In financing decisions have two components. First, to decide as to how much total funds are needed & second, to decide the sources or their combinations to raise such funds. The total quantity of funds needed, however, depends upon the investment decisions of the firm. Given that the firm has good estimates of how much capital funds are needed, the problem then remains one of determining the best mix of different sources to be used in raising the required funds. The process that leads to the final choice of the capital structure is referred to as the capital structure planning.
CONCEPT OF LEVERAGE:-
The term leverage, in general refers to a relationship between two interrelated variables. With reference to a business firm, these variables may be costs, output, sales revenue, EBIT & EPS. In financial analysis, the leverage reflects the responsiveness or influence of one financial variable over some other financial variable. It helps understanding the relationship between any two variables.
The functional relationship between the sales revenue and the EPS can be established through operating profits (EBIT) as follows:
LEFT HAND SIDE RIGHT HAND SIDE
Sales Revenue EBIT
(-) Variable Costs (-) Interest
Contribution PBT
(-) Fixed Costs (-) Tax
EBIT Profit after tax
The Left hand side of the above presentation shows that the level of EBIT depends upon the level of sales revenue & the right hand side of the above presentation shows that the level of profit after tax or EPS depends upon the level of EBIT.
The relationship between sales revenue and EBIT is defined as Operating leverage and the relationship between EBIT & EPS is defined as financial leverage. The direct relationship between the sales revenue and the EPS can also be established by the combining the operating leverage & financial leverage and is defined as combined leverage.
The basic objective of financial management the maximization of share holder’s wealth requires the maximization of market price of the share by maximizing the EPS.