uwloo

AFM 477Mergers and Acquisitions

Units
0.50
Faculty
Arts
Subject
Accounting and Financial Management

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 5 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

This course develops understanding of the strategic acquisition and divestiture process, particularly as it relates to corporations in Canada. The course focuses on integrating key analytical skills in the interpretation of financial statements and valuation methodologies in the context of mergers and acquisitions of existing firms, as well as spinoffs, restructurings, buyouts and divestitures of existing assets. The course concentrates on value creation and institutional, strategic, ethical, governance, and control issues.

Prerequisites

  • Complete 1 of the following
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • AFM274 - Introduction to Corporate Finance (0.50)
      • AFM275 - Corporate Finance (0.50)
      • ACTSC391 - Corporate Finance (0.50)
    • Must have completed the following:

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 001396948 / 50MW 14:30–15:50

Winter 2027 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 00135850 / 50MW 13:00–14:20
LEC 701136651 / 9999Online or by arrangement

Reviewed on UW Flow

92% liked it83% easy100% useful

From 13 ratings and 4 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Garvin makes the class really engaging. Overall it's pretty easy. The midterm is similar to the posted practice questions in terms of difficulty, and the group assignments are marked relatively easily as well. Everything is applicable to real life M&A deals.

    Dec 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • I thoroughly enjoyed going to every class for AFM 477. With Garvin Blair, he will make class entertaining with personal stories and open the floor to discussion while making progress through the course content. Participation is worth 20% so show up and talk as each class is 1% of your grade.

    Apr 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • You better believe it, da best!

    Nov 2022 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Blair is amazing. Learnt a lot in the class.

    May 2017 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

18 posts and comments in 14 threads mention AFM 477, May 2015 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Spring 2024

Fall 2023

Spring 2023

AFM 3A electives 1 point, 5 comments

u/Latancy: “… I wanted to take AFM 323 but its full, and AFM 477 (Mergers and Acquisitions with Prof Garvin Blair, conflicts with my AFM 382 tutorial) so since I don't really have a choice, I plan on taking AFM 424. Please let me know if there are any other courses I should look into. …”

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Fall 2022

Winter 2022

Winter 2019

AFM Courses 6 points, 5 comments

u/HachimanHiki: “… AFM 322 Derivatives AFM 377 PE n VC AFM 424 Equities AFM 463 US Tax AFM 475 Fixed Income AFM 477 M&A Any insight on the courses above would be greatly appreciated!”

u/pwcunt: “… AFM477: M&A is interesting and with Blair teaching it, you're going to learn a lot. There's presentations and as long as you have genuine interest for it and work hard, it's doable. Although challenging. …”

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Fall 2017

PSA: UWCourseLinker back up, disabled by default, call with [[course code]] 39 points, 31 comments

u/RayDWatson: “Testing all course codes 1/61: [[ACC604]] [[ACC605]] [[ACC606]] [[ACC607]] [[ACC608]] [[ACC609]] [[ACC610]] [[ACC611]] [[ACC620]] [[ACC621]] [[ACC622]] [[ACC623]] [[ACC624]] [[ACC625]] [[ACC626]] …”

u/RayDWatson: “… [[AFM462]] [[AFM463]] [[AFM471]] [[AFM472]] [[AFM473]] [[AFM474]] [[AFM475]] [[AFM476]] [[AFM477]] [[AFM478]] [[AFM479]] [[AFM480]] [[AFM481]] [[AFM482]] [[AFM483]] [[AFM484]] [[AFM491]] [[AFM492]] [[AFM501]] [[AFM502]] [[AFM503]] [[AFM504]] [[AHS100]] [[AHS107]] [[AHS150]] …”

u/UWCourseLinker: “… Securities AFM 475 - Fixed Income Securities AFM 476 - Advanced Corporate Finance AFM 477 - Mergers and Acquisitions AFM 478 - International Financial Management AFM 479 - Cases and Applications in Finance II AFM 480 - Selected Problems and Cases in Managerial Accounting AFM 481 …”

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Any way to disable UWCourseLinker from posting? 16 points, 26 comments

“posting a reply to my comment I find the bot annoying.”

u/Jackhofmann: “PSYCH 483 PSYCH 484 PSYCH 485 PSYCH 486 PSYCH 490R PSYCH 499A PSYCH 499B PSYCH 499C PSYCH 621 PSYCH 630 PSYCH 677A PSYCH 704A PSYCH 704B PSYCH 707 PSYCH 710 PSYCH 714 PSYCH 717 PSYCH 720A PSYCH 721A …”

u/Jackhofmann: “… 391 AFM 401 AFM 415 AFM 418 AFM 424 AFM 425 AFM 428 AFM 429 AFM 433 AFM 444 AFM 462 AFM 476 AFM 477 AFM 478 AFM 479 AFM 482 AFM 491 AHS 107 AHS 600 AMATH 231 AMATH 250 AMATH 251 AMATH 271 AMATH 331 AMATH 342 AMATH 350 AMATH 351 AMATH 391 AMATH 442 AMATH 453 AMATH 456 AMATH 463 …”

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Spring 2016

Anyone took AFM 477? 5 points, 0 comments

u/loox3: “Mergers and acquisitions course with Garvin Blair. How much accounting knowledge do you need? Is tough to get a decent grade (>75%) Any insight on course structure also appreciated.”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar