Introduction Chapter

Definition of financial management

The art of planning, organizing, directing and controlling your financial resources to achieve your desired
goals is called financial management. The purpose of financial management is to mainly concentrate on
oversight over revenues and expenditures, managing risk and capital.

Functions of Financial Management

1. Estimation of capital requirements: A finance manager has to make estimation with
regards to capital requirements of the company. This will depend upon expected costs
and profits and future programmers and policies of a concern. Estimations have to be
made in an adequate manner which increases earning capacity of enterprise.

2. Determination of capital composition: Once the estimation has been made, the capital
structure have to be [Link] involves short-term and long-term debt equity analysis.
This will depend upon the proportion of equity capital a company is possessing and
additional funds which have to be raised from outside parties.

3. Choice of sources of funds: For additional funds to be procured, a company has many
choices like-
a. Issue of shares and debentures
b. Loans to be taken from banks and financial institutions
c. Public deposits to be drawn like in form of bonds.

Choice of factor will depend on relative merits and demerits of each source and period of
financing.

4. Investment of funds: The finance manager has to decide to allocate funds into profitable
ventures so that there is safety on investment and regular returns is possible.
5. Disposal of surplus: The net profits decision have to be made by the finance manager.
This can be done in two ways:
a. Dividend declaration - It includes identifying the rate of dividends and other
benefits like bonus.
b. Retained profits - The volume has to be decided which will depend upon
expansional, innovational, diversification plans of the company.
6. Management of cash: Finance manager has to make decisions with regards to cash
management.
 Cash is required for many purposes like payment of wages and salaries, payment of
electricity and water bills, payment to creditors, meeting current liabilities, maintainance
of enough stock, purchase of raw materials, etc.

7. Financial controls: The finance manager has not only to plan, procure and utilize the
funds but he also has to exercise control over finances.

Difference between Share and Debenture

Basis Shares Debentures

A share is a unit(a part) of the capital A debenture is a debt instrument
Meaning
of the company. issued to raise a borrowed fund.
Nature A share form an Equity capital. A debenture form a debt capital.
A holder of a share is known as a A holder of a debenture is known as a
Holder
shareholder. debenture holder.
A debenture yields a fixed rate of
A shareholder earns a dividend in
Return interest (coupon rate) at a specified
return for their investment.
date.
An interest on debenture is paid
Dividend and A dividend is paid only when there is a
irrespective of whether the company is
Interest Payment profit.
making a profit or incurring a loss.
A debenture holder has no right to
A shareholder enjoys the right to vote
Voting Rights participate or cast a vote at the
at the company’s meeting.
company’s meeting.
A company, at its option, can buy back A debenture shall be redeemed at a
Redemption
its own shares. fixed maturity date.
A share cannot be converted into A debenture can be converted into
Conversion
debenture. shares as per the term of the issue.
At the time of winding up, payment to At the time of winding up, payment to
Priority of
shareholders is made after the the debenture holder is made before
Repayment
repayment to a debenture holder. the payment to the shareholders.
Section 53 of the Companies Act
A debenture can be issued at discount
Issue at Discount restricts the issue of shares at discount,
without any restrictions.
except for the sweat equity shares.
Debentures are the debt for the
High degree of risk is borne by the
Degree of Risk companies, hence debenture holders
equity shareholders.
bear little risk.

Who Should Invest in Bonds & Debentures?

Bonds and debentures may be suitable for a wide range of investors, depending on their financial
goals and risk tolerance. Generally, these investments are more appropriate for those seeking
stability and steady income rather than aggressive growth.

Bonds appeal to conservative investors prioritising capital preservation and a predictable income
stream. These may include retirees or individuals nearing retirement age and those with a lower
risk tolerance and shorter investment timeline.

