Ch 1 - Intro to Corporate Finance Flashcards
3 types of financial management decisions
- Capital budgeting decisions
- Capital structure decisions
- Working capital management decisions
Capital budgeting decisions
- choosing long-term investments to grow the firm
- ex: Apple investing in podcasts to turn into TV shows (takes a long time to develop benefits for the investor)
Capital structure decisions
- how long-term investments are paid for
- usually an investor or borrowing capital from a financial institution
- ex: Royal Caribbean refinances debt, promises to pay back 11% interest to investors
Working capital management decisions
- what to do with revenues
- managing cash or liquid component of the corporation
3 forms of business organization
- Sole proprietorship
- Partnership (general and limited)
- Corporation
Sole proprietorship definition
A business owned by a single individual
Sole proprietorship advantages (4)
- easiest to start
- least regulated
- single owner keeps all the profits
- taxed once as personal income
Sole proprietorship disadvantages (4)
- unlimited liability
- limited to life of owner
- equity capital limited to owner’s personal wealth
- difficult to sell ownership interest
Partnership definition (general)
A business formed by two or more co-owners
General vs Limited partnership
General - partners have equal share, corresponding unlimited liability
Limited - usually for a newcomer to the partnership
- portion of the ownership, limited or no liability
- attracts individuals fearful of liability
Partnership advantages (4)
- two or more owners, sharing responsibilities
- more human and financial capital available
- relatively easy to start
- income taxed once as personal income
Partnership disadvantages (4)
- unlimited liability
- partnership dissolves when one partner dies or wants to sell (agreements must be rewritten)
- difficult to transfer ownership
- possible disagreements between partners
Corporation definition
A business created as a distinct legal entity owned by one or more individuals or entities
Corporation advantages (5)
- limited liability
- unlimited life
- separation of ownership and management
- transfer of ownership is easy
- easier to raise capital
Corporation disadvantages (2)
- separation of ownership and management
- double taxation (income is taxed at the corporate rate and then dividends are taxed at the personal rate
2 groups report to CFO
- treasurer
- controller
Treasurer definition
Oversees cash management, capital expenditures, financial planning
(focus of financial management)
Controller definition
Oversees taxes, cost accounting, financial accounting, data processing
3 goals of financial management
- Maximize shareholder wealth
- Maximize share price
- Maximize firm value
Goals of a corporation
- maximize profit
- minimize costs
- ma
Goal of the financial manager
To maximize the current value per share of the existing stock
Agency relationship
Principal (stockholders) hire agents (managers) to represent their interests (run the company)
Agency problem
Conflicts of interest can exist between the principal and the agent
Direct agency costs
Misusage of firm’s assets, monitoring costs to prevent this