In: Finance
Financial experts are familiar with various ways companies can raise capital for financing the firm. Each of the several sources of funds has associated with it some advantages as well as drawbacks that should be considered in choosing among them. Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages for financing the firm by issuing common stock versus issuing corporate bonds versus obtaining loans from private lenders.
Common Stock | Corporate Bonds | Obtaining loans from private lenders | |
Advantages | There are no fixed payment to be made to shareholders | Corporate Bonds are flexible way of raising the debt capital for a company. It can be either secured or secured and the company can decide which priority they take over other debts. | The private loans are easily available without much formality and the money available from this source is quick |
No Fixed Maturity date | Corporate bonds can provide stability by issuing fixed rate bonds which provides protection against variable interest rates or the economic rates | There can be customized lending terms with regard to duration, repayment | |
Increases the creditworthiness of the company which leads to increase in the availability of future debt at lower cost | They do not dilute the value of existing shareholders | ||
This serve as a reserve of borrowing capacity | They help in maintaining the cash in the business because the redemption date for these bonds are several years after the issue | ||
Disadvantages | Issuing common stock leads to extending voting rights and even control to new shareholders | Regular interest payment to bondholders, the interest might be fixed but will have to be paid even if the company is making loss | The interest rates are generally higher |
Shareholders will need to be paid a percentage of profits rather than a fixed payment | There can be various restrictions placed by the bondholders to protect their interest from default | The loan period is generally shorter | |
Cost of underwriting and issuing common stock is high | The company will have to comply with various listing rules and regulations to increase the tradability of the bonds listed on the exchange | ||
Dividends which are paid to stockholders are not deductible as expense | The potential of the business share value would be reduced if profits decline this is because the bond interest payments take priority over dividends |