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Using a Business Line of Credit for Startup Capital

Although not the most common method of acquiring startup capital, using a business LOC as financing to launch your business venture is not uncommon. As we have discussed in previous articles, there are a number of different method of financing your new business venture including using your own capital, raising money from private investors, or taking out a lump sum business loan.

However, using a business line of credit gives you more control over your business development. If you intend to build your business over a period of time then it may be to your advantage to use a business LOC versus as business loan. This allows you to only draw down the funds as needed, and you will only be required to pay interest on the portion of principal that you have drawn down. Although many new entrepreneurs seek to acquire all of the funds that they need via a traditional business loan, the flexibility of a business line of credit is often overlooked. When developing your business plan, you should entertain the concept of using a term based credit line rather than a business loan. Again, your accountant or financial advisor can assist you in making the proper determination of whether or not using a line of credit is more appropriate than a standard lump sum based credit facility.

One of the draw backs to using a business LOC as startup capital is the ever changing lending environment. Often, business lines of credit contain covenants that state that a bank can terminate the loan if certain business criteria are not met. These criteria can include depreciation of collateral, not producing enough positive cash flow, and changes in the credit quality of the borrower. However, with the recent passing of the credit reform act in 2010, regulations have begun to favor the small business borrower.

Currency Trading and the Forex Capital Markets

Currency trading and the access to the forex capital markets, because of capital requirements and the technology involved, was in the past open only to hedge funds managers, large commodity trading advisors, institutional investors, and banks. It is opinion of who writes that forex markets are not random and the efficient market hypotheses and theories sustained by so many economists are flawed (Warren Buffet, regarding the Efficient Market Hypothesis, once said “I’d be a bum on the street with a tin cup if the markets were always efficient”); for this very reason it is possible to exploit the inefficiencies of the forex capital markets and devise profitable currency trading strategies.

In recent years the development of the web has made possible for many brokerage firms to offer currency trading to small retail traders: the phenomenon has started in the mid-90s with stock market day traders and has rapidly evolved and spread to currency trading. The forex capital markets are highly volatile: it is estimated that more than 80% of currency trading volume is speculative in nature and, as a result, the forex market has frequent corrections, is very unpredictable but can also be very profitable.

However, for long term forecast trends in currency trading, fundamental analysis, analyzing and focusing on the economic, social and political forces that drive supply and demand, can be an invaluable instrument; indeed, the fundamental analysis focuses on (sometimes very complicated) theoretical models of currency exchange rate that are determined and based upon major economic factors and their probability to affect currency trading and the forex capital markets. Fundamental analysis in currency trading is for this reason important and this is even truer as currencies markets, more than other markets tend to develop strong trends.

Nevertheless, most forex traders do not trade positions over long periods, but tend to trade the forex capital market opening and closing positions one (or more) times per day — thus leading, in some cases, to overtrading. This should be no surprise: currency trading and the forex capital markets are well suited to price-based techniques, that is, technical and quantitative analysis. Technical analysis is the prediction of forex capital market movements from the data and information obtained from the past, and it uses different types of charts. However, an approach purely based on technical/quantitative analysis could be too restrictive and not lead to maximum profits: eventually, the most successful currency trading methods are the ones supported by both technical/quantitative and fundamental analysis. In fact, although testing and research in the forex capital markets requires a rigorous approach, there is an element that is a little bit of art: do not believe everything you see but ask yourself why a particular system works and try to verify if the roots of it can be traced back in the behavior of the masses. The speed at which currency rates adjust to news is very high, even shorter than 15 o 30 minutes, and this is linked to the reaction (sometimes panicked and irrational) of people to particular news linked to exchange rates, or interest rates, or any other element affecting directly or indirectly the forex marked and currency trading.

In conclusion, forex capital markets, being still a relatively young and mostly underdeveloped compared to other segments of the financial markets, and given their intrinsic volatility, represents a remarkable opportunity to the educated currency trader. Elements that will help you to succeed are incessant practice, thorough knowledge of the history, science and art of currency trading, ability to deal with trade failures and the perseverance to be a forex trader with discipline: the only people who will not win at currency trading will be the ones who quit.

