Syllabus

Title
1542 Finance Perspectives on International Strategy
Instructors
Univ.Prof. Thomas Lindner, Ph.D.
Contact details
Type
PI
Weekly hours
2
Language of instruction
Englisch
Registration
09/23/20 to 09/28/20
Registration via LPIS
Notes to the course
Subject(s) Master Programs
Dates
Day Date Time Room
Thursday 10/08/20 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM Online-Einheit
Thursday 10/15/20 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM Online-Einheit
Thursday 11/05/20 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM Online-Einheit
Thursday 11/12/20 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM Online-Einheit
Thursday 11/19/20 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM Online-Einheit
Thursday 12/03/20 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM Online-Einheit
Thursday 12/10/20 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM Online-Einheit
Thursday 12/17/20 09:00 AM - 11:00 AM Online-Einheit
Procedure for the course when limited activity on campus

Welcome to the (online) class!

Welcome to the Finance Perspectives on International Strategy class. I look forward to working with you on topics around International Corporate Finance, International Capital Markets, and International Accounting. The class will be fully digital, and I will keep sessions where student presence is required to a minimum. However, I will update materials and inputs on learn@WU as we go, so please come back to this page regularly. Given the restrictions to regular teaching because of Covid-19, this class will be taught in an asynchronous online format. The final exam will (conditions permitting) be held on campus.

The core materials will be structured into modules, which correspond to what would be class sessions in normal times. Each class session will have a number of small presentation inputs (essentially, presentation slides with audio and sometimes video comments), readings, and group assignments. You can find the files in the file repository. The videos have an indication of which session they belong to and which part of the session they are in the title (e.g., the video starting with S1P2 is part 2 of session 1). Each session (except the first) starts with a short exercise that I encourage you to solve together with your groups (see learn@WU for which group you have been allocated to). After, I will discuss some new materials, and sometimes an additional reading. We will apply these new materials in small exercises and case studies. In some sessions, there will be small exercises to complete before the following session. Session 7 is reserved for your work on a case study.

Whenever you have a question or require consultation on academic issues, please reach out by email to thomas.lindner@wu.ac.at.

Looking forward to working with you!

Thomas

Contents

The course follows the below structure:

 

  1. Introduction to the class and to country risk (read Agmon, 2006)
  2. International capital budgeting (read Gallo, 2015)
  3. Taxes and capital structure in the international firm (read Blass & Yafeh, 2001)
  4. International financial reporting and taxation
  5. Real options, joint ventures, and international mergers and acquisitions
  6. Project finance (read Kardes et al., 2013)
  7. International capital budgeting case study
  8. Final exam
Learning outcomes

In this class, students will learn how to use tools and methods from finance to evaluate strategic decisions in international business. The core topic of the class is how firms can manage country risk. We will start with general insights into international corporate finance and financial markets. We will then apply those insights to questions that are at the forefront of international strategy. Prior knowledge in finance is not necessary beyond what is covered in WU's Common Body of Knowledge (principles of corporate finance and basic mathematics).

Attendance requirements

The class is asynchronous.

Teaching/learning method(s)

This class uses a mixture of presentations, case studies, interactive and homework exercises, and a final exam. In session 4, a guest lecturer from EY will join us to talk about international financial reporting and taxation. In session 6, a guest lecturer from UniCredit will join us to talk about international project finance.

Assessment

· 60% final exam (individual-level)

· 25% case report (group-level). Expectations for the case report: Approximately one page (12 pt, 1.5 spacing) answer per question (plus appendix where necessary). Ideally, a question-answer-question-answer format. Reference to literature outside this class is possible, but not necessary.

· 15% peer rating (individual-level)

Readings
1 Author: Kirt C Butler
Title: Multinational finance: Evaluating opportunities, costs, and risks of operations

Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
Year: 2012
Content relevant for class examination: Yes
Recommendation: Strongly recommended (but no absolute necessity for purchase)
Type: Book
2 Author: Adrian Buckley
Title: International finance: A practical perspective

Publisher: Pearson Higher Education
Year: 2012
Content relevant for class examination: Yes
Recommendation: Strongly recommended (but no absolute necessity for purchase)
Type: Book
3 Author: Piet Sercu
Title: International finance: Theory into practice

Publisher: Princeton University Press
Year: 2009
Content relevant for class examination: Yes
Recommendation: Reference literature
Type: Book
4 Author: Richard A Brealey, Stewart C Myers, Franklin Allen
Title: Principles of corporate finance

Publisher: McGraw-Hill
Content relevant for class examination: Yes
Recommendation: Reference literature
Type: Book
5 Author: Stefano Gatti
Title: Project Finance in theory and practice

Publisher: Academic Press
Recommendation: Reference literature
Type: Book
Last edited: 2020-10-20



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