Course in English
Description
For many years, most companies have been dealing with the challenge of having to grow their business on an international basis through export sales (international trade) or direct foreign investments (subsidiaries, JVs, etc). In the last decade, this strategy has become even more important as the world economy has become a true global market place for consumer and industrial goods as well as financial products and services. For small and large public or private corporations having to maintain sufficient competitiveness, the key question is therefore how to implement a proper financial strategy in order to deal with the various risks and matters associated with doing business in an international environment.
But not only that: the collapse of the internet bubble, the financial scandals and more recently the sub-prime crisis and the significant rise in some commodities prices have demonstrated the extent to which the global real economy and the various financial markets are completely inter-connected together thereby affecting the financial management of every business, independently from its size and/or geographical location (and/or willingness to grow on an international basis).
The course looks into how typical treasury, finance and strategic matters such as payments and cash management, risk management, working capital financing, capital expenditure financing, investing decision, M&A decision, capital structure and dividend policy are affected by various factors such as foreign exchanges rates, counterparty and country risks, credit spreads and interest rates, inflation, commodities prices, foreign tax regimes, foreign local market regulations, foreign takeover regulations, international investors behaviour, etc.
Methodology
The objective of this course is to combine theory and real business life experience. In order to reach this objective, the following method will be implemented for most of the subjects:
1) presentation of theoretical background with reference to existing literature
2) presentation of real-life examples and case studies leading to class discussions and/or students presentations
3) invitation of guest speakers from large multinational corporations, international banks or large consulting firms
Objectives
The objective is to provide students with a clear understanding of what today's management of a firm in a globalized trade and capital markets environment is about i.e.:
-identify treasury and finance matters/risks associated with doing business in an international environment
-understand the extent to which the business can be affected treasury and finance matters/risks
-present and discuss financial and banking products/techniques in order to manage international risks and optimize treasury and finance decisions
-understand the objectives and approach of Chief Financial Officers, Group Treasurers, Heads of M&A/Strategy, Investors' relations, Corporate Bankers, Investment Bankers, Traders and Risk managers when dealing with the reality of doing business on a globalized world
Lecture scheme
This scheme may be subject to changes depending on progression through the chapters and recent economic news.
" Introduction to International Financial Management
" The time value of Money
" Country risks
" International Trade Finance: short term and long term type transactions (financing, structuring)
" International Cash Management: payments, cash pooling
" Foreign Exchange Exposure Management
" Interest Rate Exposure Management
" International Financial Markets
-Equity Capital Markets
-Debt Capital Markets
" Foreign Direct Investment and Cross-Border Mergers & Acquisitions
" International Capital Structure
" International Tax considerations
Within the context of some of those chapters, some guest speakers from large multinational groups will be invited to share their real-life international experience
Text book and readings
Most readings will come from two main sources:
1) syllabus
2) Cheol S. Eun and Bruce G. Resnick "International Financial Management, 4th edition, Mc Graw-Hill, ISBN: 0072996862
As appropriate, additional readings will be assigned from various finance text books and media sources such as Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Bloomberg, Banks equity or credit research, etc.
Exam
The final grade will be based on a written or oral exam