Difference between Bonds and Debentures

Bonds
Bonds are debt financial instruments that both public and private sector companies use to raise
funds for their operations. The government agencies, financial institutions as well as private
enterprises issue these instruments to investors. Bonds are secured by their physical assets. The
holder of these bonds is the lender, while the issuer of these bonds is the borrower. The borrower
can issue these bonds to the lender, only by promising to pay back the loan at a specific maturity
date with a fixed interest rate. This interest rate is generally lower than debentures because the
physical assets of a company secure bonds whereas the debentures are unsecured instruments.

Debentures
Debentures are also debt financial instruments like bonds. Organisations use these instruments to
get funding for their daily needs. They are generally not secured by any physical assets of the
issuers, which makes them riskier than bonds. They also carry a fixed or floating interest rate.
The debenture holders get first preference over shareholders of a company when it comes to the
payment of interests/dividends. The interest rate on debentures is generally higher than bonds
because they are not secured by the physical assets of a company.

Differences between Bonds and Debentures

The main differences between Bonds and Debentures are as follows:

Bonds Debentures
Definition
Bonds are debt financial instruments issued by Debentures are debt financial instruments
large corporations, financial institutions and issued by private companies, but any
government agencies that are backed up by collaterals or physical assets do not back them
collaterals or physical assets. up.
Owner
The owner of a debenture is called a
The owner of a bond is called a bondholder.
debenture holder.
Collateral
 Debentures do not get secured by the
collateral or physical assets of the issuing
Bonds get secured by the collateral or physical
company. Lenders purchase these instruments
assets of the issuing company.
solely based on the reputation of the issuing
company.
Tenure
Debentures are generally short to medium
Bonds are long term investments and their tenure
term investments and their tenure is usually
is generally higher than debentures.
lower than bonds.
Issuer
Large corporations, financial institutions and
Private companies generally issue debentures
government agencies issue these bonds for their
for their immediate capital requirements.
long term capital requirements.
Rate of Interest
The bonds carry a fixed or floating interest rate The debentures carry a fixed or floating
that is generally lower than debentures because interest rate that is generally higher than
they are more stable in terms of repayment, and bonds because they are less stable in terms of
they get backed by collateral of the issuing repayment, and they are also not backed by
company. collateral.
Priority During Liquidation
If the company is on the verge of liquidation, the If the company is on the verge of liquidation,
bondholders are given priority over debenture the debenture holders are given second
holders for repayment of capital and interest priority over bondholders for repayment of
amount. capital and interest amount.
Payment Structure
The payment of interest for bonds is on an accrual
basis. The issuing company pays this amount on a The payment of interest for bonds is done on
monthly, half-yearly or yearly basis and this a periodical basis and depends on the
payment is not dependent on the performance of a company’s performance.
company.
Risk
Bonds are less riskier than debentures because they Debentures are riskier than bonds because
have the security of the physical assets of the they do not have the security of the physical
issuing company. assets of the issuing company.

Conclusion
There are a number of differences between bonds and debentures. However, both are important
when it comes to raising capital to finance the short and long term needs of a corporation.
Lenders who prefer low-risk investments when compared to shares put their money in financial
instruments like bonds and debentures.

What are convertible debentures?

Convertible debentures are long term financial instruments that a company can transform into
equity shares after a fixed period of time. They are usually unsecured bonds with no collateral to
back up their debt. They are hybrid financial products that have features both of equity as well as
debt.

What are convertible bonds?

Convertible bonds are fixed income long term financial instruments that a company can
transform into equity shares after a specified period of time. The bonds get secured with the
company’s physical assets, and the bonds get converted only at the discretion of the bondholder.
They are also hybrid financial products that have features both of equity as well as debt.

Why are bonds and debentures called debt instruments?

Bonds and Debentures are known as debt instruments because companies use them to raise
capital with a promise to repay it after a fixed period of time. The companies also pay a fixed or
floating interest rate on this capital on specified periods during the tenure of this debt instrument.

What are the different types of debentures?

