Structured products are pre-packaged investments based on derivatives like securities, indices, commodities, debt, and currencies. They were created to meet needs not met by standardized financial instruments and can be used for asset allocation, risk reduction, or profiting from market trends. Structured products involve combining underlying assets with derivatives to create new securities with targeted risk and return profiles. While they may provide benefits like principal protection, tax efficiency, or enhanced/reduced volatility, they also carry risks like credit risk, lack of liquidity, and complexity.

1. Structured product
In structured finance, a structured product, also known as a market linked investment, is
generally a pre-packaged investment strategy based on derivatives, such as a
single security, a basket of securities, options, indices, commodities, debt issuance
and/or foreign currencies, and to a lesser extent, swaps. The variety of products just described is
demonstrative of the fact that there is no single, uniform definition of a structured product. A feature of
some structured products is a "principal guarantee" function, which offers protection of
principal if held to maturity. For example, an investor invests 100 dollars, the issuer
simply invests in a risk free bond that has sufficient interest to grow to 100 after the five-
year period. This bond might cost 80 dollars today and after five years it will grow to 100
dollars. With the leftover funds the issuer purchases the options and swaps needed to perform whatever the
investment strategy is. Theoretically an investor can just do this themselves, but the costs and transaction
volume requirements of many options and swaps are beyond many individual investors.[1]
As such, structured products were created to meet specific needs that cannot be met from the standardized
financial instruments available in the markets. Structured products can be used as an alternative to a direct
investment, as part of the asset allocation process to reduce risk exposure of a portfolio, or to utilize the current
market trend.
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Rule 434[2]
(regarding certain prospectus deliveries) defines
structured securities as "securities whose cash flow characteristics depend upon one or more indices or that
have embedded forwards or options or securities where an investor's investment return and the issuer's
payment obligations are contingent on, or highly sensitive to, changes in the value of underlying assets,
indices, interest rates or cash flows."
The Pacific Stock Exchange defines structured products as "products that are derived from and/or based on a
single security or securities, a basket of stocks, an index, a commodity, debt issuance and/or a foreign
currency, among other things" and include "index and equity linked notes, term notes and units generally
consisting of a contract to purchase equity and/or debt securities at a specific time."[citation needed]
Risks
The risks associated with many structured products, especially those products that present risks of loss of
principal due to market movements, are similar to those risks involved with options.[3]
The potential for serious
risks involved with options trading are well-established, and as a result of those risks customers must be
explicitly approved for options trading. In the same vein, the U.S.Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority (FINRA) suggests that firms "consider" whether purchasers of some or all structured products be
required to go through a similar approval process, so that only accounts approved for options trading would
also be approved for some or all structured products.

2. In the case of a "principal protected" product, these products are not always insured in the United States by
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; they may only be insured by the issuer, and thus have the potential
for loss of principal in the case of a liquidity crisis, or other solvency problems with the issuing company. Some
firms have attempted to create a new market for structured products that are no longer trading. These
securities may not be trading due to issuer bankruptcy or a lack of liquidity to insure them. Some structured
products of a once solvent company have been known to trade in a secondary market for as low as pennies on
the dollar.[4]
The regulatory framework with regard to structured products is also hazy. These may fall in grey areas legally.
In India, equity related structured products seem to be in violation of the Securities Contract Regulation Act
(SCRA). SCRA prohibits the issue and trade of equity derivatives except those that trade on nationally
recognized stock and derivatives exchanges.
Origin
Structured investments arose from the needs of companies that wanted to issue debt more cheaply.
Traditionally, one of the ways to do this was to issue a convertible bond, that is, debt that under certain
circumstances could be converted to equity. In exchange for the potential for a higher return (if the equity value
would increase and the bond could be converted at a profit), investors would accept lower interest rates in the
meantime. However this trade-off and its actual worth is debatable, since the movement of the equity value of
the company could be unpredictable.Investment banks then decided to add features to the basic convertible
bond, such as increased income in exchange for limits on the convertibility of the stock, or principal protection.
These extra features were all based around strategies investors themselves could perform using options and
other derivatives, except that they were prepackaged as one product. The goal was again to give investors
more reasons to accept a lower interest rate on debt in exchange for certain features. On the other hand the
goal for the investment banks was to increase profit margins since the newer products with added features
were harder to value, so that it was harder for the banks' clients to see how much profit the bank was making
from it.
Interest in these investments has been growing in recent years and high net worth investors now use structured
products as way of portfolio diversification. Nowadays the product range is very wide, and reverse convertible
securities represent the other end of the product spectrum (yield enhancement products). Structured products
are also available at the mass retail level - particularly in Europe, where national post offices, and even
supermarkets, sell investments on these to their customers.
Below is a brief description of how structured products are manufactured.
Combinations of derivatives and financial instruments create structures that have significant risk/return and/or
cost savings profiles that may not be otherwise achievable in the marketplace. Structured products are
designed to provide investors with highly targeted investments tied to their specific risk profiles, return
requirements and market expectations.
These products are created through the process of financial engineering, i.e., by combining underlyings
like shares, bonds, indices or commodities with derivatives. The value of derivative securities, such

3. as options, forwards and swaps is determined by (respectively, derives from) the prices of the underlying
securities.
The market for derivative securities has grown quickly in recent years. The main reason for this lies in the
economic function of derivatives; it enables the transfer of risk, for a fee, from those who do not want to bear it
to those who are willing to bear risk.
Benefits of structured products may include:
• principal protection (depending on the type of structured product)
• tax-efficient access to fully taxable investments
• enhanced returns within an investment (depending on the type of structured product)
• reduced volatility (or risk) within an investment (depending on the type of structured
product)
• the ability to earn a positive return in low yield or flat equity market environments
Disadvantages of structured products may include: .[5]
• credit risk - structured products are unsecured debt from investment banks
• lack of liquidity - structured products rarely trade after issuance and anyone looking
to sell a structured product before maturity should expect to sell it at a significant
discount
• no daily pricing - structured products are priced on a matrix, not net-asset-value.
Matrix pricing is essentially a best-guess approach
• highly complex - the complexity of the return calculations means few truly
understand how the structured product will perform relative to simply owning the
underlying asset
Structured products are by nature not homogeneous - as a large number of derivatives and underlying
can be used - but can however be classified under the following categories
• Interest rate-linked notes and deposits

4. • Equity-linked notes and deposits
• FX and commodity-linked notes and deposits
• Hybrid linked notes and deposits
• Credit-linked notes and deposits
• Constant proportion debt obligations (CPDOs)
• Constant Proportion Portfolio Insurance (CPPI)
• Market-linked notes and deposits
How good is Reliance Capital’s equity-linked debenture, Series B-57?
•
•
•
•
• 3 comments
• + COMMENT
MONEYLIFE DIGITAL TEAM | 27/09/2012 04:23 PM |
If you are an HDFC Bank customer, you may have been approached to buy equity-
linked debenture of Reliance Capital. Should you?
Reliance Capital, which has investments in broking, insurance and asset management
andinvestments through private equity and investment banking, has launched its S&P CNX
Nifty Index Linked Debenture named Series B-57, and its exclusive distribution has been
handed over to HDFC Bank. Many of the bank’s customers are being wooed to buy this product.
Does it make sense?
Key Features of ELD
The product is a 40-month equity-linked debenture (ELD), whose performance is linked
to S&P CNX Nifty with the following return structure:

5. • If at the end of the 36th month, the market is higher than the initial level (by any quantum),
the investor gets an absolute return of 49%, which equals an annualised compounded
rate of return of 12.68%
• If at the end of the 36th month, the market is lower than the initial level, the return
willreduce by 2.45 times of each percentage reduction in the index. For example, if the
market falls by 5% the return will reduce by (2.45*5)%, that is, 12.25%. Therefore, the final
return for the investor in this case would be 49-12.25=36.75%, which is an annualised rate of
return of around 9.9%. The compounded return comes to 9.9%.
• If the market falls beyond 20%, the rate of return becomes 0% (because 20*2.45=49%),
and the investor gets back only his/her initial investment.
The following table gives a complete scenario at different Nifty levels.
Initial
investment
Market
movement
Return
(percentage)
Return in
rupee terms
Annualised rate of
return
Rs50,000 + 10% 49% Rs74,500 12.68%
Rs50,000 +5% 49% Rs74,500 12.68%
Rs50,000 0% 49% Rs74,500 12.68%
Rs50,000 -5%
(49-
(2.45*5))=36.75%
Rs68,000 9.9%
Rs50,000 -20% (49-(2.45*20))=0% Rs50,000
Nil, you get back
you initial
investment
Rs50,000 -30%
(49-(2.45*30))= -
24.50%, but you
will get 0%
Rs50,000
Nil, you get back
you initial
investment
What works in its favour:
• It is an AAA-rated security and therefore has the highest degree of safety in terms of getting
timely returns. The rating, however, can be revised and changed whenever the rating agency gets
new information about the financial condition of the company.
• Your initial investment is secure till maturity. Even if the markets crash in the 36th month of
your investment period, you still get back your investment.
• A coupon rate of 49% for 40 months works out to be an annualised compounded return of
12.68%, a good return for a fixed investment in a stagnant or falling interest rate market.

6. What works against it:
• If you do not hold the debenture till 40 months, your initial investment is not guaranteed. That
means if you want to withdraw your money, your returns may be linked with the actual return of
the market. The brochure does not give any information on this issue.
• Also, if the company buys back the debentures, the return will be calculated on basis of fair
market value and that could hurt your initial investment as well.
• Besides these, credit risks attached to debentures stand
Does it make sense?
Every single recommendation regarding this product will start by saying: “If you are bullish
about the markets...” In effect, the onus is on you to make the product work for you. Remember,
the essential factor behind the success of the product is your successful market call. Do you want
to be a market forecaster to make 12% plus?
Apart from this, there is another basic flaw in all these structured products. It never makes sense
to mix fixed income products with market-linked products. You cannot calculate the odds of
total returns if you mix fixed income products with market index. They are essentially totally
different products in nature and all you are doing is reducing the effectiveness of one with the
other. You must stick to an asset allocation plan which will mean investing in a systematic
manner in fixed income (bonds, bond funds, fixed deposits and debentures) to protect your
wealth and separately in shares or well-chosen equity mutual funds to grow your wealth.
In this case, who really knows what the Nifty will do three years from now and why would you
want to bet on that outcome? Also, 12.68% compounded return in the best of circumstances is
nothing attractive; there are perpetual bonds, for instance, which could give you similar fixed
returns with an upside if the interest rates fall, without you having to bet on the direction of the
Nifty.
Structured product market in a spot over RBI
regulation
Final decision on time-gap between successive issuances key, say experts
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Read more on: Rbi | Nbfcs | Debentures | Structured Product

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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s move to regulate the time gap on issuance of debentures by non-banking financial
companies (NBFCs) has created some confusion for the Rs 12,000 crore structured product market.
The central bank had on June 27 come out with a note asking NBFCs to space out their debenture issuances by at
least six months. This resulted in a halt in the launch of such products as it put restrictions on NBFCs who issue
debentures for the structured product space, according to wealth management officials.
“We had plans to come out with a structured product issuance, but shelved the same following the RBI’s notification.
All structured products would have been impacted by the circular,” said one person with a foreign wealth
management firm.
RBI subsequently came out with a clarification on July 2, saying it was deferring its earlier move. “A decision on the
appropriate minimum time gap would be taken by the Bank in due course,” it said.
But this hasn’t completely eased concerns.
“They have simply postponed the decision on that matter. We don’t know if they will actually make it three months
or something like that,” said a senior official with a domestic wealth management firm.
The head of wealth management at another Indian wealth manager also said no clear indication of the final
guidelines had been communicated to the NBFCs as of yet. “They will reconsider it… NBFCs have made a
representation to the central bank on the issue… We don’t know yet what form the final regulation will take,” said
the person.
Structured products are debentures generally sold by wealth management firms to high networth individuals. They
offer returns linked to the movement of an asset class like equity. For example, a debenture’s returns may track the
National Stock Exchange’s Nifty index. Industry insiders say RBI’s circular last Thursday would have severely limited
their issuance. To be sure, RBI’s intention seems to have been to curb retail exposure to such securities.
The circular noted that NBFCs raised capital through issuing debentures either by public issue or private placement.
In the case of public issue of such securities, institutions and retail investors can participate. Private placement, on
the other hand, may involve institutional investors.
“It has, however, been observed that NBFCs have lately been raising resources from the retail public on a large scale,
through private placement, especially by issue of debentures,” said the RBI notification.
The central bank has subsequently asked NBFCs (including those coming out with debentures for the purpose of
issuing structured products) to provide a detailed plan for how often they plan to come out with such issuances.
“NBFCs, in the meantime, are advised to put in place before the close of business on September 30, 2013, a board
approved policy for resource planning which, inter-alia, should cover the planning horizon and the periodicity of

8. private placement,” it said in the July 2 note.
Meanwhile, if RBI does go ahead with its earlier decision to take a six-month gap, the structured product market
could take a significant hit, say experts.
“It’s likely that the issuers will try to space out their issues to avoid hitting the market all at the same time. Overall,
the impact could be 30 per cent though it’s probable that it could be higher,” said the person.
The India Wealth Report released by Karvy Private Wealth in November 2012 stated the assets in structured products
in the form of equity-linked debentures are Rs 12,000 crore. Another Rs 150 crore is in debentures linked to the price
of gold, according to the report.
Investment banking
An investment bank is a financial institution that assists individuals, corporations, and governments in raising
capital by underwriting and/or acting as the client's agent in the issuance of securities. An investment bank may
also assist companies involved in mergers and acquisitions and provide ancillary services such as market
making, trading of derivatives and equity securities, and FICC services (fixed income instruments, currencies,
and commodities).
Unlike commercial banks and retail banks, investment banks do not take deposits. From 1933 (Glass–Steagall
Act) until 1999 (Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act), the United States maintained a separation between investment

9. banking and commercial banks. Other industrialized countries, including G8 countries, have historically not
maintained such a separation. As part of the Dodd-Frank Act 2010, Volcker Rule asserts full institutional
separation of investment banking services from commercial banking.
There are two main lines of business in investment banking. Trading securities for cash or for other securities
(i.e. facilitating transactions, market-making), or the promotion of securities (i.e. underwriting, research, etc.) is
the "sell side", while buy side is a term used to refer to advising institutions concerned with buying investment
services. Private equity funds, mutual funds, life insurance companies, unit trusts, and hedge funds are the
most common types of buy side entities.
An investment bank can also be split into private and public functions with an information barrier which
separates the two to prevent information from crossing. The private areas of the bank deal with private insider
information that may not be publicly disclosed, while the public areas such as stock analysis deal with public
information.
An advisor who provides investment banking services in the United States must be a licensed broker-
dealer and subject to Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) and Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority (FINRA) regulation.[1]
• 1 Organizational structure
• 2 Core investment banking activities
• 2.1 Front office
• 2.1.1 Investment banking
• 2.1.2 Sales and trading
• 2.1.3 Research
• 2.2 Front office/Middle office
• 2.2.1 Risk Management
• 2.3 Middle office
• 2.4 Back office
• 2.4.1 Operations
• 2.4.2 Technology
• 2.5 Other businesses
• 3 Industry profile
• 3.1 Global size and revenue mix
• 3.2 Top 10 banks
• 4 Financial crisis of 2008
• 5 Criticisms
• 5.1 Conflicts of interest
• 5.2 Compensation
• 6 See also
• 7 External links

10. • 8 Further reading
• 9 References
Organizational structure
Investment banking is split into front office, middle office, and back office activities. While large service
investment banks offer all lines of business, both sell side and buy side, smaller sell-side investment firms such
as boutique investment banks and small broker-dealers focus on investment banking and
sales/trading/research, respectively.
Investment banks offer services to both corporations issuing securities and investors buying securities. For
corporations, investment bankers offer information on when and how to place their securities on the open
market, an activity very important to an investment bank's reputation. Therefore, investment bankers play a
very important role in issuing new security offerings.[2]
Core investment banking activities
Investment banking has changed over the years, beginning as a partnership form focused on underwriting
security issuance (initial public offerings and secondary offerings), brokerage, andmergers and acquisitions and
evolving into a "full-service" range including sell-side research, proprietary trading, and investment
management. In the modern 21st century, the SEC filings of the major independent investment banks such
as Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley reflect three product segments: (1) investment banking (fees for M&A
advisory services and securities underwriting); (2) asset management (fees for sponsored investment funds),
and (3) trading and principal investments (broker-dealer activities including proprietary trading ("dealer"
transactions) and brokerage trading ("broker" transactions)).[3]
In the United States, commercial banking and investment banking were separated by the Glass–Steagall Act,
which was repealed in 1999. The repeal led to more "universal banks" offering an even greater range of
services. Many large commercial banks have therefore developed investment banking divisions through
acquisitions and hiring. Notable large banks with significant investment banks include JPMorgan Chase, Bank
of America, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Barclays, and Wells Fargo. After the financial crisis of 2007–
2008 and the subsequent passage of the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act,
regulations have limited certain investment banking operations, notably with the Volcker Rule's restrictions on
proprietary trading.[2]
The traditional service of underwriting security issues has declined as a percentage of revenue. As far back as
1960, 70% of Merrill Lynch's revenue was derived from transaction commissions while "traditional investment
banking" services accounted for 5%. However, Merrill Lynch was a relatively "retail-focused" firm with a large
brokerage network.[2]

11. Front office
Investment banking
Corporate finance is the traditional aspect of investment banks which also involves helping customers
raise funds in capital markets and giving advice on mergers and acquisitions (M&A). This may involve
subscribing investors to a security issuance, coordinating with bidders, or negotiating with a merger target.
Another term for the investment banking division is corporate finance, and its advisory group is often
termed mergers and acquisitions. A pitch book of financial information is generated to market the bank to a
potential M&A client; if the pitch is successful, the bank arranges the deal for the client. The investment banking
division (IBD) is generally divided into industry coverage and product coverage groups. Industry coverage
groups focus on a specific industry – such as healthcare, public finance (governments), FIG (financial
institutions group), industrials, TMT (technology, media, and telecommunication) – and maintains relationships
with corporations within the industry to bring in business for the bank. Product coverage groups focus on
financial products – such as mergers and acquisitions, leveraged finance, public finance, asset finance and
leasing, structured finance, restructuring, equity, and high-grade debt – and generally work and collaborate with
industry groups on the more intricate and specialized needs of a client.The Wall Street Journal, in partnership
with Dealogic, publishes figures on investment banking revenue such as M&A in its Investment Banking
Scorecard.[4]
Sales and trading
On behalf of the bank and its clients, a large investment bank's primary function is buying and selling products.
In market making, traders will buy and sell financial products with the goal of making money on each
trade. Sales is the term for the investment bank's sales force, whose primary job is to call on institutional and
high-net-worth investors to suggest trading ideas (on acaveat emptor basis) and take orders. Sales desks then
communicate their clients' orders to the appropriate trading desks, which can price and execute trades, or
structure new products that fit a specific need. Structuring has been a relatively recent activity
as derivatives have come into play, with highly technical and numerate employees working on creating complex
structured products which typically offer much greater margins and returns than underlying cash securities. In
2010, investment banks came under pressure as a result of selling complex derivatives contracts to local
municipalities in Europe and the US.[5]
Strategists advise external as well as internal clients on the strategies
that can be adopted in various markets. Ranging from derivatives to specific industries, strategists place
companies and industries in a quantitative framework with full consideration of the macroeconomic scene. This
strategy often affects the way the firm will operate in the market, the direction it would like to take in terms of its
proprietary and flow positions, the suggestions salespersons give to clients, as well as the
way structurers create new products. Banks also undertake risk through proprietary trading, performed by a
special set of traders who do not interface with clients and through "principal risk"—risk undertaken by a trader
after he buys or sells a product to a client and does not hedge his total exposure. Banks seek to maximize
profitability for a given amount of risk on their balance sheet. The necessity for numerical ability in sales and
trading has created jobs for physics, mathematics and engineering Ph.D.s who act as quantitative analysts.

12. Research
The equity research division reviews companies and writes reports about their prospects, often with "buy" or
"sell" ratings. Investment banks typically have sell-side analysts which cover various industries. Their
sponsored funds or proprietary trading offices will also have buy-side research. While the research division may
or may not generate revenue (based on policies at different banks), its resources are used to assist traders in
trading, the sales force in suggesting ideas to customers, and investment bankers by covering their clients.
Research also serves outside clients with investment advice (such as institutional investors and high net worth
individuals) in the hopes that these clients will execute suggested trade ideas through the sales and trading
division of the bank, and thereby generate revenue for the firm. Research also covers credit research, fixed
income research, macroeconomic research, and quantitative analysis, all of which are used internally and
externally to advise clients but do not directly affect revenue. All research groups, nonetheless, provide a key
service in terms of advisory and strategy. There is a potential conflict of interest between the investment bank
and its analysis, in that published analysis can affect the bank's profits. Hence in recent years the relationship
between investment banking and research has become highly regulated, requiring a Chinese wall between
public and private functions.
Front office/Middle office
Risk Management
Risk management involves analyzing the market and credit risk that an investment bank or its clients take onto
their balance sheet during transactions or trades. Credit risk focuses around capital markets activities, such as
loan syndication, bond issuance, restructuring, and leveraged finance. Market risk conducts review of sales and
trading activities utilizing the VaR model and provide hedge-fund solutions to portfolio managers. Other risk
groups include country risk, operational risk, and counterparty risks which may or may not exist on a bank to
bank basis. Credit risk solutions are key part of capital market transactions, involving debt structuring, exit
financing, loan amendment, project finance, leveraged buy-outs, and sometimes portfolio hedging. Front office
market risk activities provide service to investors via derivative solutions, portfolio management, portfolio
consulting, and risk advisory. Well-known risk groups in JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs and Barclays
engage in revenue-generating activities involving debt structuring, restructuring, loan syndication, and
securitization for clients such as corporates, governments, and hedge funds. J.P. Morgan IB Risk works with
investment banking to execute transactions and advise investors, although its Finance & Operation risk groups
focus on middle office functions involving internal, non-revenue generating, operational risk
controls.[6][7][8]
Credit default swap, for instance, is a famous credit risk hedging solution for clients invented by
J.P. Morgan's Blythe Masters during the 1990s. The Loan Risk Solutions group[9]
within Barclays' investment
banking division and Risk Management and Financing group[10]
housed in Goldman Sach's securities division
are client-driven franchises. However, risk management groups such as operational risk, internal risk control,
legal risk, and the one at Morgan Stanley are restrained to internal business functions including firm balance-
sheet risk analysis and assigning trading cap that are independent of client needs, even though these groups
may be responsible for deal approval that directly affects capital market activities. Risk management is a broad
area, and like research, its roles can be client-facing or internal.

13. Middle office
This area of the bank includes treasury management, internal controls, and internal corporate strategy.
Corporate treasury is responsible for an investment bank's funding, capital structure management, and liquidity
risk monitoring.
Financial control tracks and analyzes the capital flows of the firm, the Finance division is the principal adviser to
senior management on essential areas such as controlling the firm's global risk exposure and the profitability
and structure of the firm's various businesses via dedicated trading desk product control teams. In the United
States and United Kingdom, a Financial Controller is a senior position, often reporting to the Chief Financial
Officer.
Internal corporate strategy tackling firm management and profit strategy, unlike corporate strategy groups that
advise clients, is non-revenue regenerating yet a key functional role within investment banks.
This list is not a comprehensive summary of all middle-office functions within an investment bank, as specific
desks within front and back offices may participate in internal functions.[11]
Back office
Operations
This involves data-checking trades that have been conducted, ensuring that they are not erroneous, and
transacting the required transfers. Many banks have outsourced operations. It is, however, a critical part of the
bank.
Technology
Every major investment bank has considerable amounts of in-house software, created by the technology team,
who are also responsible for technical support. Technology has changed considerably in the last few years as
more sales and trading desks are using electronic trading. Some trades are initiated by
complex algorithms for hedging purposes.
Firms are responsible for compliance with government regulations and internal regulations.
Other businessesGlobal transaction banking is the division which provides cash management, custody
services, lending, and securities brokerage services to institutions. Prime brokerage with hedge
fundshas been an especially profitable business, as well as risky, as seen in the "run on the bank"
with Bear Stearns in 2008.
• Investment management is the professional management of various securities (shares, bonds, etc.) and
other assets (e.g., real estate), to meet specified investment goals for the benefit of investors. Investors
may be institutions (insurance companies, pension funds, corporations etc.) or private investors (both
directly via investment contracts and more commonly via collective investment schemes e.g., mutual
funds). The investment management division of an investment bank is generally divided into separate
groups, often known as Private Wealth Management and Private Client Services.

14. • Merchant banking can be called "very personal banking"; merchant banks offer capital in exchange for
share ownership rather than loans, and offer advice on management and strategy. Merchant banking is
also a name used to describe the private equity side of a firm.[12]
Current examples include Defoe Fournier
& Cie. and JPMorgan's One Equity Partners and the originalJ.P. Morgan & Co. Rothschilds, Barings,
Warburgs and Morgans were all merchant banks. (Originally, "merchant bank" was the British English term
for an investment bank.)
• Commercial banking: see commercial bank.
• Real Estate Increased Equity Collateral Sale Also called REIECS Advanced Financial Model in which a
Real Estate Asset Value is increased thought an Investment Banking Institution (Usually only the Biggest
Investment Banks are able to handle REIECS.
Industry profile
There are various trade associations throughout the world which represent the industry in lobbying, facilitate
industry standards, and publish statistics. The International Council of Securities Associations (ICSA) is a
global group of trade associations.
In the United States, the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) is likely the most
significant; however, several of the large investment banks are members of the American Bankers
Association Securities Association (ABASA)[13]
while small investment banks are members of the National
Investment Banking Association (NIBA).
In Europe, the European Forum of Securities Associations was formed in 2007 by various European trade
associations.[14]
Several European trade associations (principally the London Investment Banking Association
and the European SIFMA affiliate) combined in 2009 to form Association for Financial Markets in
Europe (AFME).
In the securities industry in China (particularly mainland China), the Securities Association of China is a self-
regulatory organization whose members are largely investment banks.
Global size and revenue mix
Global investment banking revenue increased for the fifth year running in 2007, to a record US$84.3
billion,[15]
which was up 22% on the previous year and more than double the level in 2003. Subsequent to their
exposure to United States sub-prime securities investments, many investment banks have experienced losses.
As of late 2012, global revenues for investment banks were estimated at $240 billion, down about a third from
2009, as companies pursued less deals and traded less.[16]
Differences in total revenue are likely due to
different ways of classifying investment banking revenue, such as subtracting proprietary trading revenue.
In terms of total revenue, SEC filings of the major independent investment banks in the United States show that
investment banking (defined as M&A advisory services and security underwriting) only made up about 15-20%
of total revenue for these banks from 1996 to 2006, with the majority of revenue (60+% in some years) brought
in by "trading" which includes brokerage commissions and proprietary trading; the proprietary trading is
estimated to provide a significant portion of this revenue.[3]

15. The United States generated 46% of global revenue in 2009, down from 56% in 1999. Europe (with Middle
East and Africa) generated about a third while Asian countries generated the remaining 21%.[15]:8
The industry
is heavily concentrated in a small number of major financial centers, including City of London, New York
City, Frankfurt, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
According to estimates published by the International Financial Services London, for the decade prior to the
financial crisis in 2008, M&A was a primary source of investment banking revenue, often accounting for 40% of
such revenue, but dropped during and after the financial crisis.[15]:9
Equity underwriting revenue ranged from
30% to 38% and fixed-income underwriting accounted for the remaining revenue.[15]:9
Revenues have been affected by the introduction of new products with higher margins; however, these
innovations are often copied quickly by competing banks, pushing down trading margins. For example,
brokerages commissions for bond and equity trading is a commodity business but structuring and
trading derivatives has higher margins because each over-the-counter contract has to be uniquely structured
and could involve complex pay-off and risk profiles. One growth area is private investment in public
equity (PIPEs, otherwise known as Regulation D or Regulation S). Such transactions are privately negotiated
between companies and accredited investors.
Banks also earned revenue by securitizing debt, particularly mortgage debt prior to the financial crisis.
Investment banks have become concerned that lenders are securitizing in-house, driving the investment banks
to pursue vertical integration by becoming lenders, which is allowed in the United States since the repeal of the
Glass-Steagall act in 1999.[citation needed]
Top 10 banks
Further information: List of investment banks
The ten largest investment banks as of December 31, 2012, are as follows (by total fees from all
advisory).[17]
The list is just a ranking of the advisory arm of each bank and does not include the generally much
larger portion of revenues from sales and trading and asset management.
Rank Company Fees ($m)
1. JP Morgan Chase $5,467.07
2. Bank of America $4,600.05
3. Goldman Sachs $4,150.52
4. Morgan Stanley $3,740.89

16. 5. Citi $3,617.11
6. Credit Suisse $3,442.95
7. Deutsche Bank $3,319.32
8. Barclays $3,232.53
9. UBS $2,197.52
10. Wells Fargo $1,894.03
World's biggest banks are ranked for M&A advisory, syndicated loans, equity capital markets and debt capital
markets.
The Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg often cover Mergers and Acquisitions and Capital
Markets. League tables are also available:
• Investment Banking Review, Financial Times.
• Investment Banking Scorecard, Wall Street Journal.
• Global M&A Financial Advisory Rankings, Bloomberg.
• Global Capital Markets League Tables, Bloomberg.
Financial crisis of 2008
The 2008 financial credit crisis led to the notable collapse of several banks, notably including the bankruptcy of
large investment bank Lehman Brothers and the hurried sale of Merrill Lynch and the much smaller Bear
Stearns to banks which effectively rescued them from bankruptcy. The entire financial services industry,
including numerous investment banks, was rescued by government loans through the Troubled Asset Relief
Program (TARP). Surviving U.S. investment banks such as Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley converted to
traditional bank holding companies to accept TARP relief.[18]
Similar situations occurred across the globe with
countries rescuing their banking industry. Initially, banks received part of a $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief
Program (TARP) intended to stabilize the economy and thaw the frozen credit markets.[19]
Eventually, taxpayer
assistance to banks reached nearly $13 trillion, most without much scrutiny,[20]
lending did not increase[21]
and
credit markets remained frozen.[22]

