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20391-01 - Lecture: Corporate Financial Management (6 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2025 |
| Course frequency | Every fall sem. |
| Lecturers | Pascal Gantenbein (pascal.gantenbein@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | Value-oriented financial management involves both internal and external dimensions. Internally, it includes key financial activities such as resource allocation, capital procurement, and performance measurement. Externally, it shapes a company's relationship with financial stakeholders—including lenders, investors, and the capital markets. Accordingly, the course covers a broad spectrum of topics, including financial management and corporate governance, portfolio management, equity capital transactions (e.g., equity offerings, capital reductions, share buybacks, and going private), as well as corporate restructurings, reorganizations, and mergers and acquisitions. Building on core corporate finance principles, the course explores practical applications relevant to both industrial firms and financial institutions. A highlight of the course is a series of interactive workshops with industry professionals. In case discussions, participants are expected to apply economic concepts, management theories, and analytical tools introduced in this and previous courses. They will critically evaluate the financial soundness of strategic decisions, investment initiatives, and corporate transactions. Moreover, they’ll be asked to place these decisions in the broader context of market competition, customer demands, supply chain dynamics, technological trends, and the overall business environment. The case studies will address topics such as corporate strategy and financing, governance, M&A, succession planning, restructurings, and leveraged buyouts. |
| Learning objectives | This course is designed to introduce participants to the key issues and challenges in value-oriented corporate financial management, with a focus on the perspective of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Within an organization, the CFO’s responsibilities extend beyond financing activities, liquidity management, and hedging—they also encompass capital allocation across business segments, including portfolio decisions such as acquisitions and divestitures. As such, financial management is deeply integrated with overall business development and plays a critical role in shaping decisions that impact the company’s value. As a core component of the course, participants will apply the concepts covered in lectures by analyzing, presenting, and discussing real-world business case studies. These cases will require students to assess specific corporate situations, identify key challenges from the viewpoint of a manager, consultant, or financial analyst, and develop well-founded recommendations, which they will present and defend in class. |
| Bibliography | The mandatory readings will be shared during the course. |
| Comments | |
| Weblink | Weblink |
| Admission requirements | Completed Bachelor's degree in Business and Economics |
| Course application | Registration: Please enroll in the Online Services (services.unibas.ch); Eucor-Students and mobility students of other Swiss Universities or the FHNW first have to register at the University of Basel BEFORE the start of the course and receive their login data by post (e-mail address of the University of Basel). Processing time up to a week! Detailed information can be found here: https://www.unibas.ch/de/Studium/Mobilitaet.html After successful registration you can enroll for the course in the Online Services (services.unibas.ch). Applies to everyone: Enrolment = Registration for the course and the exam! |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Wednesday | 16.30-20.00 | Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät, Auditorium |
Dates
| Modules |
Module: Business Field: Management Accounting (Master's Studies: Business and Technology) Module: Business Field: Strategy and Organization (Master's Studies: Business and Technology) Module: Core Courses in Finance, Controlling, Banking (Master's Studies: Business and Economics) Module: Field Electives in Finance and Money (Master's Studies: Finance and Money) Module: Finance Field: Financial Management and Investment (Master's Studies: Finance and Money) Module: Specific Electives in Business and Economics (Master's Studies: Business and Economics) Module: Specific Electives in Finance, Controlling, Banking (Master's Studies: Business and Economics) |
| Assessment format | record of achievement |
| Assessment details | Written exam: grade weight 50% Case work (presentation, summary, discussion): grade weight 50% |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration, dereg: cancel course registration |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | 1-6 0,1 |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Business and Economics , studiendekanat-wwz@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Faculty of Business and Economics |