Module description
What is the module about?
This Private Equity module aims to provide students with a comprehensive overview of this fast-growing market from the perspective of the investor, management team/entrepreneur and fund manager – and concludes with an external assessment of the benefits (and failings) of private equity.
In terms of how the module is taught, this module aims to combine both a practical and academic understanding of the industry. The practical element focuses on the PE world and how it works but also focuses on why investments are attractive, taught by someone who is a partner at a private equity focused investment banking firm, has invested in PE deals and who has been backed as a manager in a start-up.
The academic element is taught in tutorial sessions based on a case study and academic research into the sector.
Overall, the module provides students with vital knowledge to be able to understand how private equity interacts with other alternative and mainstream asset classes and offers context relevant to those considering careers in investment banking, asset management, accountancy and private equity. It also provides an insight into different types of private equity (e.g. venture and growth capital) to address the relevance for start-ups and early-stage businesses.
Who should do this module?
Anyone with an interest in finance and desire to work within the industry.
Provisional Lecture Outline
Lecture 1: Introduction to Private Markets
Lecture 2: Early stage investing - Ventures
Lecture 3: Growth Equity
Lecture 4: Buyouts and Leverage
Lecture 5: Private Equity Strategies & Value Creation
Lecture 6: Alignment & Conflicts
Lecture 7: Risk Analysis
Lecture 8: Exits
Lecture 9: Returns
Lecture 10: The future of Private Equity
Assessment details
100% Coursework
The assessment requires students to write a high-quality investment paper as if this was a real-life task, which requires an advanced level of written competency.
Teaching pattern
Weekly Lectures
Weekly Tutorials
Suggested reading list
Key text or background reading
- Mastering Private Equity – Claudia Zeisberger
- Private Equity in Action: Case Studies – Claudia Zeisberger