Retour

Introduction to corporate finance

ECTS : 0

Description du contenu de l'enseignement :

Context This course is dedicated to students who have not studied the financial structure of the firm and practiced corporate finance. In that context, it presents the central place of valuation in finance and the usefulness of financial theory to deal with it properly. 

Table of contents

Session 1: Introduction to the concept of value creation and financial analysis

Lecture: 3 hours

Definition and importance of corporate finance

Maximising shareholder value

Reading and interpreting financial statements

Analysis of financial ratios: liquidity, solvency, profitability

Session 2: Investment decision

Lecture: 3 hours

Analysis of investment projects: NPV, IRR, payback period

Investment portfolio management

Session 3: Financing decision 1/2

Lecture: 3 hours

Sources of financing: equity, debt and leverage effect

Cost of capital: cost of equity, cost of debt, weighted average cost of capital (WACC)

Session 4: Financing decision 2/2

Lecture: 3 hours

Optimal capital structure: Modigliani-Miller, Hamada theories

Session 5: Company valuation 1/2

Lecture: 3 hours

Valuation techniques: patrimonial approach, comparables method, Discounted Cash flow method (part 1)

Session 6: Company valuation 2/2

Lecture: 3 hours

Valuation technique: Discounted Cash flow method (part 2) 

Structuring of a Leverage Buy Out

Session 7: Revision for the final exam

Lecture: 3 hours

Practical case studies

Compétence à acquérir :

- Understand the fundamentals of corporate finance and their practical application

- Develop skills in financial evaluation and financial resource management

- Analyse a company's investment and financing decisions

- Understand the concepts of financial risk management

- Study financial strategies for maximising shareholder value

Mode de contrôle des connaissances :

Test after the last course (2 hours)

Bibliographie, lectures recommandées :

Vernimmen P., Quiry, & Le Fur Y. (2025), Corporate finance, Wiley 

Berk J. & DeMarzo P. (2020), Corporate Finance, Pearson

Brealey R. A., Myers, S. C. & Allen, F. (2017), Principles of Corporate Finance, Mc Graw Hill

Document susceptible de mise à jour - 01/04/2026
Université Paris Dauphine - PSL - Place du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny - 75775 PARIS Cedex 16