5 Sources of Long Term Finance

Long Term Finance

          Finance is an important for any business to carry out their operations effectively. There are two types of Finance required in a business. They are Short Term Finance and Long Term Finance. Today let us discuss about the Long Term Finance and its sources to raise the fund for the business.

Firstly let us know what does Long term Finance means?
          Long term finance means finance required for a business for more than one year period is called Long term Finance. Long term finance is usually required by a business for expansion, modernization, diversification, research and development.

Sources of Long Term Finance

          Now let us see the various sources of Long Term Capital
§  Equity Capital
§  Preference Capital
§  Debentures
§  Internal Accruals
§  Term Loans
Now let us understand the Sources of Long term finance in detail

§  Equity Capital

Equity Capital can be raised by issuing equity shares. Equity Capital represents the ownership capital of a firm who enjoys the rewards and bears the risk of ownership. However the liability of the equity shareholders is limited to their capital contribution. Equity shareholders income is what left after satisfying all the other investors i.e. Profit after tax minus preference dividend.  The income of equity shareholders is maybe retained by shareholders or paid out as dividends. The major reason why earnings of equity shareholders is retained in the firm is to maximize the market value of the equity shareholders.    

§  Preference Capital

Preference Capital is the hybrid form of financing. It shows characteristics of both equity and debentures. The dividends of preference shareholders is usually fixed rate. As the name itself suggest preference share it has preferential rights over equity shares. Preference Capital can be raised by issuing preference shares. 

§  Debentures

For many large firms debentures is one of the source for raising fund. Debentures holders are called creditors to the company. The debenture holders are paid out a fixed source of interest rate. They provide more flexibility than term loans  because the offer huge variety of choices in maturity, interest rate, security, repayment and other features. Debenture Capital is raised by issuing debentures.

§  Internal Accruals

Internal Accruals consists of depreciation charges and the retained earnings. Depreciation charges comes from the depreciation of plant and machinery of each year. And retained earnings comes from the income scarified by the equity shareholders and it is called internal equity. Usually companies retain 30%-80% of earning after tax for financing activities.

§  Term Loan

Earlier the loans provided by the financial institutions or banks are the sole source for raising long term debt capital. Term loans are referred to that debt finance which usually repayable within 10 years. The main objective of raising term loans is to finance acquisition of fixed assets, working capital.

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