IBF418 Mergers and Acquisitions
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
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International Business and Finance
Sahrudin Sarajčić
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This subject would enable students to communicate the practical fundamentals of mergers and acquisitions. It provides insight into M&A decision making process. Students would be given a demonstration on the range of financing options in order to develop effective strategies and tactics for buyers and sellers. It also examines the impact of regulatory and statutory structures on the M&A process.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
1. Patrick A. Gaughan. (2007). Mergers, Acquisitions, and Corporate Restructurings, 4th Edition. John Wiley and Sons ISBN: 0471705640, 9780471705642
Additional Literature
naTeaching Methods
The methods include lectures (which may involve power point presentation
Video and audio aids) and class discussions.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction | |
| 2 | Introduction to Mergers and Acquisition | Chapter 1 |
| 3 | Merger Strategy | Chapter 4 |
| 4 | Hostile Takeover | Chapter 5 and 6 |
| 5 | Assignment or Quiz 1 | |
| 6 | Corporate Restructuring | Chapter 11 |
| 7 | Review for midterm exam | |
| 8 | Midterm Exam | |
| 9 | Restructuring in Bankruptcy | Chapter 12 |
| 10 | Corporate Governance | Chapter 13 |
| 11 | Corporate Governance (continue) | Chapter 14 |
| 12 | Assignment or Quiz 2 | |
| 13 | Valuation for Mergers and Acquisitions | Chapter 15 |
| 14 | Review for Final exam | |
| 15 | Group Project Presentation |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IBF418.1 | Course | - | - | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Mid-Term Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Assignment or Quiz
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Group project
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture hours
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Home study
28 hours ⏳ (14 week × 2 h)
Assignment or Quiz
13 hours ⏳ (1 week × 13 h)
Midterm exam study
26 hours ⏳ (1 week × 26 h)
Final exam study
38 hours ⏳ (1 week × 38 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [IBF418] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Mar 03, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| IBF418 | Mergers and Acquisitions | 3 | 0 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | Junior Standing | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Sahrudin Sarajčić | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Currently not available |
|||||||
| ssarajcic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This subject would enable students to communicate the practical fundamentals of mergers and acquisitions. It provides insight into M&A decision making process. Students would be given a demonstration on the range of financing options in order to develop effective strategies and tactics for buyers and sellers. It also examines the impact of regulatory and statutory structures on the M&A process. | |||||||||
| Textbook | 1. Patrick A. Gaughan. (2007). Mergers, Acquisitions, and Corporate Restructurings, 4th Edition. John Wiley and Sons ISBN: 0471705640, 9780471705642 | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | The methods include lectures (which may involve power point presentation, video and audio aids) and class discussions. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction | |||||||||
| Week 2 | Introduction to Mergers and Acquisition | Chapter 1 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Merger Strategy | Chapter 4 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Hostile Takeover | Chapter 5 and 6 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Assignment or Quiz 1 | |||||||||
| Week 6 | Corporate Restructuring | Chapter 11 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Review for midterm exam | |||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm Exam | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Restructuring in Bankruptcy | Chapter 12 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Corporate Governance | Chapter 13 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Corporate Governance (continue) | Chapter 14 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Assignment or Quiz 2 | |||||||||
| Week 13 | Valuation for Mergers and Acquisitions | Chapter 15 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Review for Final exam | |||||||||
| Week 15 | Group Project Presentation | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | Not Allowed | ||
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Mid-Term Exam | 1 | 20 | Not Allowed | ||
| Assignment or Quiz | 2 | 20 | Not Allowed | ||
| Group project | 1 | 20 | Not Allowed | ||
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Home study | 2 | 14 | 28 | |||
| Assignment or Quiz | 13 | 1 | 13 | Midterm exam study | 26 | 1 | 26 | |||
| Final exam study | 38 | 1 | 38 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 27/03/2026 | |||||||||