Course Syllabus
Contact Information
Course Details
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Prerequisites
The main pre-requisite is a Corporate Finance course, e.g., FIN 5342. If you do not have this pre-requisite, or are uncertain whether you have met such pre-requisite, please do contact me prior to the course start date.
Course Materials
There are recommended textbooks and a list of required two HBS and UVA case studies and one HBS note. The HBS studies will include (1) HBS note on bankruptcy, (2) HBS case “TransDigm: The Acquisition of Aerosonic Corp.”, and (3) UVA case “Post-Merger Integration at Northrop Grumman Information Technology.” Of the recommended textbooks, the one by Professor Robert Bruner will be our main one. If you wish, you can borrow several copies of that I have. For the remaining textbooks, I have scanned the few selected chapters and have posted them on Canvas. Therefore, there is no need to purchase any of these textbooks, unless you plan on using it after the course. It is necessary, however, to acquire all HBS/ UVA cases.
(1) Applied Mergers & Acquisitions, by Robert Bruner, published by Wiley, ISBN 0-471-39506-4 (w/ CD-ROM) or ISBN 0-471-39505-6 (w/out CD-ROM) (henceforth B). There is an accompanying workbook, ISBN 0-471-39585-4, that contains useful examples & questions to chapters. We will use this textbook in class for: valuation (chapter 9), deal design (chapters 19, 20, 21, 22), additional issues in valuation (chapters 11, 15), legal issues (chapter 33), deal process (chapters 30, 31) and accounting issues (chapter 16).
(2) Taxes & Business Strategy, by M. Scholes, M. Wolfson, M. Erickson, M. Hanlon, E. Maydew, T. Shevlin, published by Pearson, ISBN-10: 0132752670 (henceforth S). We will use this textbook in class for taxable acquisitions of C & S corporations (chapters 14 & 15) and tax-free acquisitions of C corporations (chapter 16). If you wish, you can obtain these textbooks through the University of Oklahoma bookstore or through online book vendors.
(3) Investment Valuation: Tools and Techniques for Determining the Value of Any Asset by Aswath Damodaran, published by Wiley, ISBN: 978-1-118-01152-2 (henceforth AD). We will use this textbook in class for: valuation of targets (chapter 25), valuation of distressed firms (chapter 30), valuation of private firms (chapter 24), relative valuation (chapters 18, 19), valuation of firms (chapters 12, 14).
Grades
Breakdown
Video lecture/ HBS cases quizzes
(seven, each 4 pt., plus 5 pt. for last case class) 33 pt.
Midterm Exam 25 pt.
Final Exam 25 pt.
In-class participation via Zoom Polling
(seven, each 2 pt., plus 3 pt. for last case class) 17 pt.
TOTAL 100 pt.
Scale
Letter A grade = 90-100
Letter B grade = 80-89
Letter C grade = 70-79
Letter D grade = 60-69
Course Components
Student video lecture quizzes (33%)
Each class will be preceded by a video lecture quiz to cover the video materials prepared for said class. I anticipate that students complete those prior to the live class session. These will usually consist of 4-6 questions, possibly multiple-choice, that need be answered prior to the beginning of the live lecture. You will be able to attempt to answer each question twice. If you answer at least half of the questions correctly, you will receive full (i.e., four or five for the case class) points for this video lectures quiz. If you answer less than half of the questions correctly, you will receive half (i.e., two or two-and-half for the HBS / UVA case class) points for the quiz. Please note that this implies that even if a student answers all questions incorrectly, that student will still receive half of the points for each session. If you do not answer all quiz questions, you will receive zero points. Note that there is no opportunity to make up video lecture quizzes, therefore I encourage you to submit those on time.
Individual midterm exam (25 %)
Please anticipate an exam with some short answer questions, including some calculations, as well as some essay questions. The exam is based on the material in the course up until that the week before the midterm. The final exam will be a selection of five questions from a list of 25-30 such questions which list will be made available at least two weeks prior to the midterm exam.
Individual final exam (25 %)
Please anticipate an exam with some short answer questions, including some calculations, as well as some essay questions. The final exam is non-comprehensive, i.e., it is only based on the material covered in the second part (i.e., after the midterm exam) of the course. The final exam will be a selection of five questions from a list of 25-30 such questions, which list will be made available at least two weeks before the final exam.