There are eight main types of debentures issued by a company, which are as follows:

 Secured debentures
 Convertible debentures
 Registered debentures
 Redeemable debentures
 Unsecured debentures
 Non-redeemable debentures
 Non-convertible debentures
 Bearer debentures

What are the different types of bonds?

There are ten main types of bonds issued by government agencies, financial institutions and
corporations which are as follows:

 Fixed-rate bonds
 War bonds
 Perpetual bonds
 Inflation-linked bonds
 Floating rate bonds
 Bearer bonds
 Climate bonds
 Serial bonds
 Subordinated bonds
 Zero-interest rate bonds
What Is a Floating Interest Rate?

A floating interest rate is an interest rate that changes periodically. The rate of interest moves up
and down, or "floats," reflecting economic or financial market conditions. Often, it moves in
tandem with a particular index or benchmark, or with general market conditions. A floating
interest rate can also be referred to as an adjustable or variable interest rate because it can vary
over the term of a debt obligation.

Sole Proprietorship
The sole proprietorship is a common organization form especially used by small businesses. A
sole proprietorship is a business that is owned and operated by a single individual. Most sole
proprietorships are family-owned businesses. The advantages of a sole proprietorship business
include:

1. It is easy and inexpensive to form and operate administratively (simplicity);

2. It offers the maximum managerial control; and
3. Business income is taxed as ordinary (personal) income to the owner.

The disadvantages of the sole proprietorship include:

1. It is difficult to raise large amounts of capital;

2. There is unlimited liability;
3. It is difficult to transfer ownership; and
4. The company’s life is determined by the life of the owner.

Partnerships
A general partnership is a business that is owned and operated by two or more individuals. The
partners contribute to the business, share in management, and divide any profit. Partnerships are
usually created by written contract among the partners, but they can be legally recognized even
without a written agreement. If the partnership owns real property, the partnership agreement
should be filed in the county where the property is located.

Advantages of partnerships include:

1. They are easy and inexpensive to form and operate administratively;

2. They have the potential for large managerial control;
3. Business income is taxed as ordinary (personal) income to the owner; and
4. A partnership may be able to raise larger amounts of capital than a sole proprietorship.

The disadvantages of a general partnership include:

 1. Raising capital can still be a constraint;
2. There is unlimited liability;
3. It is difficult to transfer ownership; and
4. The company has limited life.

Corporations

A corporation is a legal entity separate from the owners and managers of the firm. Three
fundamental characteristics distinguish corporations from proprietorships and partnerships: (1)
the way they are owned and managed, (2) their perpetual life, and (3) their legal status separate
from their owners and managers.

The advantages of a corporation include:

1. There is limited liability;

2. The corporation has unlimited life;
3. Ownership is easily transferred; and
4. It may be possible to raise large amounts of capital.

The disadvantages of a C corporation include:

1. There is double taxation; and

2. It is expensive and complicated to begin operations and to administer.

Limited Liability Company

The Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a relatively new form of business organization. An
LLC is a separate entity, like a corporation, that can legally conduct business and own assets.
The LLC must have an operating agreement which regulates its business activities and the
relationship among its owners (referred to as members). There are no restrictions on the number
of members or the members’ identities. LLCs are subject to disclosure, record keeping, and
reporting requirements that are similar to a corporation.

Cooperative
A cooperative is a business that is owned and operated by member patrons. Generally,
cooperatives are thought to operate at cost, with all profits going to member patrons. The profits
are usually redistributed over time in the form of patronage refunds. Cooperatives often appear to
operate as profit making organizations much the same as other forms of business organization.

Trusts
A trust transfers legal title of designated assets to a trustee, who is then responsible for managing
the assets on the beneficiaries’ behalf. The management objectives can be spelled out in the trust
agreement. Beneficiaries retain the right to possess and control the assets of the trust and to
receive the income generated by the properties owned by the trust. Beneficiaries hold the trust
and personal property, rather than title to the assets. The legal status of certain types of land
trusts are unclear in some states.

Major Goals of Financial Management

The goals of financial management depend on efficient and effective management of financial
resources. Some of the main goals are described below.

1. Profit maximization

Profit maximization is the primary objective of financial management. This means a company

should make decisions that increase its earnings per share (EPS) and overall profitability. Let’s

shed some light on profit maximization.

A company’s success evaluation is done through profitability, as it indicates the capability to

make money. Although there are various views on short-run gains vs. long-run growth, pre-tax

profits vs. net income, and earnings per share, they all lead to one thing: maximizing revenue.

However, this understanding should also take into account the time value of money and

recognize that investment decisions can affect future incomes. Such an examination considers

gross margin or net revenue alone and how these numbers can be grown over time through

strategic asset purchases and business developments. In the end, a firm’s profit-making capacity

does not just benefit itself; it ensures equitable distribution of capital, labor, and infrastructure

resources, thus contributing to social and economic welfare.

2. Wealth Maximization

When it comes to the goals of financial management, one must concentrate on the

maximization of wealth. The strategy of maximizing wealth in finance management targets

enhancing a company’s worth by elevating the share value owned by shareholders. In doing so,

the management team must always strive to achieve the highest returns on invested capital while

considering risk level. The reason why wealth maximization outweighs profit maximization is

that it takes into account a wider scope because this more modern approach considers a rupee

today worth more than tomorrow.

3. Accurate Estimation of Financial Requirements

Another purpose of financial management is to ensure that a business has enough money to

begin and operate smoothly and knows its financial needs. This involves finding out what other

people in the same line of business are doing to anticipate their initial sales, making sure that all

funds available, such as loans and retained earnings, have been put into consideration while
preparing budgets, which should be strictly followed when calculating production costs in terms

of labor used together with materials required plus overhead incurred; also they need to include

some alternative plans in case things do not go according to plan due unexpected expenses

arising from market changes among others.

4. Appropriate Mobilization

Appropriate mobilization is one of the primary objectives of financial management. It is

essential for businesses’ prosperity now and also in the future. It refers to the way cash should be
used at different stages of a business cycle; this may involve resource allocation within
departments (mobilization), maintaining liquidity necessary for meeting current obligations or
capturing opportunities as they arise, setting realistic targets against which performance can be
measured over time(financial control)and drawing lessons from past overspending mistakes with
a view improving on future budgets. In simple words, good financial management means
spending wisely toward short-term and long-term goals.

5. Maintenance of Liquidity

To explain the goals of financial management, one needs to understand the importance of
liquidity maintenance. In financial management, liquidity maintenance means managing a
company’s cash and financial resources to have enough liquidity to meet its financial obligations
as and when they become due. It involves methods and actions directed toward enhancing,
optimizing and preserving the liquidity position of an entity.

For complex organizations with international operations to effectively manage risk, liquidity
management should prioritize clear visibility into the cash flow through centralized systems; this
is equally important for them as it helps identify and mitigate situations where the company lacks
enough money. Such practices also improve financial performance by enabling businesses to
save towards payments, shun debt or asset fire sales, and establish a strong financial base.

6. Resource Allocation Efficiency

One of the goals of financial management is how to use resources, specifically financial
resources effectively to the areas that generate considerable revenues. Through strategic
functions alone can financial management guarantee the well-being of an organization; fund
distribution assigns resources on the value and future potentiality, among others.

Financial planning comes up with roadmaps with goals accompanied by strategies supported by
specific funds for their accomplishment. At the same time, financial control ensures spending
optimization and risk management, as well as being proactive in identifying any threat that may
face finance. Finally, informed investment decisions only happen after evaluating possible
returns against the risks involved; thus, such activities must work hand in glove so that firms can
make good choices about what will enable them to achieve success over a long duration.

7. Accelerated Productivity

Money management aims to increase company swiftness by shortening operations, reducing

costs and streamlining resource utilization. This means that one should measure efficiency using
indicators like ROI (return on investment), gross margin as well as OER (operating expense
ratio).

