Capstone Project – Analyzing a Real Transaction

The Capstone Project is the final part of the “Understanding Modern Finance” Specialization. The learners will be able to apply all the knowledge, skills, and understanding accumulated throughout the Specialization to study a real financial transaction that they will choose. The learners will gain insight into the reality of value creation. In a set of video instructions for the Project, some examples of similar work performed by the instructors’ students over the last 15 years will be provided as guidelines for the learners. The best way to proceed with the Project is to analyze an M&A transaction as it encompasses most topics studied in the Specialization. In addition, such transactions draw a lot of public attention that facilitates the search of the necessary information. However, learners are welcome to choose a transaction of a different kind. The key idea in any real transaction on capital markets is to create value for the stakeholders. To this end, learners will have to identify the motive and the implementation plan for the transaction and then to focus on valuation, proper financing, and actual deal completion and results.