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Spring semester - BA - IBM - Year 2 Calendar view

21-22 Corporate Finance and Financial Intermediation


Class
Christophe de Landtsheer
Enrolment for this class is currently closed.

Corporate finance and financial intermediation are, in fact, the two sides of a same medal. Simply put, corporations need capital to finance operations and investments, thus generating a demand for the financial system to intermediate between them and the final capital provider, the individual investor.

Corporate finance and financial intermediation are, in fact, the two sides of a same medal. Simply put, corporations need capital to finance operations and investments, thus generating a demand for the financial system to intermediate between them and the final capital provider, the individual investor.

This module explores how a match can be found between corporations and investors. In essence, firms have two ways of raising capital: by proposing shares of equity or, by borrowing. This module will start by explaining that there is a trade-off to be made between these two forms of funding if corporations are to secure the long term interests of their investors.

The result of such a financing business case is at once the input for a precise demand for financial intermediation. In the second part of the module we shall discover how the financial system has developed into a complex of firms and institutions providing this intermediation service. Due to the introductory nature of this module we shall focus on the roles of central and investment banks in this process.

This module will run throughout the semester (14 weeks).

 

Please find more details about the course in the Module Study Guide: /files/93758/2021_YR2_(IBM)_Corporate_Finance_and_Financial_Intermediation.pdf

Here is the class outline:

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Corporate Finance and Financial Intermediation

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Week 1 - The Demand for Capital and Shareholder Value

This session will introduce you to the structure of the module. We shall discuss the notion of shareholder value and how it can be measured. We shall also relate shareholder value to the scope of corporate finance from the perspective of value-based investment management.

The Demand for Capital and Shareholder Value

Week 2 - Project Appraisal and Investment Decision Making

In the corporate environment investments are formally managed as projects. This allows the investment decision to be based on a systematic strategic, financial and risk appraisal. In this session we shall discover how this information is gathered in what is called an investment business case.

Project Appraisal and Investment Decision Making

Week 3 - The Required Rate of Return and the Cost of Capital

Depending on the company's profile, investors expect higher or lower risks and returns. It is one of the key challenges of corporate finance to identify both the optimal investment and funding opportunities that will most likely respond to shareholder expectations.

The Required Rate of Return and the Cost of Capital

Formative Assessment 1 - [Put title here]

Week 4 - The Cost of Equity and Debt Capital

Companies finance their short, mid and long term liabilities through a diverse array of financial instruments, each having a different interest rate, risk, timing and cost. In this session we shall the main differences between the cost of equity and of debt.

The Cost of Equity and Debt Capital

Summative Test 1

The test covers lessons 1 to 4. This exercise consists of multiple choice and fill-in-the-blanc questions concerning the fundamental concepts of corporate finance, such as shareholder value indicators, project evaluation, required rate of return, etc.

Summative Assessment 1
Assessment Criteria - Marking Grid

Week 5 - The Weighted Average Cost of Capital

In order to assess the desirability of investments a company does not only have to know its average cost of capital, but its weighed average cost of capital, in order to keep a healthy mix between debt and equity financing. In this session we shall see how the WACC is calculated.

The Weighted Average Cost of Capital

Formative Assessment 2 - [Put title here]

Week 6 - Financial Project Appraisal Methods

In this session we are reviewing the most commonly used project appraisal techniques: payback period (PBP), discounted payback (DPB), net present value (NPV), and internal rate of return (IRR). We shall also discuss the pros and cons of each of these methods and explain why it is important to consider each investment using these different techniques.

Financial Project Appraisal Methods

Summative Test 2

The test covers lessons 5 to 9. You will be asked to calculate the Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) of a fictitious company.

Summative Assessment 2
Assessment Criteria - Marking Grid
2122 CFFI Summative Test 2

Week 7 - Comparative Investment Evaluation

In most circumstances companies are in a situation where their limited investment capacity requires a choice between a multitude of investment opportunities. Their ability to prioritise and chose the right projects is a critical factor in achieving shareholder value. In this session we shall see how a portfolio of projects is managed.

Comparative Investment Evaluation

Formative Assessment 3 - [Put title here]

Week 8 - Banking and Financial Intermediation

A bank's core business is to intermediate between lenders and borrowers. At a macro-economic level banks respond to a demand for capital emanating from firms, households and government. We shall see how by applying fractional-reserve banking today's banks are actually creating money in the process of lending.

Banking and Financial Intermediation

Summative Test 3

The test covers lessons 11 to 14. In this assessment, you are asked to evaluate various investment projects using various methods: project payback, discounted payback, IRR and NPV.

Assessment 3
Assessment Criteria - Marking Grid

Week 9 - A Short History of Banking and The Financial System

Today's banks do not operate autonomously. They are part of a complex worldwide financial system. In this session you will discover how the actual financial network of institutions and firms has been developing since the 15th century.

The Financial System (Introduction)

Summative Test 4

The test covers lessons 11 to 14. In this assessment, you will be asked to conduct a comparative project evaluation based on the result of each investment evaluation method.

Assessment 4 - In-class exercise 4
In-class exercise 4
Assessment Criteria - Marking Grid

Week 10 - Financial Institutions, Banking and Credit

Banks are just one type of financial firm amongst a zoo gathering other financial institutions and firms. In this session we shall further explore the specific role of banks within the context of the international financial system, and relate it to the activities of other institutions.

Financial Institutions, Banking and Credit

Week 11 - The Roles of the Central Bank and Retail Banking

Today's banks, whether they are serving private customers (retail banks) or large companies (investment banks), operate under the close scrutiny of central banks. We shall see what the role of central banks is in today's financial system. In the second part of this session we shall have a look at the services retail banks offer to households and small firms.

The Roles of the Central Bank and Retail Banking

Week 12 - Wholesale Lending and Investment Banking

Large or multinational corporations have a need for different financial services than households or SMEs. This session will provide an overview of the services investment banks offer to their clients.

Wholesale Lending and Investment Banking

Week 13 - Bonds and Domestic Money Markets

Companies and governments cover both their short and long-term needs for capital by emitting loans, bonds, and equity via a so-called primary market. We shall see how these financial assets are then further traded in secondary money, bond and stock markets. In this session we shall have a closer look at what bonds are and how domestic money markets function.

Bonds and Domestic Money Markets

Week 14 - Domestic Bond and Stock Markets

Companies and governments cover both their short and long-term needs for capital by emitting loans, bonds, and equity via a so-called primary market. We shall see how these financial assets are then further traded in secondary money, bond and stock markets. In this session we shall have a closer look at what bonds are and how domestic bond and stock markets function.

Domestic Bond and Stock Markets

Assessment 5 - Final examination

The final examination covers lessons 15 to 22. The exam includes multiple choice and short open questions.

Compilation of In-Class Exercises - Resit

Compilation of In-Class Exercises - Resit - Submission
Details of the assessment
Assessment Criteria - Marking Grid
2122 CFFI Resit Summative Tests 1 to 4

Final Examination - Resit

Final Examination - Resit - Submission
Detail of the assessment
Assessment Criteria and Marking Grid
2122 CFFI Resit Summative Test 5