Enhanced business efficiency involves maximizing time, effort and resources; minimizing costs
while maximizing returns on invested capital. This particular purpose of financial management
is achieved through managing financial resources to achieve corporate objectives.

8. Settling Financial Obligations with Lenders

Financial management enables firms to meet their obligations to creditors in the form of loan
repayment and honoring contractual agreements. It involves budgeting for funds distribution,
keeping investor relations alive, and implementing successful management ideas like strict
borrowing terms, conservative regulations and risk assessment, among others, to ensure financial
stability together with profitability for a company.

9. Capital Cost Reduction

Another purpose of financial management is to minimize a company’s capital cost through

inexpensive financing choices, optimal capital structures and debt management. The rate of
return needed for a business’s value creation is called the cost of capital. Since it maximizes
market value and minimizes capital costs simultaneously, the best mix between equity financing
and borrowed funds is represented by what is referred to as optimum capital structure. Long-term
strategies are made possible when we plan well financially as this prepares us with investment
decisions while also giving information on funding requirements, profitability levels, and
liquidity positions, among other things, such as cash flow projections, which help in determining
how long a given business could survive without making any sales.

10. Reducing Operational Risk

Financial management incorporates risk management strategies to mitigate operational risks and
protect investments. That includes diversification of investments, hedging against losses,
controlling cash flows, managing debts, and preparing contingency plans.

The above methods explain the goals of financial management of a business and investors to
spread their eggs across different baskets, thereby minimizing potential losses while maximizing
returns on investments with minimal exposure to loss.

11. Equilibrium Construction

According to financial management, equilibrium construction is achieved by managing debt and
equity, ensuring liquidity, and optimizing capital structure to meet organizational objectives.

One of the goals of financial management is to find the right capital structure, which leads to
minimum weighted average cost of capital (WACC) and maximum enterprise value. In this
regard, it should be noted that firms with stable cash flows may carry more debts, while those
with uneven cash flows will have fewer debts but higher equities.

12. Imagination of Financial Scenarios

Financial scenarios are created by the primary objective of financial management to analyse
economic situations and make informed decisions. Through scenario analysis, managers can
project future happenings and profitability. Scenario analysis has four main components:
planning, budgeting, forecasting, and risk management. Furthermore, financial performance
evaluates a company’s ability to utilize assets for income generation. At the same time, risk
management involves strategies to reduce risks, such as portfolio diversification and asset
allocation, including position sizing, which is essential when dealing with large investments for
individuals and organizations alike.

13. Determine Your Prosperity

Monetary management consists of establishing monetary measures and performance markers for
gauging the success and profitability of an enterprise. Such indicators, including sales growth,
earnings per share, customer loyalty or product quality, are important in establishing whether a
company is financially stable. Knowledge about these signs and continuous monitoring helps
organizations find areas where they need to improve; it enables them to make informed decisions
based on data that will lead to the purpose of financial management, which is their growth and
prosperity.

14. Optimisation of marketing activities

Financial management optimizes marketing efforts through resource allocation, ROI assessment
and alignment of tactics with financial objectives. Businesses should set goals and KPIs and
regularly evaluate and analyze their undertakings. Successful marketing strategies create a strong
market presence and engage with target customers while maximizing coverage. When financial
goals are aligned with marketing analytics, ROI will be enhanced.

15. Business Survival

A business cannot survive without sound financial management practices because it is through
planning, controlling the decision-making process, and analysis that a strategy can be formulated
to achieve sustainable growth for any organization. Strategic plans must have measurements
embedded into them together with financial targets so that revenue may be generated while
ensuring a reasonable return on investment (ROI). Good plans provide clear direction by
explaining policies.
Types of Finance
Finance is the management of funds or money and involves activities such as budgeting,
borrowing, forecasting, investing, lending and saving. In other words, finance is the study of
managing funds and the process of acquiring the required funds.

