9. Debt finance Flashcards
gearing
ratio of debt: equity
(if high = seen as credit risk to banks)
long term debt (non-current liabilities) / equity
x 100 = gearing
EQUITY FINANCE - effect on balance sheet and future ability to raise money
- total equity on BS increases (b/c cap increases)
- gearing decrease (more attractive to banks)
- earnings per share decrease (less attractive to equity investors in future?)
DEBT FINANCE - effect on balance sheet and future ability to raise money
- non-current liabilities on BS increases
- gearing increases
- possibly harder to raise debt finance (might need security which is not available or req, discharge of earlier loan)
EQUITY FINANCE - funding cost
- dividends only payable if declared by board (board can postpone if insufficient distributable profits)
- dividends not tax deductible
DEBT FINANCE - funding cost
- Fixed amount payable regardless of profitability of the company (interest payments due)
- BUT floating rate interest - if interest rate low, debt might be cheaper than equity
- loan interest payments = tax deductible
EQUITY FINANCE -
Restrictions on Company affecting ability to raise funds
- SH resolution to allot new shares (SH might not want to dilute their shares)
- ltd cannot offer to public (s.755)
- limited market/investor base for private company shares
DEBT FINANCE -
Restrictions on Company affecting ability to raise funds
- possible borrowing restriction in company’s constitution
- contractual restriction in other loan agreements
- run out of assets to use as security
- gearing too high (seen as risky)
EQUITY FINANCE - degree of regulation and procedure
- company procedure for share issues (SR/OR/PMM)
- opposing SH can use voting power to obstruct
- FSMA 2000
DEBT FINANCE - degree of regulation and procedure
- no specific regulation or statutory procedure to follow when setting up a loan (unless in constitution - e.g. borrowing limits)
- if security required - must be reg. at CH (s.859A)
- negotiation of contract and security, keep records, FSMA
EQUITY FINANCE - Effect on balance of power within the company
- DILUTION of economic and/or voting power
DEBT FINANCE - Effect on balance of power within the company
- NO impact on balance of power within company (no voting rights - no direct say in decision making)
- BUT LOAN AGREEMENT MAY GIVE SIGNIFICANT CONTROLS over how company manages its affairs (undertakings, covenants)
EQUITY FINANCE - Degree of scrutiny of company affairs
- not on day-to-day management (dir) but on key decisions (which require SH approval)
- if new investor has significant voting power this can influence direction of company (e.g. block SR, appoint new directors)
- action against directors in case of mismanagement
- derivative action
DEBT FINANCE - Degree of scrutiny of company affairs
- loan agreement may contain REPRESENTATION, UNDERTAKINGS, EVENTS OF DEFAULT so that the borrower can be monitored closely
- security places restrictions on comp’s ability to dispose of assets freely
EQUITY FINANCE - future profitability
- profits can be ‘locked away’ as reserve on balance sheet (need not be distributed as a dividend)
DEBT FINANCE - future profitability
- regular interest payments must be made (harder to build up reserves on balance sheet)
EQUITY FINANCE - Risk for company if experiencing financial difficulties
- no risk, no obligation to declare dividends if insufficient profits
- impairs capital value of shares if bad performance
DEBT FINANCE - Risk for company if experiencing financial difficulties
- comp may breach financial covenants (loan agreement may contain financial performance targets)
- bank may call event of default for payment defaults or breach of rep or undertaking (which can lead to acceleration of loan, enforcement of security, or comp being placed into insolvency procedure)
BORROWING MONEY - STEP 1
PRE-CONTRACT STEPS (before instructing lawyers)
- B decides source of finance to use
- Bank checks financial status of borrower
- Bank carries out anti-laundering checks and ninternal compliance procedures on B and directors
- bank sends over draft term sheet (heads of term)
- both parties instruct lawyers
BORROWING MONEY - STEP 2
PRE-CONTRACT STEPS (after instructed lawyers)
- B’s solicitor checks borrower has no provision in constitution restricting power to borrow money
- B’s solicitor checks no restrictions placed on directors in articles (and they can act)
BORROWING MONEY - STEP 3
NEGOTIATION
- negotiate loan agreement and security doc
2. directors convene BM to review documentation and pass BR to enter loan agreement and security doc
BORROWING MONEY - STEP 4
SIGNING AND POST SIGNING
- signing of both docs
- fulfil conditions precedent before money is available
- bank’s solicitor registers security at CH and any other applicable reg (e.g. LR)
- CH - 21 days beginnign with date of creation
- other reg - during priority period - borrower keeps copy of security doc and related docs at offices
- borrower gives notice to company registrar of where docs are kept
BORROWING MONEY - STEP 4
DURING THE LOAN AGREEMENT
- Borrower makes interest payments to lender in accordance with loan agreement
- Borrower either:
- repays loan, or
- refinances loan on maturity (re-borrowing same amount on renegotiated terms from same bank)
- defaults under loan
if borrower defaults
lender can call its money in early and is either (1) repaid or (2) enforces security to satisfy debt
if event of default, bank can
(1) demand immediate repayment (acceleration)
(2) enforce security (satisfy debt)
OR if loan unsecured, apply to court to wind up borrower