Introduction
Corporate finance refers to the capital structure of a company or an organization. It encompasses the funding resources, management of finances, and efforts of the management to raise the company’s worth. The techniques and analyses used to prioritize and allocate financial resources are also included in corporate finance. So, knowledge about corporate finance is essential for every undergraduate student. This article will tell you everything you need to know about corporate finance, its types, and areas.
What is Corporate finance?
Corporate finance is a branch of finance that focuses on how businesses handle funding, capital requirements, accountancy, and investment strategies. Corporate finance is generally concentrated on optimizing value for shareholders. Businesses strive to create value for shareholders via short- and long-term financial planning. Moreover, they establish frameworks and develop measures to implement financial policies. Their operations include everything from financing to tax planning.
Corporate finance teams are responsible for managing and monitoring their companies’ financial processes and capital investment choices. Corporate finance teams have to make the following decisions:
- How to undertake a planned investment?
- What will be the source of those investments, such as stocks and debt financing?
- Will the Stock Dividends be paid regularly to the shareholders?
- What percentage of dividends will go to every shareholder?
- How to manage the company’s assets, liabilities, and inventory?
What are the tasks of corporate finance?
Securing the capital for investments
Corporate finance is in charge of obtaining money, whether in the form of loans or equities. A firm can take loans from banks and other financial institutions, or it can issue debt instruments on the stock exchange through hedge funds. When a firm requires a large number of funds for commercial development, it may decide to sell the shares to stockholders.
Corporate finance keeps a healthy balance between the debt and equities of a company. If a company borrows too much for financing investments, it might increase the risk of bankruptcy. Similarly, if a company relies too much on equities, it decreases the value of equities and diminishes the shareholders’ profits. So, corporate finance regulates debt and equities and keeps them balanced.
Short-term Financial Management
Short-term financial management is another responsibility of corporate finance. It ensures that there is sufficient money in circulation to continue business operations. Total assets and total liabilities and liquidity and operating income are the focus of short-term financial management. A business is expected to pay all its existing liability requirements on time. It entails possessing sufficient existing liquidity position to prevent a company’s activities from being hindered. As a liquidity fallback, short-term financial management may also entail obtaining extra lines of credit or issuing corporate bonds.
What are the types of corporate finance?
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Overdrafts
A bank overdraft refers to a company withdrawing the entire available amount in the bank account, and the balance becomes zero. Companies and firms with prior agreements with the banks can overdraw the amount even if their account balance is zero. The total overdrawn amount has to be within the prescribed limits of the agreement. Banks charge the concerned company at the standard interest rate for overdrafts. In case of a company withdraws the amount that exceeds the prescribed limit, then the company has to pay extra charges at a higher interest rate. This sort of corporate finance happens in the short term.
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Credit Transactions
Credit transactions or trade credits occur between businesses in their dealings of purchasing and selling goods and services. For example, if company A purchases goods and services from company B and does not make the upfront payment. Company A will pledge to company B to pay the due amount in one month, two months, or three months. The time duration is mutually decided between the companies. It is another example of short-term corporate finance where transactions between companies are based on credit.
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Accrual Accounts
Companies’ bookkeeping mechanisms comprise two essential accounting frameworks. One refers to the accrual accounts, and another is a cash account. Many businesses use accrual accounts for financial operations. Based on this strategy, businesses generate an invoice for sale the moment it occurs. These accounts does not necessarily entail that the firm has received the cash for that sale invoice. It is a method of recording expenses the moment they happen. It is short-term corporate finance that relates to the sale of credit. Whenever a company sells a good or service, it registers the invoice without actually receiving the amount. The same holds for purchasing goods and services from other companies.
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Financial lease
The term “financial lease” refers to a corporate finance arrangement in which the financial institution owns the asset until the lease is paid off. Corporations may hold operational control over the assets until they have paid the amount back in this arrangement.
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Operating Lease
Operating lease is another type of corporate finance. Companies allow the operating lease of a valuable asset to another company, firm, or financial institution for usage. However, the leasing company does not give legal ownership rights to the leased company. Leased assets are helpful for companies in financing the liability obligations for capital investment.
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Bank Loans
The most prevalent funding method is a bank loan, which every other firm uses to plan its development. Short-term to long-term funding solutions are available to businesses.
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IPO (Initial Public Offering)
The process of turning a private corporation into a public company by offering shares to the general public. This method of business financing guarantees that finances are obtained from outside sources rather than relying on revenues and new initiatives to grow the company.
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Debentures
Debentures are a kind of corporate financing used by major firms to borrow money at a set interest rate. A debenture is hence similar to a loan instrument document confirming that the organization is obligated to pay back the loan and the agreed-upon fixed rate of interest. Debentures are a sort of corporate financing that has become a component of the capital structure of many companies.
Conclusion
Corporate finance is a short-term and long-term financial planning of companies to accrue resources and plan for financing the major investments. The financial teams try to keep a healthy balance between the equities and debts of a company through corporate financing. you can also invest in amc stocktwits
Author Bio:
Robert Fawl is a professional Content writer & Content Marketer. Based in London, Robert is an author and blogger with experience in encounter composing on various topics including but not limited to Essay Writing, Dissertation Writing, Thesis Writing Services, Assignment Writing, etc.