Venture Capital Financing: Structure and Pricing

Introduction

A venture financing can be structured using one or more of several types of securities ranging from straight debt-to-debt with equity features (e.g., convertible debt or debt with warrants) to common stock. Each type of security offers certain advantages and disadvantages to both the entrepreneur and the investor. The characteristcs of your situation and current market forces will impact the type and mix of security package that is right for you.

Types of Securities
Senior debt: Which is usually for long-term financing for high-risk companies or special situations such as bridge financing. Bridge financing is designed as temporary financing in cases where the company has obtained a commitment for financing at a future date, which funds will be used to retire the debt. It is used in construction, acquisitions, anticipation of a public sale of securities, etc.
Subordinated debt: Which is subordinated to financing from other financial institutions, and is usually convertible to common stock or accompanied by warrants to purchase common stock. Senior lenders consider subordinated debt as equity. This increases the amount of funds that can be borrowed, thus allowing greater leverage.
Preferred stock: Which is usually convertible to common stock. The venture’s cash flow is helped because no fixed loan or interest payments need to be made unless the preferred stock is redeemable or dividends are mandatory. Preferred stock improves the company’s debt to equity ratio. The disadvantage is that dividends are not tax deductible.
Common stock: Which is usually the most expensive in terms of the percent of ownership given to the venture capitalist. However, sale of common stock may be the only feasible alternative if cash flow and collateral limits the amount of debt the company can carry.

While each of these securities has unique characteristics, they can be grouped into two categories: debt or equity. In structuring a venture financing, the primary question is whether the financing should be in the form of debt or equity.

Disadvantages of Debt to a Company

From a company’s viewpoint, there are two potential disadvantages to debt.

An excessive amount of debt can strain a company’s credit standing, thereby reducing its flexibility in meeting future long-term financing requirements on a favorable basis. It can also negatively affect a company’s ability to obtain short-term credit. Of course, the form of debt the venture financing takes makes a difference. For example, subordinated debt will have less impact on borrowing capacity than senior debt.
The venture capitalist has the option of calling his loan if the company is in default of the loan agreement. This remedy, which is not available to him under other financing agreements, puts him in a better position to influence the company’s affairs when it is in default.
Advantages of Debt to a Venture Capitalist

From the venture capitalist’s viewpoint, there are three principal advantages to debt.

There is a greater likelihood that the venture capitalist will get his principal back and, at least, a small return. Many of the companies in the average venture capitalist’s portfolio are referred to as “the living dead.” Needless to say, their performance has turned out to be disappointing. In some cases, these companies are able to repay principal with interest but have limited appeal to potential acquirers or the public. As a result, a venture capitalist with an investment in such a company’s common stock may be unable to recover his investment within a reasonable period, if at all.
As previously discussed, under certain circumstances the venture capitalist is in a better position to influence the company’s affairs.
The venture capitalist has a senior claim. However, it should be emphasized that the meaningfulness of a senior claim depends on the marketability of a company’s assets and the amount of equity it has to cushion its creditors’ position. For example, in the case of a start-Lip situation with little or no equity, a senior claim means little or nothing.
Percentage Ownership Needed

While the difference may not be great, depending on the particular circumstances of the company, a debt position involves less risk than an equity position for the venture capitalist. Accordingly, a company should not have to relinquish as much ownership when a financing is in the form of debt. However, this advantage must be weighed against the disadvantages of debt.

No matter how the venture financing is structured, it must be priced so that it is attractive to the venture capitalist. There is no clear-cut answer as to how much ownership a company will have to relinquish to make a financing attractive. Broadly speaking, the greater the potential return perceived by the venture capitalist, the less ownership he will demand. In other words, if a company has a patented product which a venture capitalist thinks is revolutionary and highly marketable, he will undoubtedly settle for less ownership than he would in the case of 4 company with a relatively less attractive product. Thus, his ultimate position will be a business judgment based on his potential return.

Before you enter negotiations with the venture capitalist, you should determine what your company is worth and how much of your company you want to sell. The following procedure can be used to get a rough idea of how much ownership you will have to give up to make the financing attractive.