Student In-class participation through Zoom Polling (17%)
We will use Zoom polling to collect student responses to questions/ numerical problems in class (usually four-five questions asked each session). These will be asked in a multiple-choice or short-answer format that will grant you full (i.e., two or three for the eighth case class) points for class participation and attendance in that session as long as you answer all questions and answer correctly at least one of them. I will indicate the correct answer after asking the question in the live session. If you must miss a live session, I invite you to make up for those points by submitting your answers to the asked in-class questions in an Excel file, after you review the live session, via this link: https://www.dropbox.com/request/8Vd0dzjiDOoOMQSioK1T. Please title the submitted make-up answers document as “LastFirstDate.xlsx” (e.g., “LitovLubo10192023.xlsx”). I anticipate that you send those answers by the end of the same week (Sunday) as the class, after viewing the live session recording.
HBS/ UVA Cases
I will include in the class contents two HBS and UVA case studies, namely, the . I anticipate that you will review those prior to the classes in which we will discuss them. Your participation in the discussion of these cases will count toward your overall score.
While there are no required HBS case reports, I will anticipate that you actively participate in discussing those cases and answering pre-live lecture quiz questions on those. To help guide such discussion, I have provided an instructive list of questions (which will also be asked in the individual pre-live-lecture quiz) for each of the cases that we will discuss. Lastly, please follow these suggestions when preparing for the discussion of each case:
- Please read the case thoroughly. Critically evaluate the information provided. Sometimes this information is incomplete. Please make reasonable assumptions regarding missing data/links. Justify them carefully.
- Please search for alternative courses of action and motivate your approach. Analyze and evaluate the alternatives considering both the strengths and the weaknesses of each. Decide what your specific recommendation is to be & fully develop the logic supporting your recommendation.
Class Format
Since this is an online course, we shall structure each weekly online session into three parts with a short two-minute break in between.
(1) Part 1: 50 minutes (followed by a short two-minute break)
(2) Part 2: 48 minutes (followed by a short two-minute break)
(3) Part 3: 48 minutes
Total time: 2 hours and 30 minutes (7pm-9:30pm CST)
Course Policies
Communication
Instructor |
Lubomir (Lubo) Litov |
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Office |
Adams Hall, Room 3258 |
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Phone |
917-714-8794 (mobile), lubomir.litov (Skype) |
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Fax |
405-325-5491 |
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Q&A hours |
Before (6:30pm-7pm) & after (9:30pm-10pm) Thursday class & by appointment (online or via phone) In-office Q&A hours are Monday and Thursday, 6pm – 7pm (Zoom) |
Teaching Assistant |
Robert Gholson, rgholson@ou.edu (office: office hour: by appointment, Zoom, 405-334-3625) |
Late Policy
Please refer to the attached syllabus for further details.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Land Acknowledgement
Long before the University of Oklahoma was established, the land on which the University now resides was the traditional home of the “Hasinais” Caddo Nation and “Kirikirʔi:s” Wichita & Affiliated Tribes.
We acknowledge this territory once also served as a hunting ground, trade exchange point, and migration route for the Apache, Comanche, Kiowa and Osage nations. Today, 39 tribal nations dwell in the state of Oklahoma as a result of settler and colonial policies that were designed to assimilate Native people.
The University of Oklahoma recognizes the historical connection our university has with its indigenous community. We acknowledge, honor and respect the diverse Indigenous peoples connected to this land. We fully recognize, support and advocate for the sovereign rights of all of Oklahoma’s 39 tribal nations. This acknowledgment is aligned with our university’s core value of creating a diverse and inclusive community. It is an institutional responsibility to recognize and acknowledge the people, culture and history that make up our entire OU Community.
Course Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalog.
Student Handbook
Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.
Student Support Services
OU offers a variety of services to support students. For more information, please refer to the Student Support Module in your Orientation course.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.
