BA 360 – Introduction to Financial Management

36057

Spring 2008

Oregon State University

 

 

Instructor:  Steven Gallaher                                           Class:  MW 2-3:20

Phone: 737-6049                                                         Room: GILB 224

Email: steven.gallaher@bus.oregonstate.edu                  TA: Sophie Ma, Scott Morgan, Brooke Pollack

Office: BEXL 422A                                                     

Office Hours: MW 12-1:45 and by appt.

Website: http://classes.bus.oregonstate.edu/ba360/

 

Required Text:              Brooks, Financial Management: A Modern Approach, Pearson Custom Publishing, 2007, Second Preliminary Edition.

 

Calculator:                    Highly recommend purchasing a TI BAII Plus  or Plus Professional Financial Calculator (cost around $28 to $45).  You will certainly need a financial calculator of some kind; certain test questions will be unanswerable otherwise.

 

Course Objective:          The objective of the course is to introduce students to the basic questions facing a financial manager and the tools a financial manager uses to find answers to these questions. The course will introduce the basic tools of financial and applications of financial theory in use today. Students will be introduced to legal, ethical, technological, and global issues facing a financial manager. The course is designed to enhance a student’s approach to financial decision-making and emphasizes technical analysis and quantitative approaches to decision making.

 

Grading:                        Students take three examinations during the course. Each examination will be a series of multiple choice questions, essay questions, and/or problems. Weekly homework assignments will be collected in class and evaluated for effort. At the Friday recitation sessions homework will be returned and solutions provided. Exams will be worth 100 points each for a total of 300 points. Homework and recitation attendance will be worth 160 points, 80 for turning in homework and 80 for attending recitation. An additional 40 points for attending recitation on examination return days for a class total of 500 points.  Baring extraordinary circumstances, there will not be a curve in this class.  465 points will be an A while 464 will be an A-; 400 points will be a B-, while 399 will be a C+.  (Should the extraordinary happen, 400 points will still be a B- or better.)

 

OSU and I have strict standards for grading.  There will be no “grade-inflation” in this course.  Your grade in this course will be determined exclusively by your performance on the material in this course as set out in the above section.  Extra work to improve your grade is not available.  Other things which will not (directly) affect your grade include your performance in past courses, the quality of your contributions in class, or the amount of time you spend in my office.  (Of course, some of these things may indirectly affect your grade a great deal.)   

 

 

Academic

Dishonesty:                   For expectations of student conduct see:  http://oregonstate.edu/admin/stucon/achon.htm  

Class Attendance:         I expect students to be on time and present for every class. Good study habits and efficient management of time will translate into good work habits and responsible employees and effective managers. If you cannot make an exam you need to notify me prior to the exam. Please leave a message on my telephone answering service or send me an e-mail message.

 

PREREQUISITES

 

(1) ECON 201:  Introduction to Microeconomics

(2) BA 213 Managerial  Accounting  or BA215 Money & Investment Management

(3) Junior Standing        

 

MEASURABLE  LEARNING OUTCOMES

Understand the fundamental theories, concepts, and tools of finance, including time value of money valuation techniques, the relationship between risk and return, and the use and interpretation of financial statements.

 

Apply financial management concepts and tools to the decisions faced by a manager to

Investment decisions

Financing decisions

Working capital management decisions

Financial analysis and planning.

 

Fundamental Theories, Concepts, and Tools

  • Time Value of Money (TVM)

Explain the concepts of discounting and compounding.

Find the present value and future value for a single cash flow, series of cash flows, annuity, and perpetuity.

Develop a loan amortization schedule.

Calculate an APR (annual percentage rate) and an EAR (effective annual rate).

Use TVM to value assets such as common stock, preferred stock, and bonds.

Describe and explain the variety of interest rates.

Identify and explain the factors that determine interest rates and the yield curve.

  • The Relation between Risk and Return

Calculate the historical return average and standard deviation of the historical returns.

Calculate the expected return, standard deviation, and beta for a portfolio.

Explain diversification, and distinguish between "diversifiable risk" and "nondiversifiable" risk.

Describe "beta coefficient".

Describe how beta coefficients can be estimated from historical returns.

Understand and use the CAPM (SML) to calculate required rates of return.