Types of Finance
There are mainly two types of finance:

1. Debt Finance and

2. Equity Finance.

The other types of finance are

 Public Finance,
 Personal Finance,
 Corporate Finance and
 Private Finance.

Each of the types is explained below with definition and explanation.

1. Debt Finance:
Basically, the cash which you acquire to maintain or run your business is known as debt finance.
Debt finance does not provide ownership control to the moneylender; the borrower must repay
the principal amount along with the agreed upon interest rate. Mostly, the interest rate is
determined based on the loan amount, duration, the purpose for borrowing the specific type of
finance and inflation rate.

Debt finance can be classified into three types:

 Short-term
 Medium-term and
 Long-term

Short-term Debt Finance:

Loans generally needed for a period of more than one to one hundred and eighty days is called
short-term debt finance. These loans are borrowed for covering the shortage of finance and
temporary or occasional requirements. Short-term finance is basically required for daily business
activities such as paying wages to the staffs or getting raw materials. The amount of getting a
short-term loan is dependent mostly on the other sources of income for repaying. The lines of
credit from the business’s suppliers are the most common forms of short-term debt finance.

Trade credit, credit cards, bill discounting, bank overdraft, working capital loans, small business
loans, short-term loans from retail banks and advances from customers are some other forms of
short-term finance.

Medium-term Debt Finance:

Loans generally required for a period of more than one hundred and eighty to three hundred and
sixty-five days is called medium-term debt finance. The way of utilizing the funds are mostly
dependent on the type of business. The businesses generally, repay the loan from the sources of
cash-flow of the businesses. Businesses choose this type of finance to purchase equipment, fixed
assets and the like.

Sometimes small business owners or startups use medium-term debt finance for fulfilling the
fund’s rotation. Because new businesses must pay beforehand to suppliers for every required
good such as buying equipment, machinery, inventories and the like. Hire purchase finance,
lease finance, medium-term credits from commercial banks and issue of bonds/debentures are
some examples of medium-term debt finance.

Long-term Debt Finance:

Loans generally required for a period of more than three hundred and sixty-five days is called
long-term debt finance. This type of finance is mostly needed for buying plant, land,
restructuring offices or buildings, etc. for a business. Long-term finance has a better interest rate
than short-term finance. This debt finance usually has a repayment duration of five, ten or twenty
years.

Car loans or home loans are two popular examples of long-term finance. Issue of
bonds/debentures, Issue of preference shares, issue of equity shares, long-term loans from
government, financial services institutions or investment banks, venture funding or funds from
investors, are other examples of long-term debt finance.

2. Equity Finance:
Equity finance is a classic way of raising capital for businesses by issues or offering shares of
the company. This is one of the major differences in equity finance from debt finance. This
finance is generally applied for seed funding for start-ups and new businesses. Well-known
companies apply this finance to raise additional capital for the expansion of their business.

Equity finance is generally raised by issues or offering equity shares of the business. Basically,
each share is an owner’s unit for that specific company. For instance, if the company has offered
10,000 equity shares to public investors. An investor buys 1000 equity shares of that company,
means s/he holds 10% of ownership in the company.
The other types of finance are discussed below:

Public Finance:
Public finance deals with the study of the state’s expenditure and income. It considers only the
government’s finances. The scope of public finance includes the fund’s collection and its
allocation among different sectors of state activities that are considered as essential functions or
duties of the government.

Public finance can be classified into three types:

 Public Expenditure
 Public Revenues
 Public Debt

i. Public Expenditure:

Public expenditure means the expenses incurred by the government for its maintenance and for
the welfare and preservation of the economy, society, and the nation.

ii. Public Revenues:

Broadly public revenues include all the receipts and income irrespective their nature and source,
which the government acquires during any given period. It will also include the loans raised by
the government. Narrowly, it will include only the income from revenue resources which include
taxes, price, fees, penalties, fines, gifts, etc.

iii. Public Debt:

Public debt means the loans raised which is a source of public finance carrying with it the
repayment obligation to the individuals and the interest.

