GRINNELL COLLEGE

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS

Economics 327.01

Corporate Finance

Spring 2009

 

spring 2008                                                                            Professor Paul G. Munyon

TTh 8:30 - 9:50                                                                                    Carnegie 207, 269-3142

ARH 131                                                                         E-Mail:  MUNYON@grinnell.edu

 

Professor's Home Page:

http://www.grinnell.edu/individuals/munyon/index.html

Course Home Page:

http://www.grinnell.edu/individuals/munyon/corpfin09.html

LISTSERV:

CorpFin@lyris,grinnell.edu

 

Organization

This course will meet for approximately three hours each week.  You should be prepared to be an active participant in every class session.  Being prepared for each class will be essential for making the best possible use of the basic material presented in each class and for staying up-to-date with the rapidly changing world of finance.  In addition, your participation in class discussions will account for at least 20 percent of your course grade.

 

Problem Sets

There will be eight (8) "Pre-quizzes" given on Thursday mornings during the semester.  On those Thursday morning, class will begin at 8:15 rather than 8:30.  Students will have approximately 20 minutes to complete each "Pre-quiz" in class.  Each "Pre-quizzes" will provide you an opportunity to test your understanding of important new material in a timely manner.  Your performance will contribute to your final grade to the extent that you take advantage of each "Pre-quiz" to test your understanding of material likely to be covered on exams during the semester.

 

Examinations

There will be three exams (80 minutes each) given during the course of the semester.  The course outline provides the dates for these exams.  Each exam will account for 15 percent of your grade.  A comprehensive final examination will account for 35 percent of your course grade.  The time for the final is the assigned examination period.  You may plan on the dates listed on the syllabus, and I will plan on the dates listed.

 

Home Page

Economics 327.01 has a home page.  This page contains dynamic links to the On-line Wall Street Journal, EDGAR, and other useful resources.


Required Readings

The course syllabus lists the required reading for the course.  I may assign additional reading during the semester.  The required materials are:

Brigham and Ehrhardt, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT: Theory and Practice (12th edition).

The Wall Street Journal:  If you do not now subscribe to the WSJ, you will be able to order a subscription to the paper on the first day of class.  With your subscription to the WSJ, you will receive a password for the on-line version.

Financial Calculator

You MUST have a financial calculator.  The Bookstore stocks the HP 10BII and at least one other financial calculator.  Any calculator with built-in financial functions should serve you well. 

 

GRINNELL COLLEGE

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS

Economics 327.01

Corporate Finance

OUTLINE

Week 1

            January 20: Chapter 1: Introduction and a First Look at Contemporary Chaos

            January 22: Chapter 1 and Financial Press: Continuous Change in Capital Markets

Week 2

            January 27: Chapter 2: Time Value of Money

            January 29: Chapter 2 and 3: Money and Financial Statements (Pre-quiz 1)*

Week 3

            February 3: Chapters 3 and 4: Accounting for Cash Flows and Ratios

            February 5: Chapter 5: Bonds (Pre-quiz 2) *

Week 4

            February 10: Chapter5 and 6: Bonds and Risk and Return—Exploring the Basic CAPM

            February 12: Chapters 6 and 7: Risk and Return—Rethinking CAPM (Pre-quiz 3) *

Week 5

            February 17: Credit Default Swaps:  What is Left after the Risk is Gone?

            February 19: Examination I

Week 6

            February 24: Chapter 8:  Stocks and Stock Markets

            February 26: Chapter 8: Stocks—Valuation is in the "eye" of the holder (Pre-quiz 4) *

Week 7

            March 3: Chapter 10: Cost of Capital--WACC

            March 5: Chapter 10: Cost of Capital—WACC (Pre-quiz 5) *

Week 8

            March 10: Chapter 10: Beyond the simple WACC

            March 12: Chapter 11:  Capital Budgeting: Cash Flow Evaluation (Pre-quiz 6) *

Spring Break

Week 9

            March 31: Chapter 11 and 12:  Evaluating Risky Cash Flows

            April 2:  Examination II

Week 10

            April 7: Chapters 9 and 13: Financial Options and Real Options

            April 9: Chapter 14: Financial Planning—Planning for Financing (Pre-quiz 7) *

Week 11

            April 14: Chapter 16: Capital Structure

April 16: Chapter 17: Capital Structure (Pre-quiz 8)*

Week 12

            April 21: Chapter 20: Lease Financing

            April 23: Chapter 21: Other Hybrid Financing

Week 13

            April 28: Examination III

            April 30: Chapter 22: Working Capital and Working without Capital

Week 14

            May 5: Chapter 23: Derivatives

            May 7: Chapter 23: Derivatives:  Managing Risk or Risking Management?

Finals Week

            May 14: Final Examination at 9:00 AM (Thursday)

 

* On those Thursdays when there is a scheduled "Pre-quiz," class will begin at 8:15 instead of 8:30.  Students will have approximately 20 minutes for each "Pre-quiz."