Copyright Statement and Privacy Information
Sessions of this course may be recorded or live-streamed. These recordings are the intellectual property of the individual faculty member and may not be shared or reproduced without the explicit, written consent of the faculty member. In addition, the privacy rights of others such as students, guest lecturers, and providers of copyrighted material displayed in the recording may be of concern. Students may not share any course recordings with individuals not enrolled in the class or upload them to any other online environment.
Academic Integrity
As a member of the OU community, it is your responsibility to protect your educational investment by knowing and following the rules. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity.
Academic honesty is incredibly important in this course. Cheating is strictly prohibited at the University of Oklahoma because it devalues the degree you are working hard to get. Should you know of someone else engaging in academic misconduct, please report it to your instructor or directly to the Office of Academic Integrity. Your instructor has a professional obligation to report academic misconduct.
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.
Religious Observance
It is the policy of the University to excuse the absences of students that result from religious observances and to reschedule examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays, without penalty. [See Faculty Handbook 3.15.2].
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The Accessibility and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) is committed to supporting students with disabilities to ensure that they can enjoy equal access to all components of their education. This includes your academics, housing, and community events. Please review OU's Accessibility Policy.
If you are experiencing a disability or a mental/medical health condition that has a significant impact on one or more life functions, you can receive accommodations to provide equal access. Possible disabilities include but are not limited to learning disabilities, AD(H)D, mental health, and chronic health. Additionally, we support students with temporary medical conditions (broken wrist, shoulder surgery, etc.) and pregnancy.
To discuss potential accommodations, please contact the ADRC at 730 College Avenue, (phone) 405-325-3852, or adrc@ou.edu.
Title IX Resources
For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24/7, counseling services, mutual no-contact orders, scheduling adjustments, and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. To learn more or to report an incident, please contact the Institutional Equity Office (M-F, from 8-5, at 405-325-3546) or OU Advocates (available 24/7 at 405-615-0013).
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth-Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact your instructor as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office.
Mental Health Support Services
If you are experiencing any mental health issues that are impacting your academic performance, counseling is available at the University Counseling Center (UCC). The Center is located on the second floor of the Goddard Health Center, at 620 Elm Rm. 201, Norman, OK 73019. To schedule an appointment, call 405-325-2911. For more information, please visit the University Counseling Center.
Final Exam Preparation Period
Pre-finals week will be defined as the seven calendar days before the first day of finals. Faculty may cover new course material throughout this week. For specific provisions of the policy please refer to OU's Final Exam Preparation Period policy.
Required Policies for Students On Campus
Emergency Protocol
During an emergency, there are official university procedures that will maximize your safety.
Severe Weather: If you receive an OU Alert to seek refuge or hear a tornado siren that signals severe weather:
- Look for severe weather refuge location maps located inside most OU buildings near the entrances
- Seek refuge inside a building. Do not leave one building to seek shelter in another building that you deem safer. If outside, get into the nearest building.
- Go to the building’s severe weather refuge location. If you do not know where that is, go to the lowest level possible and seek refuge in the innermost room. Avoid outside doors and windows.
- Get in, Get Down, Cover Up.
- Wait for official notice to resume normal activities.
Additional information about severe weather preparedness is available through the Department of Campus Safety's Emergency Management Division.
OU-Norman Campus: Tornado Refuge Protocol
Severe Weather Preparedness Video
Armed Subject/Campus Intruder
If you receive an OU Alert to shelter-in-place due to an active shooter or armed intruder situation or you hear what you perceive to be gunshots:
- Avoid: If you believe you can get out of the area without encountering the armed individual, move quickly towards the nearest building exit, move away from the building, and call 911.
- Deny: If you cannot flee, move to an area that can be locked or barricaded, turn off lights, silence devices, spread out, and formulate a plan of attack if the shooter enters the room.
- Defend: As a last resort fight to defend yourself. For more information, visit:
OU's Emergency Preparedness site
Shots Fire on Campus Procedure
Fire Alarm/General Emergency
If you receive an OU Alert that there is danger inside or near the building, or the fire alarm inside the building activates:
- Leave the building. Do not use the elevators.
- Know at least two building exits.
- Assist those who may need help.
- Proceed to the emergency assembly area.
- Once safely outside, Notify first responders of anyone who may still be inside the building due to mobility issues.
- Wait for official notice before attempting to re-enter the building.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
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