The American University DBA 8341 Corporate Finance

Examines corporate finance and provides a comprehensive exploration of the theoretical and empirical literature on corporate financial policies and strategies. Corporate financial policies and strategies are studied, including managerial decisions regarding the issuance and retirement of debt, equity securities, and overall capital structure of organizations. Topics covered include governance and ownership structures; contracting between a firm and its management, creditors, and other stakeholders; dividends and stock repurchases; mergers, acquisitions, takeovers, buyouts, equity carve-outs, spin-offs; financial distress and its resolution; risk management; and the design of securities.

Learning outcomes

• Synthesize traditional capital budgeting concepts with valuing capabilities theory.
• Compare and contrast financial strategies used in risk management.
• Examine and apply solutions to the classical agency problem and to control its abuse by management.
• Differentiate valuation methods used to value securities and business.
• Critique different theories about the markets in which firms and investors operate.
• Distinguish between different capital structure strategies firms and payout theories firms use in strategic planning.
• Critique financial strategies and financial innovations related to raising capital through financial markets.
• Demonstrate proficiency finding knowledge through original research leading to the creation of new strategies and financial innovations.

Prerequisites

None