FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

Financial management is the activity concerned with the planning, raising, controlling and
administering of funds used in the business.

Objectives of Financial Management:

1. Wealth Maximization: The main objective of Financial management is to maximize
shareholder’s wealth, for which achievement of optimum capital structure and proper
utilization of funds is a must.
2. To procure sufficient funds for the organization: Adequate and regular supply of funds is to
be maintained for smooth operations of the business.
3. To ensure effective utilization of funds.
4. To ensure safety of funds: The chances of risk in investments should be minimum possible.
5. To attain optimum capital structure: A sound and economical combination of shares and
debentures must be attempted so as to maintain optimum capital structure.

Financial Decisions: Every company is required to take three main financial decisions which
are as follows:
1. Investment Decision: It relates to how the firm’s funds are invested in different assets.
Investment decision can be long-term or short-term. A long term investment decision is called
capital budgeting decision as they involve huge amounts of funds and are irreversible except
at a huge cost while short term investment decisions are called working capital decisions, which
affect day to day working of a business.

Factors affecting Investment Decisions/Capital Budgeting decisions

1. Cash flows of the project: The series of cash receipts and payments over the life of an
investment proposal should be considered and analyzed for selecting the best proposal.
2. Rate of Return: The expected returns from each proposal and risk involved in them should
be taken into account to select the best proposal.
3. Investment Criteria Involved: The various investment proposals are evaluated on the basis
of capital budgeting techniques. These involve calculation regarding investment amount,
interest rate, cash flows, rate of return etc.

Financing Decision: It relates to the amount of finance to be raised from various long term
sources. The main sources of funds are owner’s funds i.e. equity/shareholder’s funds and the
borrowed funds i.e. Debts. Borrowed funds have to be repaid at a fixed time and thus some
amount of financial risk (i.e. risk of default on payment) is there in debt financing. Moreover,
interest on borrowed funds has to be paid regardless of whether or not a firm has made a profit.
On the other hand, shareholder’s fund involves no commitment regarding payment of returns
or repayment of capital. A firm mix both debt and equity in making financing decisions.

Factors Affecting Financing Decision:

1. Cost: The cost of raising funds from different sources are different. The cheapest source
should be selected.
2. Risk: The risk associated with different sources is different. More risk is associated with
borrowed funds as compared to owner’s fund as interest is paid on it and it is repaid also, after
a fixed period of time or on expiry of its; tenure.
3. Flotation Cost: The costs involved in issuing securities such as brokers commission,
underwriters’ fees, expenses on prospectus etc. are called flotation costs. Higher the flotation
cost, less attractive is the source of finance.
4. Cash flow position of the business: In case the cash flow position of a company is good
enough then it can easily use borrowed funds and pay interest on time.
5. Control Considerations: In case the existing shareholders want to retain the complete control
of business then finance can be raised through borrowed funds but when they are ready for
dilution of control over business, equity can be used for raising finance.
6. State of Capital Markets: During boom, finance can easily be raised by issuing shares but
during depression period, raising finance by means of debt is easy.
7. Period of Finance: For permanent capital requirement, Equity shares must be issued as they
are not to be paid back and for long and medium term requirement, preference shares or
debentures can be issued.

Dividend decision : Dividend refers to that part of the profit which is distributed to
shareholders. A company is required to decide how much of the profit earned by it should be
distributed among shareholders and how much should be retained. The decision regarding
dividend should be taken keeping in view the overall objective of maximizing shareholder’s
wealth.

Factors affecting Dividend Decision:

1. Earnings: Companies having high and stable earning could declare high rate of dividends as
dividends are paid out of current and paste earnings.
2. Stability of Dividends: Companies generally follow the policy of stable dividend. The
dividend per share is not altered and changed in case earnings change by small proportion or
increase in earnings is temporary in nature.
3.Growth Prospects: In case there are growth prospects for the company in the near future
them it will retain its earning and thus, no or less dividend will be declared.
4.Cash Flow Positions: Dividends involve an outflow of cash and thus, availability of adequate
cash is for most requirement for declaration of dividends.
5.Preference of Shareholders: While deciding about dividend the preference of shareholders is
also taken into account. In case shareholders desire for dividend then company may go for
declaring the same.
6. Taxation Policy: A company is required to pay tax on dividend declared by it. If tax on
dividend is higher, company will prefer to pay less by way of dividends whereas if tax rates are
lower than more dividends can be declared by the company.
7. Issue of bonus shares: Companies with large reserves may also distribute bonus shares to
increase their capital base as it signifies growth of the company and enhances its reputation
also.
8.Legal constraints: Under provisions of Companies Act, all earnings can’t be distributed and
the company has to provide for various reserves. This limits the capacity of company to declare
dividend.
Financial Planning: The process of estimating the fund requirement of a business and
specifying the sources of funds is called financial planning. It ensures that enough funds are
available at right time so that a firm could honor its commitments and carry out its plans.