17. The crisis led to questioning of the business model of the investment bank[23]
without the regulation imposed on
it by Glass-Steagall.[neutrality is disputed]
Once Robert Rubin, a former co-chairman of Goldman Sachs, became part
of the Clinton administration and deregulated banks, the previous conservatism of underwriting established
companies and seeking long-term gains was replaced by lower standards and short-term profit.[24]
Formerly,
the guidelines said that in order to take a company public, it had to be in business for a minimum of five years
and it had to show profitability for three consecutive years. After deregulation, those standards were gone, but
small investors did not grasp the full impact of the change.[24]
A number of former Goldman-Sachs top executives, such as Henry Paulson and Ed Liddy were in high-level
positions in government and oversaw the controversial taxpayer-funded bank bailout.[24]
The TARP Oversight
Report released by the Congressional Oversight Panel found that the bailout tended to encourage risky
behavior and "corrupt[ed] the fundamental tenets of a market economy".[25]
Under threat of a subpoena, Goldman Sachs revealed that it received $12.9 billion in taxpayer aid, $4.3 billion
of which was then paid out to 32 entities, including many overseas banks, hedge funds and pensions.[26]
The
same year it received $10 billion in aid from the government, it also paid out multi-million dollar bonuses; the
total paid in bonuses was $4.82 billion.[27][28]
Similarly, Morgan Stanley received $10 billion in TARP funds and
paid out $4.475 billion in bonuses.[29]
Criticisms
The investment banking industry, and many individual investment banks, have come under criticism for a
variety of reasons, including perceived conflicts of interest, overly large pay packages, cartel-like or oligopolic
behavior, taking both sides in transactions, and more.[30]
Investment banking has also been criticised for its
opacity.[31]
Conflicts of interest
Conflicts of interest may arise between different parts of a bank, creating the potential for market manipulation,
according to critics. Authorities that regulate investment banking (the FSA in theUnited Kingdom and
the SEC in the United States) require that banks impose a Chinese wall to prevent communication between
investment banking on one side and equity research and trading on the other. Critics say such a barrier does
not always exist in practice, however.
Conflicts of interest often arise in relation to investment banks' equity research units, which have long been part
of the industry. A common practice is for equity analysts to initiate coverage of a company in order to develop
relationships that lead to highly profitable investment banking business. In the 1990s, many equity researchers
allegedly traded positive stock ratings for investment banking business. Alternatively, companies may threaten
to divert investment banking business to competitors unless their stock was rated favorably. Laws were passed
to criminalize such acts, and increased pressure from regulators and a series of lawsuits, settlements, and
prosecutions curbed this business to a large extent following the 2001 stock market tumble after the dot-com
bubble.

18. Philip Augar, author of The Greed Merchants, said in an interview that: "You cannot simultaneously serve the
interest of issuer clients and investing clients. And it’s not just underwriting and sales; investment banks run
proprietary trading operations that are also making a profit out of these securities."[30]
Many investment banks also own retail brokerages. During the 1990s, some retail brokerages sold consumers
securities which did not meet their stated risk profile. This behavior may have led to investment banking
business or even sales of surplus shares during a public offering to keep public perception of the stock
favorable.
Since investment banks engage heavily in trading for their own account, there is always the temptation for them
to engage in some form of front running – the illegal practice whereby a broker executes orders for their own
account before filling orders previously submitted by their customers, there benefiting from any changes in
prices induced by those orders.
Documents under seal in a decade-long lawsuit concerning eToys.com's IPO but obtained by New York
Times Wall Street Business columnist Joe Nocera alleged that IPOs managed by Goldman Sachs and other
investment bankers involved asking for kickbacks from their institutional clients who made large profits flipping
IPOs which Goldman had intentionally undervalued. Depositions in the lawsuit alleged that clients willingly
complied with these demands because they understood it was necessary in order to participate in future hot
issues.[32]
Reuters Wall Street correspondent Felix Salmon retracted his earlier, more conciliatory, statements
on the subject and said he believed that the depositions show that companies going public and their initial
consumer stockholders are both defrauded by this practice, which may be widespread throughout the
IPO finance industry.[33]
The case is ongoing, and the allegations remain unproven.
Compensation
Investment banking is often criticized for the enormous pay packages awarded to those who work in the
industry. According to Bloomberg Wall Street's five biggest firms paid over $3 billion to their executives from
2003 to 2008, "while they presided over the packaging and sale of loans that helped bring down the
investment-banking system." [34]
The highly generous pay packages include $172 million for Merrill Lynch & Co. CEO Stanley O'Neal from 2003
to 2007, before it was bought by Bank of America in 2008, and $161 million for Bear Stearns Co.'s James
Cayne before the bank collapsed and was sold to JPMorgan Chase & Co. in June 2008.[34]
Such pay arrangements have attracted the ire of Democrats and Republicans in Congress, who demanded
limits on executive pay in 2008 when the U.S. government was bailing out the industry with a $700 billion
financial rescue package.[34]
Writing in the Global Association of Risk Professionals, Aaron Brown, a vice president at Morgan Stanley, says
"By any standard of human fairness, of course, investment bankers make obscene amounts of money.

19. Corporate finance
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Corporate finance

20. Working capital
• Cash conversion cycle
• Return on capital
• Economic Value Added
• Just-in-time
• Economic order quantity
• Discounts and allowances
• Factoring
Sections
• Managerial finance
• Financial accounting
• Management accounting
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Balance sheet analysis
• Business plan
• Corporate action
Societal components
• Financial market
• Financial market participants
• Corporate finance
• Personal finance
• Public finance
• Banks and banking
• Financial regulation
• Clawback
• v
• t
• e
Corporate finance is the area of finance dealing with the sources of funding and the capital structure of
corporations and the actions that managers take to increase the value of the firm to the shareholders, as well

21. as the tools and analysis used to allocate financial resources. The primary goal of corporate finance is
to maximize shareholder value.[1]
Although it is in principle different from managerial finance which studies the
financial management of all firms, rather thancorporations alone, the main concepts in the study of corporate
finance are applicable to the financial problems of all kinds of firms.
Investment analysis (or capital budgeting) is concerned with the setting of criteria about which value-adding
projects should receive investment funding, and whether to finance that investment with equity or debt capital.
Short-term finance is the management of the company's monetary funds that deal with the short-term balance
of current assets and current liabilities; the focus here is on managing cash, inventories, and short-term
borrowing and lending (such as the terms on credit extended to customers).[citation needed]
The terms corporate finance and corporate financier are also associated with investment banking. The typical
role of an investment bank is to evaluate the company's financial needs and raise the appropriate type of
capital that best fits those needs. Thus, the terms ―corporate finance‖ and ―corporate financier‖ may be
associated with transactions in which capital is raised in order to create, develop, grow or acquire businesses.
Financial management overlaps with the financial function of the Accounting profession. However, financial
accounting is the reporting of historical financial information, while financial management is concerned with the
allocation of capital resources to increase a firm's value to the shareholders.
• 1 Outline of corporate finance
• 1.1 Investment analysis and capital budgeting
• 1.2 Maximizing shareholder value
• 1.3 Return on investment
• 2 Capital structure
• 2.1 Capitalization structure
• 2.2 Sources of capital
• 2.2.1 Debt capital
• 2.2.2 Equity capital
• 2.2.3 Preferred stock
• 3 Investment and project valuation
• 3.1 Valuing flexibility
• 3.2 Quantifying uncertainty
• 4 Dividend policy
• 5 Working capital management
• 5.1 Working capital
• 5.2 Management of working capital
• 6 Relationship with other areas in finance
• 6.1 Investment banking
• 6.2 Financial risk management
• 7 See also

22. • 8 References
• 9 Further reading
Outline of corporate finance
Investment analysis and capital budgetingMain article: Capital budgeting
Investment analysis (or capital budgeting) is the planning of value-adding, long-term corporate financial
projects relating to investments funded through and affecting the firm's capital structure. Management must
allocate the firm's limited resources between competing opportunities (projects), which is one of the main
focuses of capital budgeting.[2]
Capital budgeting is also concerned with the setting of criteria about which
projects should receive investment funding to increase the value of the firm, and whether to finance that
investment with equity or debt capital. Investments should be made on the basis of value-added to the future of
the corporation. Projects that increase a firm's value may include a wide variety of different types of
investments, including but not limited to, expansion policies, or mergers and acquisitions. When no such value
can be added through the capital budgeting process and excess cash surplus exists and is not needed, then
management is expected to pay out some or all of those surplus earnings in the form of cash dividends or to
repurchase the company's stock through a share buyback program.
Choosing between investment projects may be based upon several inter-related criteria. (1) Corporate
management seeks to maximize the value of the firm by investing in projects which yield a positive net present
value when valued using an appropriate discount rate in consideration of risk. (2) These projects must also be
financed appropriately. (3) If no positive NPV projects exist and excess cash surplus is not needed to the firm,
then financial theory suggests that management should return some or all of the excess cash to shareholders
(i.e., distribution via dividends).
Maximizing shareholder value
The primary objective of financial management is to maximize shareholder value. Maximizing shareholder
value requires managers to be able to balance capital funding between investments in projects that increase
the firm's long term profitability and sustainability, along with paying excess cash in the form of dividends to
shareholders. Managers of growth companies (i.e. firms that earn high rates of return on invested capital) will
use most of the firm's capital resources and surplus cash on investments and projects so the company can
continue to expand its business operations into the future. When companies reach maturity levels within their
industry (i.e. companies that earn approximately average or lower returns on invested capital), managers of
these companies will use surplus cash to payout dividends to shareholders. In practice, this is a difficult task,
because managers must do an analysis to determine the appropriate allocation of the firm's capital resources
and cash surplus between projects and payouts of dividends to shareholders, as well as paying back creditor
related debt.
Return on investment
Return on investment is the concept of an investment in some resource or asset yielding an appreciation in
value to the investor. In purely economic terms, ROI is used to measure the profits gained in comparison to the
capital invested. ROI is a broad method for investment valuation, and may be employed using different

