AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course aims at completing graduate students’ training by outlining the various tools used in corporate financial communication and in investor relations. In particular, it provides in-depth knowledge on business plan, and on documents different from the annual reports, as well as the main events of financial communication dedicated to the capital market. At the end of this course, students will: • Know the most important corporate financial communication tools and their content (e.g., industrial plan, restructuring plan); • Understand how the corporate investor relation functions convey financial information to the capital market (subjects, channels of communication, and topics); • Can critically analyze corporate financial communication, retrieving information available in different documents and interpreting data using an integrated approach.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Knowledge and comprehension Students should acquire adequate knowledge of the channels used to diffuse corporate financial information to capital markets and the different tools used to communicate forward-looking information, being especially aware of (i) the logics underpinning financial plans, (ii) the data and sources needed to prepare them, (iii) the role of estimates and assumptions, and (iv) the users’ perspective.

Ability to apply knowledge Students should be able to apply the acquired knowledge to prepare and interpret forward-looking financial statements underpinning different business plans.

Autonomy of judgement Students will be required to apply the acquired knowledge using their own judgment and critical reasoning both theoretically and practically, especially to discuss the assumptions underpinning forward-looking data and to identify the challenges for companies operating in the energy industry and/or companies implementing enviornmental transitions.

Communication skills Students must acquire the technical language typical of the discipline in order to communicate clearly and unambiguously with the various professional profiles involved in the preparation and interpretation of financial plans and with non-specialist interlocutors.

Learning skills Students must develop adequate learning skills that will enable them to continue to independently explore the main themes of the discipline, especially in the working contexts in which they will operate.

Through the participative teaching methods used, students will also acquire the following skills:

- Managing social interactions, showing collaborative attitude, constructive communication in different contexts;

- Showing attitude to respect others and their needs, willingness to overcome prejudices, to express and understand different points of view;

- Manage conflict, build trust and show empathy;

- Communicate effectively in written and oral form, adapting one's communication to the context and making use of a variety of sources;

- Developing and displaying critical thinking skills, ability to use, process and evaluate information, argumentative skills.

TEACHING METHODS

Teaching combines frontal lectures and participative teaching methods, organising debates and inserting flipped classes depending on the number of students enrolled and attending the classes. The course also encompasses company testimonials, group work on company cases and tests.

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities  and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Professor Serena Scotto (scotto@economia.unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

• Corporate tools for financial communication purposes
• Financial information: historical versus forward-looking data
• The investor relations function and capital markets
• Preparing and interpreting different business plans
• Assumptions, judgment, and the reliability of financial information
• Challenges for companies operating in the energy industry and/or implementing processes of environmental transition

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Teaching materials will be provided during the course and uploaded on the Aulaweb website.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Lessons start in the second term.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

During the official examinations, the examination consists of a written exam.

Active participation in the various activities during the course will allow for an ongoing assessment complementary to the one achieved through the final examination.

Further details on the examination procedures will be communicated to students at the beginning of the semester via the official teaching page on Aulaweb and during the first classes.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The final examination aims at verifying that the student has understood and is able to effectively communicate the types of forward-looking financial information companies should communicate to users, to answer to their information needs. Students must also be able to prepare appropriate reports communicating forward-looking performance and financial position of companies operating in different contexts, and to address specific challenges of those operating in the energy industry and/or implementing environmental transitions, as well as to work on different documents and sources to create and interpret information using an integrated approach.