Importance of Financial Planning:

1. To ensure availability of adequate funds at right time.
2. To see that the firm does not raise funds unnecessarily.
3. It provides policies and procedures for the sound administration of finance function.
4. It results in preparation of plans for future. Thus new projects can he under taken smoothly.
5. It attempts to achieve a balance between inflow and outflow of funds. Adequate liquidity is
ensured throughout the year.

Capital Structure: Capital structure refers to the mix between owner’s funds and borrowed
funds. It will be said to be optimal when the proportion of debt and equity is such that it results
in an increase in the value of the equity share.

Factors Affecting Capital Structure:

1. Trading on Equity: It refers to the increase in profit earned by the equity shareholders due to
the presence of’ fixed financial charges like interest. Trading on equity happens when the rate
of earning of an organization is higher than the cost at which funds have been borrowed and as
a result equity shareholders get higher rate of dividend per share.
2. Cash Flow Position: In case a company has strong cash flow position then it may raise
finance by issuing debts, as they are to be paid back after some time.
3. Interest Coverage Ratio: It refers to the number of times earnings before interest and taxes
of a company covers the interest obligation. High Interest coverage ratio indicates that
company can have more of borrowed funds. Formula for calculating ICR = EBIT/interest.
4. Return on Investment: If return on investment is higher than the rate of interest on debt then
it will be beneficial for a firm to raise finance through borrowed funds.
5. Floatation Cost: The cost involved in issuing securities such as brokers’ commission, under
-writers’ fees, cost of prospectus etc. is called flotation cost. While selecting the source of
finance, flotation cost should be taken into account.
6. Control: When existing shareholders are ready to dilute their control over the firm then new
equity shares can be issued for raising finance but in reverse situation debts should be used.
7. Tax Rate: Interest on debt is allowed as a deduction; thus in case of high tax rate, debts are
preferred over equity but in case of low tax rate more preference is given to equity.
8. Flexibility: A good financial structure should be flexible enough to have scope for expansion
or contraction of capitalization whenever the need arises. Issue of debenture and preference
shares brings flexibility.
9. Capital Market Conditions: Conditions prevailing in capital market influences the
determination of securities to be issued. Like during depression, people do not like to take risk
and so are not interested in equity shares but during boom, investors are ready to take risk and
invest inequity shares.

Fixed Capital: Fixed capital refers to investment in long-term assets. Investment in fixed assets
is for longer duration and they must be financed through long-term sources of capital. Decisions
relating to fixed capital involve huge capital funds and are not reversible without incurring
heavy losses.

Factors Affecting Requirement of Fixed Capital:

1. Nature of Business: Manufacturing concerns require huge investment in fixed assets & thus
huge fixed capital is required for them but trading concerns need less fixed capital as they are
not required to purchase plant and machinery etc.
2. Scale of Operations: An organization operating on large scale requires more fixed capital as
compared to an organization operating on small scale. For Example - A large scale steel
enterprise like TISCO requires large investment as compared to a mini steel plant.
3. Choice of Technique: An organization using capital intensive techniques requires more
investment in plant & machinery as compared to an organization using labour intensive
techniques.
4. Technology upgradation: Organizations using assets which become obsolete faster require
more fixed capital as compared to other organizations.
5. Growth Prospects: Companies having more growth plans require more fixed capital. In order
to expand production capacity more plant & machinery are required.
6. Diversification: In case a company goes for diversification then it will require more fixed
capital to invest in fixed assets like plant and machinery.
7. Distribution Channels: The firm which sells its product through wholesalers and retailers
requires less fixed capital.
8. Collaboration: If companies are under collaboration, Joint venture, then they need less fixed
capital as they share plant & machinery with their collaborators.

Working Capital: Working Capital refers to the capital required for day to day working of an
organization. Apart from the investment in fixed assets every business organization needs to
invest in current assets, which can be converted into cash or cash equivalents within a period
of one year. They provide liquidity to the business. Working capital is of two types - Gross
working capital and Net working capital. Investment in all the current assets is called Gross
Working Capital whereas the excess of current assets over current liabilities is called Net
Working Capital.

Following are the factors which affect working capital requirements of an organization:
1. Nature of Business: A trading organization needs a lower amount of working capital as
compared to a manufacturing organization, as trading organization undertakes no processing
work.
2. Scale of Operations: An organization operating on large scale will require more inventory
and thus, its working capital requirement will be more as compared to small organization.
3. Business Cycle: In the time of boom more production will be undertaken and so more
working capital will be required during that time as compared to depression.
4. Seasonal Factors: During peak season demand of a product will be high and thus high
working capital will be required as compared to lean season.
5. Credit Allowed: If credit is allowed by a concern to its customers than it will require more
working capital but if goods are sold on cash basis than less working capital is required.
6. Credit Availed: If a firm is able to purchase raw materials on credit from its suppliers than
less working capital will be required.
7. Inflation: Working capital requirement is also determined by price level changes. For
example, during inflation prices of raw material, wages also rise resulting in increase in
working capital requirements.
8. Operating Cycle/Turnover of Working Capital: Turnover means speed with which the
working capital is converted into cash by sale of goods. If it is speedier, the amount of working
capital required will be less.