23. valuation approaches. One method is to compare the investment value and its opportunity cost to other forms
of investments available (this method is generally known in finance as the cost of capital). Alternative methods
may include a cost-benefit analysis of the future recurring growth or sustainability of the profits from the
investment. When profit levels cannot be accurately forecasted, investors are advised to benchmark their
investments against comparable assets (such as to evaluate industry standard best practices and to do a
company analysis in stock valuation) to help them estimate the earnings multiplier or the return on capital likely
to be received in the future.
Capital structure
Capitalization structure
Domestic credit to private sector in 2005.
Main article: Capital structure
Further information: Security (finance)
Achieving the goals of corporate finance requires that any corporate investment be financed
appropriately.[3]
The sources of financing are, generically, capital self-generated by the firm and capital from
external funders, obtained by issuing new debt andequity (and hybrid- or convertible securities). As above,
since both hurdle rate and cash flows (and hence the riskiness of the firm) will be affected, the financing mix
will impact the valuation of the firm. There are two interrelated considerations here:
• Management must identify the "optimal mix" of financing – the capital structure that results in maximum
firm value.[4]
(SeeBalance sheet, WACC.) Financing a project through debt results in a liability or obligation
that must be serviced, thus entailing cash flow implications independent of the project's degree of success.
Equity financing is less risky with respect to cash flow commitments, but results in a dilution of share

24. ownership, control and earnings. The cost of equity (see CAPM andAPT) is also typically higher than
the cost of debt - which is, additionally, a deductible expense – and so equity financing may result in an
increased hurdle rate which may offset any reduction in cash flow risk.[5]
• Management must attempt to match the long-term financing mix to the assets being financed as closely as
possible, in terms of both timing and cash flows. Managing any potential asset liability
mismatch or duration gap entails matching the assets and liabilities respectively according to maturity
pattern ("Cashflow matching") or duration ("immunization"); managing this relationship in the short-term is
a major function of working capital management, as discussed below. Other techniques, such
as securitization, or hedging using interest rate- or credit derivatives, are also common. See Asset liability
management; Treasury management; Credit risk; Interest rate risk.
Much of the theory here, falls under the umbrella of the Trade-Off Theory in which firms are assumed to trade-
off the tax benefits of debt with the bankruptcy costs of debt when choosing how to allocate the company's
resources. However economists have developed a set of alternative theories about how managers allocate a
corporation's finances. One of the main alternative theories of how firms manage their capital funds is
the Pecking Order Theory (Stewart Myers), which suggests that firms avoid external financing while they
have internal financing available and avoid new equity financing while they can engage in new debt financing at
reasonably low interest rates. Also, Capital structure substitution theory hypothesizes that management
manipulates the capital structure such that earnings per share (EPS) are maximized. An emerging area in
finance theory is right-financing whereby investment banks and corporations can enhance investment return
and company value over time by determining the right investment objectives, policy framework, institutional
structure, source of financing (debt or equity) and expenditure framework within a given economy and under
given market conditions. One of the more recent innovations in this area from a theoretical point of view is
the Market timing hypothesis. This hypothesis, inspired in the behavioral finance literature, states that firms
look for the cheaper type of financing regardless of their current levels of internal resources, debt and equity.
Sources of capital
Further information: Security (finance)
Debt capital
Further information: Bankruptcy and Financial distress
Corporations may rely on borrowed funds (debt capital or credit) as sources of investment to sustain ongoing
business operations or to fund future growth. Debt comes in several forms, such as through bank loans, notes
payable, or bonds issued to the public. Bonds require the corporations to make regular interest payments
(interest expenses) on the borrowed capital until the debt reaches its maturity date, therein the firm must pay
back the obligation in full. Debt payments can also be made in the form of sinking fund provisions, whereby the
corporation pays annual installments of the borrowed debt above regular interest charges. Corporations that
issue callable bonds are entitled to pay back the obligation in full whenever the company feels it is in their best
interest to pay off the debt payments. If interest expenses cannot be made by the corporation through cash

25. payments, the firm may also use collateral assets as a form of repaying their debt obligations (or through the
process of liquidation).
Equity capital
Corporations can alternatively sell shares of the company to investors to raise capital. Investors, or
shareholders, expect that the value of the company will appreciate over time to make their investment a
profitable venture. Shareholder value is increased when corporations invest equity capital and other funds into
projects (or investments) that earn a positive rate of return for the owners. Investors prefer to buy shares of
stock into companies that will consistently earn a positive rate of return on capital in the future, thus increasing
the market value of the stock of that corporation. Shareholder value may also be increased when corporations
payout excess cash surplus (funds from retained earnings that are not needed for business) in the form of
dividends.
Preferred stock
Preferred stock is an equity security which may have any combination of features not possessed by common
stock including properties of both an equity and a debt instruments, and is generally considered a hybrid
instrument. Preferreds are senior (i.e. higher ranking) to common stock, but subordinate to bonds in terms of
claim (or rights to their share of the assets of the company).[6]
Preferred stock usually carries no voting rights,[7]
but may carry a dividend and may have priority over common
stock in the payment of dividends and upon liquidation. Terms of the preferred stock are stated in a "Certificate
of Designation".
Similar to bonds, preferred stocks are rated by the major credit-rating companies. The rating for preferreds is
generally lower, since preferred dividends do not carry the same guarantees as interest payments from bonds
and they are junior to all creditors.[8]
Preferred stock is a special class of shares which may have any combination of features not possessed by
common stock. The following features are usually associated with preferred stock:[9]
• Preference in dividends
• Preference in assets, in the event of liquidation
• Convertibility to common stock.
• Callability, at the option of the corporation
• Nonvoting
Investment and project valuation
Further information: Business valuation, stock valuation, and fundamental analysis
In general,[10]
each project's value will be estimated using a discounted cash flow (DCF) valuation, and the
opportunity with the highest value, as measured by the resultant net present value (NPV) will be selected
(applied to Corporate Finance by Joel Dean in 1951). This requires estimating the size and timing of all of

