Features of a Sound Capital Structure
Capital structure is a business finance term that describes ‘the proportion of a company’s capital, or operating money, which is obtained through debt and equity or hybrid securities’. Debt consists of loans and other types of credit that is to be repaid in the future, usually with interest. Equity involves ownership interest in a corporation in the form of common stock or preferred stock. Equity financing does not involve a direct obligation to repay the funds which is in contrast to debt financing. Instead, equity investors are able to exercise some degree of control over the company as they become part-owners and partners in the business. The goal of a company’s capital structure decision is to maximize the gains for the equity shareholders. The optimal capital structure is the one that maximizes the price of the stock and simultaneously minimizes the cost of capital thus striking a balance between risk Continue reading