Personal Finance:
Personal finance denotes the application of finance’s principles to the monetary decisions of a
family or an individual. It includes the ways in which families or individuals get, budget, spend
and save monetary resources over a period, considering different future life events and financial
risks. Financial position is focused on understanding the available personal resources by
examining the household cash flows and net worth. Net worth is an individual’s balance sheet,
derived by summing up all assets under that individual’s control, minus the household’s all
liabilities at a time.

Corporate Finance:
Corporate finance includes financial activities pertaining to running a corporation. It is a
department or division which oversees the financial functions of a company. The primary
concern of corporate finance is the maximization of shareholder value through short-term and
long-term financial planning and different strategies’ implementation.

Private Finance:
Private finance denotes an alternative method of corporate finance helping a company raise fund
to avoid monetary problems with a limited time frame. Basically, this method helps a company
which is not listed on a securities exchange or is incapable to obtain finance on such markets. A
private financial plan can also be suitable for a nonprofit organization.

Difference between Preference and Ordinary

shares
Ordinary shares
Ordinary shares are the main type of share(s) among private limited Companies. In such
companies, all shareholders will have the same rights. The holder(s) of ordinary share(s) are
generally entitled to:-

(1) Attend Annual General Meetings and vote: Ordinary shareholders can participate in internal
corporate governance through attending annual meetings and voting. They are allowed to vote on
important matters such as appointment of directors. They can have one vote per share subject to
the Company’s Constitution;

(2) Share in Company’s profits: Shareholders can receive dividends if the Company has made
profits and decided to distribute them;

(3) Have a distribution on winding up: If the Company is wound up, shareholders are entitled to
any remaining assets of the Company after all its debts are cleared;

(4) Limited liability: Shareholders are protected against the financial obligations of the Company
and are only liable for the value of their shares.

Disadvantages of the Ordinary Shares

(1) Priority distribution of dividends: Priority would be given to Preference shareholders when
the dividends are distributed;

(2) No guaranteed right to receive dividends: The company can make a decision not to distribute
the dividends depending upon the situation.
Preference shares
Preference shares commonly gives benefit or preferential rights to the holder(s) over and above
the rights of Ordinary shareholders. Those rights and benefits to the Preference share(s) will vary
from Company to Company and should be set out in the Company’s Constitution in accordance
with the Singapore Companies Act. Most Preference shares provide their holders with:-

(1) fixed or preferential rights to a dividend;

(2) priority claims on the assets upon liquidation of the Company;

(3) redeemable shares: the Company may “buy back” the Preference shares from the holder at a
fixed price; or

(4) convertible shares: the holder can exchange Preference shares for other capital instruments
(such as convertible notes) issued by the Company.

Disadvantages of Preference Shares

(1) No voting rights: Preference shareholders do not have the general right to vote at meetings;

(2) Higher dividends: Preference shares carry a higher rate of dividend than the interest of
debentures.

Do preference shares affect taxes? Are they also treated like ordinary shares?

Preference shares do not affect taxes. They are treated similarly to ordinary shares.

Overview: Preference shares vs Ordinary shares

Preference Shares Ordinary Shares

Preference shares are superior to ordinary
Ordinary shares are issued by
shares. It’s issued by companies to raise
Definition companies to raise capital with a
capital with a dividend option for
voting option for shareholders
shareholders
Dividend Fixed rate of dividend No fixed rate of dividend
Role in
No role in management Has a role in management
Management
Voting No voting rights Has voting rights
Bonus Shares Not eligible Eligible

Choosing the right type of shares for my company

Each type of share has its own unique appeal according to the specific types of investor.
Preference shares provide the shareholder with a priority to receive dividends, which may be
more appealing to the profit-oriented investor, while others may find that the voting rights
conferred by Ordinary shares are more important to them.

