Venture Capital & Private Equity

Catalog description

Entrepreneurial firms face financial issues that are significantly different from those facing established companies. This course focuses on analyzing the special finance issues faced by such companies and on the knowledge and tools needed by managers of these firms. Topics covered will include stages of venture capital development, start-up financing (venture capital, leasing, bank loans), financial management of rapidly growing firms, deal structuring for entrepreneurial firms, and financial distress issues and concerns. Initial public offerings will also be examined as a culminating event for entrepreneurial firms. The course also covers the broader topic of private equity. The course investigates why firms seek private rather than public equity and identifies differences between private and public equity investments. The recent trend of investment in emerging economies by private equity funds is also examined. Students will create a deal or pitch book as part of the class.