Corporate finance refers to the acquisition and use of funding for private companies, for purposes including capital financing, capital investments, and short-term budget. As such, savvy decision-making in this area can have critically important consequences for the successful strategic management of a business, with impacts on valuation, cash flow, and other key determinants of financial health.
On the capital financing side, companies must consider the pros and cons of different funding strategies, given their stage of development. For example, early-stage companies may depend on venture capital (VC) financing or angel investors, while more mature companies may consider taking on private equity investment or even undertaking an initial public offering (IPO). Corporations may also consider borrowing debt instead of equity financing.
Corporate finance is also concerned with the uses of capital, particularly when it comes to project finance and other capital investments. Financial managers and analysts must carefully evaluate projections of future revenues generated by these capital investments, compare them to the net present value of other potential uses of funding in order to make decisions that maximize shareholder value. And, in the near term, managers must ensure that there is enough working capital and operating cash flows to meet the needs of day-to-day operations.‎