Appendix 2.1.4

Debt vs. Equity Financing

 

DEBT FINANCING

Advantages

Disadvantages

Raises capital

Increases liability

No change in ownership/management claims

Payable when due regardless of whether there is enough profit or cash flow

No dilution of profit sharing

May be too expensive if interest rate is high

Tax advantage: interest is deductible from Gross Income as an expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

EQUITY FINANCING

Advantages

Disadvantages

Raises capital

Dilutes profit sharing

No firm commitment to repay principal

May increase voices in management

No commitment to pay profits if there are none

Forgoes tax advantages

No third party claim on assets of the firm

 

The following illustration shows the circumstances under which Debt or Equity Financing is more advantageous for the individual investors. All scenarios are based on the assumption that profits are shared equally among owners. There are initially five owners in each case. The time-period involved is one year.

 

Scenario 1

Borrow $50 000
at 10%

Scenario 2

Two new investors contribute
$25 000 each

Scenario 3

Borrow $50 000
at 20%

Net Income before interest expense and income tax

$20 000

$20 000

$20 000

Interest expense

5000

0

10 000

Net Income before income tax

15 000

20 000

10 000

Income tax (50%)

7500

10 000

5000

Net Income

7500

10 000

5000

Earnings per Investor

$1500

$1429*

$1000

 

 

 

 

* Rounded to nearest full $. (10 000/7 investors)

Challenge: Calculate the break-even interest rate.


Appendix 2.1.5

Bonds as a Method of Financing

 

Bond: long-term note that promises repayment of a specified amount borrowed on a certain date (maturity date) and regular periodic interest payments to bondholders in the meantime

 

Characteristics

·         Long-term debt

·         Loans obtained from a large number of lenders rather than one financial institution, e.g., a bank.

·         A single lender can provide different forms of financing, e.g., loan, bond.

·         Each bond carries face or par value, e.g., the amount borrowed, printed on the certificate
(usually $1000).

·         The maturity date and the interest rate are clearly specified.

·         The interest is calculated on the face value of the bond.

·         The frequency of interest payments is clearly specified (usually semi-annually).

·         Bond holders are a company’s creditors and have no ownership claims to profits.

·         Bond interest must be paid before profits can be paid out. Bond interest is an expense.

·         In case a firm declares bankruptcy, bondholders are entitled to their claims before owners.

 

Journal entries for initial bond issue and half-yearly interest payment:

 

DATE

PARTICULARS

P.R.

DEBIT

CREDIT

Mar.

1

Bank

 

800 000

 

 

 

Bonds Payable

 

 

800 000

 

 

Issued 8% 15-year bonds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aug.

31

Bond interest expense

 

32 000

 

 

 

Bank

 

 

32 000

 

 

Paid 6-month interest on 8% bonds

 

 

 

 

Journal entries for the maturing bonds:

 

DATE

PARTICULARS

P.R.

DEBIT

CREDIT

Mar.

1

Bonds Payable

 

80 000

 

 

 

Bank

 

 

80 000

 

 

Retired 8% 15-year bonds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Appendix 2.1.6

Bonds as a Method of Financing Worksheet

 

1.   Based on your notes on debt versus equity financing, set up a table that shows the advantages and disadvantages of bonds as a means of financing.

 

Bond Financing

Advantages

Disadvantages

(teacher add rows)

 

 

2.   Based on your notes, create original scenarios that demonstrate under what circumstances financing using bonds can be more advantageous than attracting new investors. State your assumptions clearly.

 

 

Scenario 1:

Scenario 2:

Scenario 3:

(teacher add 12 rows)

 

 

 

 

3.   Show the journal entries for an initial bond sale of $100 000, 12%, 20-year bonds and their semi-annual interest payment. The sale occurred on June 30.

 

DATE

PARTICULARS

P.R.

DEBIT

CREDIT

Mar.

1

Bank

 

 

 

 

 

Bonds Payable

 

 

 

 

 

Issued 8% 15-year bonds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aug.

31

Bond interest expense

 

 

 

 

 

Bank

 

 

 

 

 

Paid 6-month interest on 8% bonds