26. the incremental cash flows resulting from the project. Such future cash flows are then discounted to determine
their present value (see Time value of money). These present values are then summed, and this sum net of the
initial investment outlay is the NPV. SeeFinancial modeling.
The NPV is greatly affected by the discount rate. Thus, identifying the proper discount rate – often termed, the
project "hurdle rate"[11]
– is critical to choosing good projects and investments for the firm. The hurdle rate is the
minimum acceptable return on an investment – i.e., the project appropriate discount rate. The hurdle rate
should reflect the riskiness of the investment, typically measured by volatility of cash flows, and must take into
account the project-relevant financing mix.[12]
Managers use models such as the CAPM or the APT to estimate
a discount rate appropriate for a particular project, and use the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) to
reflect the financing mix selected. (A common error in choosing a discount rate for a project is to apply a WACC
that applies to the entire firm. Such an approach may not be appropriate where the risk of a particular project
differs markedly from that of the firm's existing portfolio of assets.)
In conjunction with NPV, there are several other measures used as (secondary) selection criteria in corporate
finance. These are visible from the DCF and include discounted payback period, IRR,Modified IRR, equivalent
annuity, capital efficiency, and ROI. Alternatives (complements) to NPV include Residual Income
Valuation, MVA / EVA (Joel Stern, Stern Stewart & Co) and APV(Stewart Myers). See list of valuation topics.
Valuing flexibility
Main articles: Real options analysis and decision tree
In many cases, for example R&D projects, a project may open (or close) various paths of action to the
company, but this reality will not (typically) be captured in a strict NPV approach.[13]
Some analysts account for
this uncertainty by adjusting the discount rate (e.g. by increasing the cost of capital) or the cash flows
(using certainty equivalents, or applying (subjective) "haircuts" to the forecast numbers).[14][15]
Even when
employed, however, these latter methods do not normally properly account for changes in risk over the
project's lifecycle and hence fail to appropriately adapt the risk adjustment.[16]
Management will therefore
(sometimes) employ tools which place an explicit value on these options. So, whereas in a DCF valuation
the most likely or average or scenario specific cash flows are discounted, here the ―flexible and staged nature‖
of the investment is modelled, and hence "all" potential payoffs are considered. See further under Real options
valuation. The difference between the two valuations is the "value of flexibility" inherent in the project.
The two most common tools are Decision Tree Analysis (DTA)[17][18]
and Real options valuation (ROV);[19]
they
may often be used interchangeably:
• DTA values flexibility by incorporating possible events (or states) and consequent management decisions.
(For example, a company would build a factory given that demand for its product exceeded a certain level
during the pilot-phase, and outsource production otherwise. In turn, given further demand, it would
similarly expand the factory, and maintain it otherwise. In a DCF model, by contrast, there is no
"branching" – each scenario must be modelled separately.) In the decision tree, each management
decision in response to an "event" generates a "branch" or "path" which the company could follow; the
probabilities of each event are determined or specified by management. Once the tree is constructed: (1)

27. "all" possible events and their resultant paths are visible to management; (2) given this ―knowledge‖ of the
events that could follow, and assuming rational decision making, management chooses the branches (i.e.
actions) corresponding to the highest value path probability weighted; (3) this path is then taken as
representative of project value. See Decision theory#Choice under uncertainty.
• ROV is usually used when the value of a project is contingent on the value of some other asset
or underlying variable. (For example, the viability of a mining project is contingent on the price ofgold; if the
price is too low, management will abandon the mining rights, if sufficiently high, management
will develop the ore body. Again, a DCF valuation would capture only one of these outcomes.) Here: (1)
using financial option theory as a framework, the decision to be taken is identified as corresponding to
either a call option or a put option; (2) an appropriate valuation technique is then employed – usually a
variant on the Binomial options model or a bespoke simulation model, while Black Scholes type formulae
are used less often; see Contingent claim valuation. (3) The "true" value of the project is then the NPV of
the "most likely" scenario plus the option value. (Real options in corporate finance were first discussed
by Stewart Myers in 1977; viewing corporate strategy as a series of options was originally per Timothy
Luehrman, in the late 1990s.) See also Option pricing approaches under Business valuation.
Quantifying uncertainty
Further information: Sensitivity analysis, Scenario planning, and Monte Carlo methods in finance
Given the uncertainty inherent in project forecasting and valuation,[18][20]
analysts will wish to assess
the sensitivity of project NPV to the various inputs (i.e. assumptions) to the DCF model. In a typical sensitivity
analysis the analyst will vary one key factor while holding all other inputs constant, ceteris paribus. The
sensitivity of NPV to a change in that factor is then observed, and is calculated as a "slope": ΔNPV / Δfactor.
For example, the analyst will determine NPV at various growth rates in annual revenue as specified (usually at
set increments, e.g. -10%, -5%, 0%, 5%....), and then determine the sensitivity using this formula. Often,
several variables may be of interest, and their various combinations produce a "value-surface",[21]
(or even a
"value-space",) where NPV is then a function of several variables. See also Stress testing.
Using a related technique, analysts also run scenario based forecasts of NPV. Here, a scenario comprises a
particular outcome for economy-wide, "global" factors (demand for the product,exchange rates, commodity
prices, etc...) as well as for company-specific factors (unit costs, etc...). As an example, the analyst may specify
various revenue growth scenarios (e.g. 0% for "Worst Case", 10% for "Likely Case" and 20% for "Best Case"),
where all key inputs are adjusted so as to be consistent with the growth assumptions, and calculate the NPV
for each. Note that for scenario based analysis, the various combinations of inputs must be internally
consistent (see discussion at Financial modeling), whereas for the sensitivity approach these need not be so.
An application of this methodology is to determine an "unbiased" NPV, where management determines a
(subjective) probability for each scenario – the NPV for the project is then the probability-weighted average of
the various scenarios. See First Chicago Method.
A further advancement which "overcomes the limitations of sensitivity and scenario analyses by examining the
effects of all possible combinations of variables and their realizations." [22]
is to

28. construct stochastic[23]
or probabilistic financial models – as opposed to the traditional static
and deterministic models as above.[20]
For this purpose, the most common method is to use Monte Carlo
simulation to analyze the project’s NPV. This method was introduced to finance by David B. Hertz in 1964,
although it has only recently become common: today analysts are even able to run simulations
in spreadsheet based DCF models, typically using a risk-analysis add-in, such as @Risk or Crystal Ball. Here,
the cash flow components that are (heavily) impacted by uncertainty are simulated, mathematically reflecting
their "random characteristics". In contrast to the scenario approach above, the simulation produces
several thousand random but possible outcomes, or trials, "covering all conceivable real world contingencies in
proportion to their likelihood;" [24]
see Monte Carlo Simulation versus ―What If‖ Scenarios. The output is then
a histogramof project NPV, and the average NPV of the potential investment – as well as its volatility and other
sensitivities – is then observed. This histogram provides information not visible from the static DCF: for
example, it allows for an estimate of the probability that a project has a net present value greater than zero (or
any other value).
Continuing the above example: instead of assigning three discrete values to revenue growth, and to the other
relevant variables, the analyst would assign an appropriate probability distribution to each variable
(commonly triangular or beta), and, where possible, specify the observed or supposed correlation between the
variables. These distributions would then be "sampled" repeatedly –incorporating this correlation – so as to
generate several thousand random but possible scenarios, with corresponding valuations, which are then used
to generate the NPV histogram. The resultant statistics (average NPV and standard deviation of NPV) will be a
more accurate mirror of the project's "randomness" than the variance observed under the scenario based
approach. These are often used as estimates of the underlying "spot price" and volatility for the real option
valuation as above; see Real options valuation: Valuation inputs. A more robust Monte Carlo model would
include the possible occurrence of risk events (e.g., a credit crunch) that drive variations in one or more of the
DCF model inputs.
Dividend policy
Main article: Dividend policy
Dividend policy is concerned with financial policies regarding the payment of a cash dividend in the present or
paying an increased dividend at a later stage. Whether to issue dividends,[25]
and what amount, is determined
mainly on the basis of the company's unappropriated profit (excess cash) and influenced by the company's
long-term earning power. When cash surplus exists and is not needed by the firm, then management is
expected to pay out some or all of those surplus earnings in the form of cash dividends or to repurchase the
company's stock through a share buyback program.
If there are no NPV positive opportunities, i.e. projects where returns exceed the hurdle rate, and excess cash
surplus is not needed, then – finance theory suggests – management should return some or all of the excess
cash to shareholders as dividends. This is the general case, however there are exceptions. For example,
shareholders of a "growth stock", expect that the company will, almost by definition, retain most of the excess
cash surplus so as to fund future projects internally to help increase the value of the firm. By withholding

