FM101 Flashcards
capital structure
the mixture of long term debt and equity maintained by a firm.
corporate finance questions
what long-term investments should you make? Where will you get the long term financing to pay for your investment? how will you manage your everyday financial activities such as collecting from customers and paying suppliers
equity
the amount of $ raised by a firm that comes from owners (shareholders) investment
working capital
a firms short term assets and liabilities; a day-to-day activity which ensures that the firm has sufficient resources to continue its operations and avoid costly interruptions
financial goals
market share; bankruptcy avoidance; environment and sustainability; making good financial decisions to increase the market value of the owners equity.
the goal of financial management
to maximise the current value per share of the existing equity
TBL
the concept that corporate objectives should focus equally on society, the environment, and profit. (it is difficult to measure in monetary terms the effect a company has on society and the environment)
shareholder wealth maximisation
managers work in the favour of shareholders, assuming that shareholders value society and the environment in the same way as the general population, the goal of shareholder wealth maximisation will necessarily capture societal and environmental objectives and reflect the TBL.
Primary markets
in a primary market transaction, the corporation is the seller and the transaction raises money for the corporation. Corporations engage in two types of primary market transaction:
1. Public offerings: involves selling securities to the general public
2. Private offerings: involves selling securities to venture capital, private equity & institutional investors.
secondary markets
investors can buy and sell existing securities. Involves one owner or creditor selling to another, therefore the secondary markets provide the means of transferring ownership to corporate securities. Investors are more willing to purchase securities in a primary market transaction when they know those securities can be later sold if desired.
dealer
buy and sell for themselves, at their own risk (e.g. car dealers)
brokers and agents
match buyers and sellers, but they don’t actually own the commodity that is bought or sold
over the counter markets
dealer markets in equities and long term debt are called over-the-counter (OTC) markets.
auction markets
have a physical location; matches those who wish to sell and those who wish to buy
listing
securities that trade on an organised exchange are said to be listed on that exchange
dealer markets
those markets where firms make continuous quotations of prices for which they stand ready to buy and sell money-making instruments on their own inventory and at their own risk.
agency markets
those in which stockbrokers act as agents for customers in buying and selling shares. An agent doesn’t actually acquire the securities.
direct finance
when a borrower sells a security directly to a lender
indirect finance
in which an institution like a bank stands between a lender and borrower
the role of investment banks
when a lender purchases a security issued by a specific firm or government, the transaction takes place through a securities broker or an investment bank that helps the issuer distribute new stocks/bonds. These securities become assets for the lenders who buy them and liabilities to the government or corporation that created them to obtain funds.
financial instrument
the written legal obligation of one part to transfer something of value, usually money, to another party at some future date, under specified conditions.
uses of financial instruments
means of payment; store of value (transfer purchasing power into the future - stocks & bonds); transfer of risk (futures contract)
standardisation
standard applications for financial instruments (mortgages) - easy to understand
underlying instruments (primitive securities)
are used by savers/lenders to transfer resources directly to investors/borrowers
derivative instruments
Derivative instruments are financial contracts whose value is derived from the value of an underlying asset, index, or rate. They are used for a variety of purposes, including hedging risk, speculation, and gaining exposure to specific assets or markets. The primary types of derivative instruments include futures, options, and swaps.
Futures contract
Definition: A futures contract is a standardized agreement between two parties to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price at a specified time in the future.
Underlying Assets: These can be commodities (like oil, gold, or wheat), financial instruments (like bonds or currencies), or indices.
Purpose: Futures are often used by hedgers to lock in prices and by speculators looking to profit from price movements.
Example: A farmer might use a futures contract to sell their crop at a set price to avoid the risk of price drops at harvest time.
Options contract
Definition: An option is a contract that gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy (call option) or sell (put option) an underlying asset at a specified price before or at a certain date.
Underlying Assets: Similar to futures, options can be based on stocks, commodities, currencies, or indices.
Purpose: Options are used for hedging, speculation, or to generate income. They offer more flexibility compared to futures since the holder is not obligated to execute the trade.
Example: An investor might buy a call option on a stock if they believe its price will rise but want to limit their potential loss to the premium paid for the option.
Swaps contract
Definition: A swap is a contract in which two parties agree to exchange cash flows or other financial instruments over a specified period.
Types: The most common swaps are interest rate swaps, currency swaps, and commodity swaps.
Interest Rate Swaps: Involve exchanging fixed interest payments for floating interest payments.
Currency Swaps: Involve exchanging principal and interest payments in one currency for equivalent payments in another currency.
Commodity Swaps: Involve exchanging cash flows related to commodity prices.
Purpose: Swaps are primarily used by institutions to manage different types of financial risks, such as interest rate risk or currency risk.
Example: A company might enter into an interest rate swap to convert its variable-rate debt into fixed-rate debt, reducing its exposure to rising interest rates.
there are many types of swaps that differ in: 1. how long they last
2. how often the payments are made
3. the type of cash flows exchanged
what gives a financial instrument value
size, timing, payments that are likely to be made are more valuable; payments that are made when we need them most are most valuable
financial instruments that are used primarily as a store of value
bank loans, home mortgages (house is collateral), stocks (transfer of risk), asset backed securities
financial instruments used to primarily transfer risk
- insurance contracts 2. options 3. futures contract 4. swaps