Includes index.

"This book is more than a collection of ideas, equations, and chapters. It has an important integrating theme-that of value creation. This theme, which is carried throughout the book, provides a framework that helps students understand the relations between the various concepts covered in the book and makes it easier for them to learn these concepts. The concept of value creation is the most fundamental notion in corporate finance. It is in stockholders' best interests for value maximization to be at the heart of the financial decisions made within the firm. Thus, it is critical that students be able to analyze and make business decisions with a focus on value creation. This theme is introduced in the first chapter of the book and is further developed and applied throughout the remaining chapters"--