Explain the efficient market hypothesis (EMH) and its implications for an optimal investment strategy

  • Financial Statements

Understand the information contained in an income statement, balance sheet, statement of retained earnings, and statement of cash flows.

Summarize the differences between debt and equity.

 

Financial Decisions

  • Investment Decisions (Capital Budgeting)

Recognize and calculate the relevant cash flows for a potential investment.

Calculate and interpret a net present value (NPV), an internal rate of return (IRR), and a payback period for a capital budgeting analysis.

Make capital budgeting decisions under conditions of capital rationing and mutually exclusive investments.

Explain how to account for inflation in a capital budgeting analysis.

Recognize and explain the weaknesses in the capital budgeting process.

  • Financing Decisions (Capital Structure)

Calculate and interpret a weighted average cost of capital (WACC).

Understand the effect of floatation costs on the cost of capital.

Define financial leverage, capital structure, and optimal capital structure.

Understand the effects of capital structure on the risk and return characteristics of a company's debt and equity financing.

  • Working Capital Management Decisions

Understand the issues involved in setting corporate policy concerning current assets and current liabilities.

Understand the cash conversion cycle and issues involved in managing the cash conversion cycle

Briefly explain the difference between permanent financing needs and seasonal financing needs.

Understand and be able to analyze the issues involved in setting credit standards and terms.

Briefly describe the sources available for short-term debt financing.

  • Financial Analysis and Planning

Identify and explain the major categories of financial ratios.

Calculate and interpret typical financial ratios.

Use financial ratios to analyze company performance.

Identify weaknesses in ratio analysis. 

Calculate and interpret pro forma financial statements using % of sales method and / or specific information.

Identify the major reasons for estimating a pro forma financial statement.

 

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Accommodations are collaborative efforts between students, faculty and Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD). Students with accommodations approved through SSD are responsible for contacting the faculty member in charge of the course prior to or during the first week of the term to discuss accommodations. Students who believe they are eligible for accommodations but who have not yet obtained approval through SSD should contact SSD immediately at 737-4098.

 


BA 360 – Introduction to Finance Management

 

Course Outline

 

This is a provisional schedule.  I plan to go through the text at the pace of approximately one chapter per day.  However, it is entirely possible that we will get slightly ahead or behind as the quarter progresses.  In any case, exam dates will not change except in extreme circumstances.  (Generally, this means University closure.) 

 

Date

Reading

Homework due

Monday, March 31, 2008

Intro

 

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Chapter 1

 

Friday, April 04, 2008

Meet and room assignment

 

Monday, April 07, 2008

Chapter 2

1:2,6,8,10

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Chapter 3

2: 6,8,9,10,16,19,22

Friday, April 11, 2008

Chapter 1-2

 

Monday, April 14, 2008

Chapter 4

3: 3,4,5,6,9,15,20

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Review

4: 3,6,12,17,18

Friday, April 18, 2008

Chapter 3-4, review

 

Monday, April 21, 2008

EXAM 1

 

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Chapter 5

 

Friday, April 25, 2008

Exam 1 return

 

Monday, April 28, 2008

Chapter 6

5: 1,2,6,9,10,12,16

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Chapter 7

6: 2,4,6,8,10,11,14

Friday, May 02, 2008

Chapter 5-6

 

Monday, May 05, 2008

Chapter 7

 

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Chapter 8

7: 1,3,6,20,23,24,28,30,32

Friday, May 09, 2008

Chapter 7-8

 

Monday, May 12, 2008

Chapter 9

8: 6,8,10,12,16,20

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Review

9: 3,12,13,16,18,19,20

Friday, May 16, 2008

Chapter 9, review

 

Monday, May 19, 2008

EXAM 2

 

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Chapter 10

 

Friday, May 23, 2008

Exam 2 return

 

Monday, May 26, 2008

NO CLASS

 

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Chapter 11 & 12

10: 2,4,7,9,14 (mkt only), 17

Friday, May 30, 2008

Chapter 10

 

Monday, June 02, 2008

Chapter 13

11: 13,15,17,19; 12:8,9,10,12

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Review

13: 8,10,11,18,20

Friday, June 06, 2008

Chapter 11-13, review

 

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Final, 2:00 - 4:00