29. current dividend payments to shareholders, managers of growth companies are hoping that dividend payments
will be increased proportionality higher in the future, to offset the retainment of current earnings and the internal
financing of present investment projects.
Management must also choose the form of the dividend distribution, generally as cash dividends or via a share
buyback. Various factors may be taken into consideration: where shareholders must pay tax on dividends, firms
may elect to retain earnings or to perform a stock buyback, in both cases increasing the value of shares
outstanding. Alternatively, some companies will pay "dividends" from stock rather than in cash; see Corporate
action. Financial theory suggests that the dividend policy should be set based upon the type of company and
what management determines is the best use of those dividend resources for the firm to its shareholders. As a
general rule, shareholders of growth companies would prefer managers to have a share buyback program,
whereas shareholders of value or secondary stocks would prefer the management of these companies to
payout surplus earnings in the form of cash dividends.
Working capital management
Main article: Working capital
How to manage the corporation's working capital position to sustain ongoing business operations is referred to
as working capital management.[26]
These involve managing the relationship between a firm's short-term
assets and its short-term liabilities. In general this is as follows: As above, the goal of Corporate Finance is the
maximization of firm value. In the context of long term, capital budgeting, firm value is enhanced through
appropriately selecting and funding NPV positive investments. These investments, in turn, have implications in
terms of cash flow and cost of capital. The goal of Working Capital (i.e. short term) management is therefore to
ensure that the firm is able to operate, and that it has sufficient cash flow to service long term debt, and to
satisfy both maturing short-term debt and upcoming operational expenses. In so doing, firm value is enhanced
when, and if, the return on capital exceeds the cost of capital; See Economic value added(EVA). Managing
short term finance and long term finance is one task of a modern CFO.
Working capital
Working capital is the amount of funds which are necessary to an organization to continue its ongoing business
operations, until the firm is reimbursed through payments for the goods or services it has delivered to its
customers.[27]
Working capital is measured through the difference between resources in cash or readily
convertible into cash (Current Assets), and cash requirements (Current Liabilities). As a result, capital resource
allocations relating to working capital are always current, i.e. short term. In addition to time horizon, working
capital management differs from capital budgeting in terms of discounting and profitability considerations; they
are also "reversible" to some extent. (Considerations as to Risk appetite and return targets remain identical,
although some constraints – such as those imposed by loan covenants – may be more relevant here).
The (short term) goals of working capital are therefore not approached on the same basis as (long term)
profitability, and working capital management applies different criteria in allocating resources: the main

30. considerations are (1) cash flow / liquidity and (2) profitability / return on capital (of which cash flow is probably
the most important).
• The most widely used measure of cash flow is the net operating cycle, or cash conversion cycle. This
represents the time difference between cash payment for raw materials and cash collection for sales. The
cash conversion cycle indicates the firm's ability to convert its resources into cash. Because this number
effectively corresponds to the time that the firm's cash is tied up in operations and unavailable for other
activities, management generally aims at a low net count. (Another measure is gross operating cycle which
is the same as net operating cycle except that it does not take into account the creditors deferral period.)
• In this context, the most useful measure of profitability is Return on capital (ROC). The result is shown as a
percentage, determined by dividing relevant income for the 12 months by capital employed; Return on
equity (ROE) shows this result for the firm's shareholders. As above, firm value is enhanced when, and if,
the return on capital exceeds the cost of capital.
Management of working capital
Guided by the above criteria, management will use a combination of policies and techniques for the
management of working capital.[28]
These policies aim at managing the current assets(generally cash and cash
equivalents, inventories and debtors) and the short term financing, such that cash flows and returns are
acceptable.
• Cash management. Identify the cash balance which allows for the business to meet day to day expenses,
but reduces cash holding costs.
• Inventory management. Identify the level of inventory which allows for uninterrupted production but
reduces the investment in raw materials – and minimizes reordering costs – and hence increases cash
flow. Note that "inventory" is usually the realm of operations management: given the potential impact on
cash flow, and on the balance sheet in general, finance typically "gets involved in an oversight or policing
way".[29]:714
See Supply chain management; Just In Time (JIT); Economic order quantity (EOQ); Dynamic
lot size model; Economic production quantity(EPQ); Economic Lot Scheduling Problem; Inventory control
problem; Safety stock.
• Debtors management. There are two inter-related roles here: Identify the appropriate credit policy, i.e.
credit terms which will attract customers, such that any impact on cash flows and the cash conversion
cycle will be offset by increased revenue and hence Return on Capital (or vice versa); see Discounts and
allowances. Implement appropriate Credit scoring policies and techniques such that the risk of default on
any new business is acceptable given these criteria.
• Short term financing. Identify the appropriate source of financing, given the cash conversion cycle: the
inventory is ideally financed by credit granted by the supplier; however, it may be necessary to utilize a
bank loan (or overdraft), or to "convert debtors to cash" through "factoring".
Relationship with other areas in finance

31. Investment banking
Use of the term ―corporate finance‖ varies considerably across the world. In the United States it is used, as
above, to describe activities, analytical methods and techniques that deal with many aspects of a company’s
finances and capital. In the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries, the terms ―corporate finance‖ and
―corporate financier‖ tend to be associated with investment banking – i.e. with transactions in which capital is
raised for the corporation.[30]
These may include
• Raising seed, start-up, development or expansion capital
• Mergers, demergers, acquisitions or the sale of private companies
• Mergers, demergers and takeovers of public companies, including public-to-private deals
• Management buy-out, buy-in or similar of companies, divisions or subsidiaries – typically backed by private
equity
• Equity issues by companies, including the flotation of companies on a recognised stock exchange in order
to raise capital for development and/or to restructure ownership
• Raising capital via the issue of other forms of equity, debt and related securities for the refinancing and
restructuring of businesses
• Financing joint ventures, project finance, infrastructure finance, public-private partnerships and
privatisations
• Secondary equity issues, whether by means of private placing or further issues on a stock market,
especially where linked to one of the transactions listed above.
• Raising debt and restructuring debt, especially when linked to the types of transactions listed above
Financial risk management
Main article: Financial risk management
See also: Credit risk; Default (finance); Financial risk; Interest rate risk; Liquidity risk; Operational
risk; Settlement risk; Value at Risk; Volatility risk; Insurance.
Risk management [23][31]
is the process of measuring risk and then developing and implementing strategies
to manage ("hedge") that risk. Financial risk management, typically, is focused on the impact on corporate
value due to adverse changes in commodity prices, interest rates, foreign exchange rates and stock
prices (market risk). It will also play an important role in short term cash-and treasury management;
see above. It is common for large corporations to have risk management teams; often these overlap with
the internal audit function. While it is impractical for small firms to have a formal risk management function,
many still apply risk management informally. See also Enterprise risk management.
The discipline typically focuses on risks that can be hedged using traded financial instruments,
typically derivatives; see Cash flow hedge, Foreign exchange hedge, Financial engineering. Because
company specific, "over the counter" (OTC) contracts tend to be costly to create and monitor, derivatives
that trade on well-established financial markets or exchanges are often preferred. These standard

32. derivative instruments include options, futures contracts, forward contracts, and swaps; the "second
generation" exotic derivatives usually trade OTC. Note that hedging-related transactions will attract their
own accounting treatment: see Hedge accounting, Mark-to-market accounting, FASB 133, IAS 39.
This area is related to corporate finance in two ways. Firstly, firm exposure to business and market risk is a
direct result of previous capital financial investments. Secondly, both disciplines share the goal of
enhancing, or preserving, firm value. There is a fundamental debate [32]
relating to "Risk Management"
and shareholder value. Per the Modigliani and Miller framework, hedging is irrelevant since diversified
shareholders are assumed to not care about firm-specific risks, whereas, on the other hand hedging is
seen to create value in that it reduces the probability of financial distress. A further question, is the
shareholder's desire to optimize risk versus taking exposure to pure risk (a risk event that only has a
negative side, such as loss of life or limb). The debate links the value of risk management in a market to
the cost of bankruptcy in that market