Chapter1
Chapter1
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Finance is key to a business’s growth. If businesses lack the money to implement long-term plans
or projects, they may turn to long-term finance options.
Sources of finance
There are a number of sources of long-term finance, including capital markets and bank borrowing.
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Capital markets
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Example
If a business is valued on a capital market at £100,000, a single share worth £10 would
equate to a 0.0001% ownership stake in the business.
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Primary function – Providing businesses with the opportunity to raise both debt and equity
finance
Secondary function – Providing investors with the opportunity to trade with each other
Bank borrowings
Banks can provide both short-term (fewer than 12 months) and long-term (more than 12 months)
loans, without impacting an entity’s ownership. Both represent amounts which need to be paid
back with interest.
Key terminology regarding the status of companies
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Definition
Public company
Private company
Doesn’t sell shares to the public and therefore owned by private investors.
Limited company
Abbreviation of `limited liability’, meaning shareholders only risk the loss of their investment
in a particular company, not their personal assets.
Unlimited company
Investors have no safety net and may need to repay debts from their private assets/funds.
Listed company
Unlisted company
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Listed Public Company Limited liability company selling shares publicly through a stock
market.
Unlisted Public Company Limited liability company selling shares to the public without
using a stock market.
Private Limited Company Limited company which doesn’t sell shares to the public.
Private Unlimited Unlimited company which doesn’t sell shares to the public.
Company
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Equity finance
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Equity investments are the buying and holding of shares on a stock market by individuals or firms.
There are two main ways by which an investor can make a return on an equity instrument:
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Ordinary shares
Winding up/liquidation In the event of winding up, these shares are the lowest priority
and ordinary shareholders will be compensated last.
Voting rights Ordinary shares bestow holders with the right to vote in
shareholder meetings.
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Provides its holder with a number of beneficial rights over holders of ordinary shares.
Preference shares
Dividends They carry a fixed dividend and companies are obliged to pay
dividends to preference shareholders before ordinary shareholders.
Winding up Higher priority than ordinary shares in the event of winding up,
however still subordinate to bonds or debt.
Risk Lower risk, but usually more expensive than ordinary shares. More
likely, but smaller, returns.
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Cumulative preference Shares receiving a regular dividend from the issuing company.
shares Missing payments in any year must be made up in a
subsequent period.
Participating preference Provides the shareholder with the opportunity to earn extra
shares dividends based on certain company targets being achieved.
Convertible preference Give the holder the right to convert the preference share to an
shares ordinary share at a later date
Debt finance
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Debt finance allows companies to raise finance without giving up ownership. Essentially, a
company is selling a promise to repay a fixed amount (with interest) at a later date.
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Definition
Security
A method for lenders to protect themselves from losing the money they have loaned, if the
recipient of the loan can’t repay their debts.
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There are two main kinds of security used for securing debt finance:
Fixed charge – Secures debt against a specific asset, e.g. land, which the debtor would gain
ownership of if the loan is defaulted upon. This is the less risky option for the debtor
Floating charge – Secures debt against general assets, e.g. inventory. This is the riskier
option for the debtors as there can be uncertainty surrounding what these assets may
include or their value
Debt covenants
Conditions or covenants used by lenders to protect themselves against default by the borrower.
Loans are made conditional on certain requirements.
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Ratio limits Lenders may request that certain financial ratios remain at a
minimum level.
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Bank loans • Provide specific amounts for a set time period, at either
variable (changes with the market) or fixed (doesn’t
change) interest rates
• Offered via the bond market and are freely transferable by the
holder
Convertible debentures Debentures which can be converted into equity shares of the
issuing company
Coupon
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A method of calculating a debt instrument’s yield, based on the difference between the current
purchase price and the redeemable value. It also takes into consideration the time value of money.
The return or yield is expressed as an annual percentage rate.
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NPVa
IRR = A+ x (B - A)
NPVa – NPVb
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Example
Yield to maturity
NPVa = £127.50
NPVb = £50.30
A = 12%
B = 18%
NPVa
IRR = A+ x (B – A)
NPVa – NPVb
127.5
IRR = 12 + x (18 – 12)
127.5 - (- 50.3)
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( )
Annual interest
X 100%
Current purchase price of debt
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Example
Annual interest
( Current purchase price of debt
) X 100%
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Bond markets
The capital or bond markets are the source of long-term debt finance for stock exchange listed
entities. Like the stock market, the bond market has a primary and secondary market.
Bond market
Secondary market Where bondholders can buy and sell bonds previously held
The most common process for issuing bonds is through underwriting, using the following process:
Underwriting process
The lead underwriter advises the bond issuer about the timing and price of the bond
issue
The syndicate re-sells the bonds to investors, either as a bond placement, e.g. sold to
specific investors, or using the bond market to sell to a wider range of investors
The underwriter effectively takes the risk of being unable to sell on the issue to end
investors, as they will have to buy any unsold shares
Listing on a recognised exchange (listed entities will already have done this)
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Definition
Market maker
A dealer in securities or other assets who agrees to buy or sell at specified prices at all times.
This ensures that the bonds have quoted buy and sell prices throughout the day to allow
them to be traded.
Sale-and-leaseback and warrants are two other examples of long-term finance. Established
companies with significant assets may lack cash and can therefore benefit from these options.
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Sale and leaseback Selling non-current assets and leasing them back. A drawback
of this option is that any potential capital gains on leased
assets are forgone.
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And finally...
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Stop!
How companies are classified in relation to their relationship with capital markets
Got it?
If not, go back and re-read the study text before moving on.
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