Estimate the risk associated with the venture financing. If the investment is very risky, the venture capitalist may be looking for a return as high as 15 times his investment over five years. Conversely, if a relatively low degree of risk is involved, the venture capitalist may be satisfied with doubling or tripling his investment over five years.
Make a reasonable estimate of the price/earnings ratio applicable to comparable publicly held companies. The market value of the company can then be projected by multiplying forecasted annual earnings by the estimated price/earnings ratio for comparable companies.
Divide the estimate of the total dollar return the venture capitalist wants by the projected market value of the company. This yields the percentage ownership the venture capitalist will need, as oil the future date, to realize his desired return. It is important to note that any equity financing required during the interim period must be considered in making these calculations.


Case Study

Suppose XYZ Company, Inc., a start-up, needs 0,000. The company’s product appears to have excellent potential. However, because the product is new and unproven, an investment in the company would be extremely risky. Accordingly, it is reasonable to estimate that a venture capitalist would want a potential return of at least ten times his total investment in five years. Management estimates that the company should be able to “go public” at 20 times earnings in five years. Projected after-tax earnings for the fifth year is ,250,000. Additional long-term financing of 0,000 will be needed at the beginning of the third year.

Scenario I

In the calculations below it is assumed that the venture capitalist who provides the initial financing (0,000) also provides the subsequent financing (0,000), and that he wants a return equal to ten times both. However, it should be noted that if the company made satisfactory progress during the first two years, it would be reasonable to assume that the venture capitalist would be satisfied with a lower return on the subsequent financing since it would involve less risk.

Estimate of Total Dollar Return Required Total Investment $ 1,000,000 Estimate of Return Required X 10

,000,000

V. Projected Market Value in Fifth Year VI. VII. Projected Earnings ,250,000 VIII. Estimate of P/E Ratio x 20

,000,000

Percentage Ownership Needed in Fifth Year Estimate of Total Dollar Return quired ,000,000 Projected Market Value of Company in Fifth Year 25,000,000

40% Scenario II

In this set of calculations it is assumed that a second investor provides the subsequent financing (0,000). The calculations show that the venture capitalist who provides the initial financing (0,000) would need 20% ownership as of the fifth Year to realize the return he wants. However, since the ownership to be given up for the subsequent financing will reduce his ownership position, he will want more than 20% ownership initially. For example, if it is assumed that 15% ownership will have to be given up for the subsequent financing, the venture capitalist who provides the initial financing would need 23% ownership initially to end up with 20% ownership in the fifth year.

Assume the same facts as Case I, except a second investor provides the subsequent financing for 15% ownership.

Estimate of Total Dollar Return Required Total Investment $ 500,000 Estimate of Return Required X 10

,000,000

Projected Market Value in Fifth Year Projected Earnings ,250,000 Estimate of P/E Ratio x 20

,000,000

Percentage Ownership Needed in Fifth Year Estimate of Total Dollar Return required ,000,000 Projected Market Value of Company in Fifth Year 25,000,000

20%

Thus, it appears that the investment (0,000) may be attractive to an interested venture capitalist if the principals of XYZ Company, Inc. are willing to give up approximately 23% ownership.

Conclusion

It must be emphasized that the above procedure is highly subjective. And, you should remember that what really matters is how the venture capitalist views the relative attractiveness of a company. Typically, venture capitalists are satisfied with a minority interest. Although a venture capitalist may demand a majority interest, generally they are not interested in operating control. Some of them like to tie the amount of ownership they ultimately get to the performance of the company. For example, a venture capitalist who wants a majority interest initially may give the principals the opportunity to earn part of it back. Such an arrangement can be used to compromise on pricing when there is a significant disagreement between the principals and the venture capitalist.

To entrepreneurs unfamiliar with venture capital, it may appear that the venture capitalist is seeking an extraordinary high return on his investment. However, it is important to understand that, even under the best of circumstances, only a minority of the companies in which the venture capitalists invests will be successful. He is well aware of this, and must make a sufficient return of his successful investments to come out with an acceptable return overall.