valuation methods
Berk, J., DeMarzo, P. (2023). Corporate Finance (Sixth, Global Ed.). Pearson, Chapter 18-19
Week 4
Multiples method
Multiples model application and insights
Berk, J., DeMarzo, P. (2023). Corporate Finance (Sixth, Global Ed.). Pearson, Chapter 9
Week 5
Stock Valuation: The Dividend Discount Model
Lab session on stock valuation
Data Case
Berk, J., DeMarzo, P. (2023). Corporate Finance (Sixth, Global Ed.). Pearson, Chapter 9
Week 6
The estimation of cost of capital: CAPM parameters
Berk, J., DeMarzo, P. (2023). Corporate Finance (Sixth, Global Ed.). Pearson, Chapter 10 and 12
paper provided by the instructor
Application: beta estimation
Week 7
Estimating the Equity Risk Premium (ERP)
paper provided by the instructor
Estimating the WACC parameters: D/E ratio, tax rate and debt cost of capital
Exercises
Week 8
Lab session: estimation of cost of Capital
Data case on Business Valuation
Berk, J., DeMarzo, P. (2023). Corporate Finance (Sixth, Global Ed.). Pearson, Chapter 19
Week 9
Investor behavior and Capital Market Efficiency
Berk, J., DeMarzo, P. (2023). Corporate Finance (Sixth, Global Ed.). Pearson, Chapter 13
Exercises
Week 10
Capital Budgeting with leverage: The APV model
Berk, J., DeMarzo, P. (2023). Corporate Finance (Sixth, Global Ed.). Pearson, Chapter 18
Week 11
Real Options
Berk, J., DeMarzo, P. (2023). Corporate Finance (Sixth, Global Ed.). Pearson, Chapter 22
Week 12
Business Valuation insights
Exam simulation