When choosing the types of share class for your company, you should evaluate the points
highlighted in the main discussion above so that you can assess which class of shares will suit
your investors the best.

If you are looking to expand or start your company in Singapore, or want to know more about
the different types of shares, contact us to find out more.

What are Dividends?

Dividends are regular payments made by a company to its shareholders as a way to distribute a
portion of its profits. When a company generates earnings, it may choose to allocate a portion of
those profits to shareholders in the form of dividends. These payments can be made in cash,
additional shares of stock, or other assets.

Dividends serve as a reward for shareholders who have invested in the company, providing them
with a tangible return on their investment. They are typically paid out quarterly or annually,
depending on the company’s financial performance and dividend policy. Dividends are an
essential component of many investors’ strategies, as they offer a steady stream of income and
can contribute to long-term wealth accumulation.

Different Types of Dividends

1. Cash Dividend

This is a common type of dividend that companies distribute to their shareholders in the form of
cash payments. When a company generates profits, it may choose to distribute a portion of those
profits back to its shareholders as cash dividends. They are typically paid on a per-share basis,
meaning that shareholders receive a certain amount of cash for each share they own.

For example, if a company declares a cash dividend of Rs. 10 per share and an investor owns 100
shares, they would receive a cash payment of Rs. 10*100 = Rs. 1,000. Cash dividends are
usually paid out regularly, such as quarterly, semi-annually, or annually, depending on the
company’s dividend policy.

2. Stock Dividend
Stock dividends are a type of dividend payment in which a company distributes additional shares
of its own stock to existing shareholders instead of cash. These are often used by companies to
conserve cash while still rewarding shareholders.

For example, if a company announces a 10% stock dividend and an investor owns 100 shares,

they would receive an additional 10 shares (10% of 100 shares) as a stock dividend. As a result,
the investor’s total number of shares would increase to 110. The value of each share may
decrease proportionally to account for the new shares issued.

3. Property Dividend

Property dividends are a type of dividend payment in which a company distributes assets or
property to its shareholders instead of cash or additional shares. Instead of receiving cash or
stock, shareholders receive tangible or intangible assets, such as inventory, real estate,
intellectual property, or subsidiary company shares.

Property dividends are less common than cash or stock dividends and are typically issued when a
company has excess assets that can be distributed among its shareholders. This type of dividend
allows the company to monetize its assets or transfer ownership of certain assets to its
shareholders.

For example, a real estate development company may distribute properties or rental units to its
shareholders as property dividends. Shareholders would then become owners of those properties
and may choose to sell, lease, or retain them as per their discretion.

4. Scrip Dividend

Scrip dividends are quite similar to stock dividends. In this, instead of additional shares, the
shareholder will be getting scrips or vouchers that can be redeemed with shares on the market.
They are a type of dividend payment in which a company issues additional shares of its own
stock to its shareholders instead of cash or property. Instead of receiving a cash payout,
shareholders receive additional shares of the company’s stock based on their existing
shareholding.

For instance, if a company declares a scrip dividend of 10% and a shareholder owns 1,000 shares
of the company, the shareholder would receive an additional 100 shares (10% of 1,000 shares) as
a scrip dividend. The shareholder can hold on to these additional shares or choose to sell them in
the market.

5. Liquidating Dividend

Liquidating dividends are given by a company when it is in the process of liquidating its assets
and winding up its operations and therefore, cannot pay in the form of other dividends. Unlike
regular dividends that are paid out of a company’s profits, liquidating dividends are paid from
the company’s remaining assets after all debts and liabilities have been settled.
It’s important to note that liquidating dividends is typically subject to specific legal and
regulatory requirements. The distribution of assets must follow the prescribed procedures
outlined by the applicable laws and regulations governing the liquidation process.

For example, if a company decides to liquidate and has Rs. 10 million in assets remaining after
paying off all debts and liabilities, it may distribute these assets as liquidating dividends to its
shareholders.