The central focus of this course is the role of finance, as a function of management, in maximising the value of the firm. Course participants will be expected to acquire the necessary conceptual insights, and analytical skills to perform the finance function in rapidly changing business environments, within and across countries. The course will be designed to strike a balance among three interrelated areas, viz, 'macro finance'; 'investments', with focus on decision making for choosing securities for the portfolio; and 'managerial or business finance', involving the management of the finance function at the level of a firm. Thus, the course will cover such topics as the essential concepts in finance, financial analysis, working capital management, short-term financial decisions and strategic long-term financing decisions including mergers, divestitures and leveraged buy-outs.
