Corporate Finance

Corporate Finance - the term corporate finance varies in meaning from economy to economy.

In the United States it has a broader meaning associated with all aspects of the financial affairs of companies, whereas in the United Kingdom it has a narrower meaning associated with transactions in which capital is raised in order to create, develop, grow or acquire businesses.

Corporate finance also refers to monetary decisions made by companies and the analytical tools used to assess those decisions.

The area of corporate finance often refers to some type of change in ownership of or within a company, connected to a business transaction leading to the creation a new equity structure and changes within the composition of the company's shareholder profile as well as the consequent issue, underwriting, purchase or exchange of stock or debt.

The types of transaction involved can vary and include company mergers, acquisitions, de-mergers, equity issues, stock flotations, takeovers and debt restructuring.

This means that the area of corporate finance is closely linked with investment banking and venture capitalists.

Investment banks are often used to assess the financial needs of companies and whilst they and venture capitalists are used to raise the appropriate type of capital to meet those needs, depending upon the specific type of transaction involved.