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University of Exeter Business School

Economics of Corporate Finance

Module titleEconomics of Corporate Finance
Module codeBEEM117
Academic year2023/4
Credits15
Module staff

Dr Simone Meraglia (Convenor)

Duration: Term123
Duration: Weeks

11

Number students taking module (anticipated)

53

Module description

Summary:

This module aims to introduce you to recent developments in corporate finance. It presents the economics of information and discusses applications to corporate finance and corporate governance. It is intended that you will develop an appreciation of the application of financial economics to a range of problems and an understanding of its relevance in a variety of contexts. The module will equip you with appropriate tools of analysis to tackle issues and problems of corporate finance, and an ability to construct simplifying frameworks for studying the real world.

Additional Information: Internationalisation

The main focus of this module is on the theory of how companies finance themselves, which is applicable in an international environment.

Sustainability

All of the resources for this module are available on the ELE (Exeter Learning Environment).

Employability

In this module students acquire an understanding of how financial systems work and a theoretical perspective of managing teams, as well as improving their analytical and numerical skills.

Module aims - intentions of the module

To introduce students to recent developments in corporate finance. The module presents the economics of information and discusses its applications to corporate finance and corporate governance.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 1. an understanding of key concepts of moral hazard and adverse selection, their impact on firms and financial markets
  • 2. the choice between debt and equity financing
  • 3. how financial decisions are affected by asymmetric information
  • 4. applications to corporate governance and takeovers
  • 5. how firm financing decisions are affected in a global contest

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 6. an understanding of the causes and consequences of moral hazard and adverse selection in financial markets

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 7. an ability to think analytically about financial markets and firms
  • 8. formal modelling of decisions and financial markets
  • 9. an ability to study a range of teaching and research material and to work independently

Syllabus plan

Part 1: Corporate Financing

• Modigliani-Miller

• Agency Costs of Financing

• Credit Rationing

• Pecking Order Hypothesis

 

Part 2: Executive Compensation and Group Lending

• Management Entrenchment

• Group Lending

 

Part 3: Takeovers

 • Takeovers

 

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
201300

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Contact hours20Lectures

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
In-class Q&A15 minutes1-6Correct answers in-class

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
01000

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Examination802 hours1-9Written or verbal feedback
Midterm2050 minutes1-9Written or verbal feedback
0
0
0
0

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Examination (80%)Examination (80%) (2 hours)1-9Standard re-assessment period
Mid-term (20%)Mid-term (20%) (50 minutes)1-9Standard re-assessment period

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Basic reading:

Tirole, T. (2005)The Theory of Corporate Finance, Princeton: MIT Press

Key words search

Corporate Finance, Executive Compensation, Asymmetric Information, Takeovers, Group Lending.

Credit value15
Module ECTS

7.5

Module pre-requisites

None

Module co-requisites

BEEM100 or BEEM101

NQF level (module)

7

Available as distance learning?

No

Origin date

16/07/2014

Last revision date

23/09/2021