ABSTRACT: Capital structure is the proportion or each type of capital debt and equity used by a business organisation. Many organizations employ debt in their capital structure because of its benefits. One of the benefits is that interest on debt is tax deductible and reduces tax liability of the organizations concerned. Furthermore, failure to pay interest commitment can result to financial backwardness. The financial managers consider so many factors in their capital structure decisions because of the implications in the use of debt. The factors are cost of capital, debt capacity cash flow. Etc.The primary aim of business organisation is to make maximum profit if possible. The researcher made a study of selected quoted manufacturing and oil servicing companies to see how capital structure related to profitability of business organizations. Five companies were selected and their financial statements for four years extracted and analyzed. The analysis showed that there is a strong relationship between capital structure and profitability between debt equity ration and shareholders’ return. It means that the cost of debt in the companies put together is less than their return on investment. A company having return on investment greater than cost of debt will have an increasing shareholders’ return.
PROJECT PROPOSAL
This research will be based on an evaluation of capital structure and profitability of business organisation. The capital structure is the long-term capital requirement of the company which shows how the firm will be finance. And how the profitability of this company will be determined whether it will remain in business or not especially in the long-run. In the course of doing this we will bring about the problems that will crises, the significance, objective of the study and the limited and the scope of the study. Chapter two will deal with the collection of information from companies and textbooks i.e. (secondary source of data). This will aid to develop our question for developing of chapter three. Chapter three will define the research methodology and sources of data used which can be with questionnaire or interviews method. This will help us to acquire information from field works ie our case study. Chapter four will deal with the presentation, analyzing and interpretation of data by using the sample size to determine the population to conduct research. Chapter five will deal with the conclusion, summary and the recommendation including the bibliography.
TABLE OF CONTENT
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
1.2 Statement of the problem
1.3 Objective of the study
1.4 Significance of the study
1.5 Scope and limitation of the study
1.6 Research hypothesis
1.7 Definition of terms
Reference
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Implication of capital structure
2.2 Determinants of capital structure
2.3 Feature of appropriate capital structure
2.4 Concept of cost of capital
2.5 Capital structure theories
2.6 Existence of optimum capital structure traditional view
2.7 Criticism of traditional view
2.8 Modigliani and miller propositions
2.9 criticisms of Modigliani and miller propositions
2.10 Capital structure and corporate tax
2.11 Concept of profit and profitability
Reference
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research design
3.2 Sources of data
3.3 Population and determination of sample size
3.4 Methods of investigation
Reference
CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA
4.1 Analysis of data
4.2 Test of Hypothesis
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY OF FINDING CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Summary of finding
5.2 Conclusion
5.3 Recommendations
Bibliography
Appendices
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
The most important decision all corporate managers should take into consideration is the way in which the long-term capital requirements of their companies should be financial. Capital structure is the permanent financing of a firm represented primarily by equity and long-term liability without including all short-term credits. Many factors have to surface in order to determine the capital structure of a business organisation. These factors are what the financial managers consider first in order to determine appropriate capital structure suitable to his firm. Some of the factors are: cost of capital, floation costs, size of the company, government policies and market condition. The combination of debt and equity has some implication. The first is that debt-equity ratio, which is regarded as an indicators of risk. According to Samuel etal (1992:44) high fixed interest commitment which must be paid by the business organisation irrespective of whether profits are made or not. Debt capacity which is the ability of a firm to service its debt payment of interest and principal is usually measured. On eof the ways of measuring debt capacity is by raising the ratio of net cash inflow to interest charges.
Pandey (1998-656) has it that the ratio indicates the number of times the interest obligation are covered by the next cash inflows generated by the company. The greater the coverage the lower the risk arising from the debt in the capital structure. Conversely, the lower the coverage the higher is the risk arising from the debt in capital structure. And failure of a company to pay its interests obligation can lead to bankruptcy. Furthermore, left for the business owners, they will employ more of debt in their capital structure as to increase profit. All things being equal will accrue to them and they only have to pay interest to provide of debt capital. Thus less amount of tax is paid by the company with debt capital.
In determining whether to employ more of debt and less of equity or more of equally and less of debt in its capital structure, the financial managers of the firms concerned should take into account, the profit objectives of that business. They should consider how the capital structure will affect the profitability of their business organisation. The profitability of any business organisation will determine whether it will remain in business or not especially in the long run. Profitability is normally measured using return on capital employed return on equity, earning per share, return on assets, net profit margin and gross profit margin.
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
The owners of a company will not like to loose the control they have in their company by issuing more shares to the public in order to finance their capital projects. Instead, they to borrowing, this means using debt instrument like debenture stock. These owners of the business should not fail to know that whether there is profit or not that the debentures should be settle their interest. Nobody can perfectly predict the future, there can be business boom and there can equally be stump in business.
The problem then is how can business combine debt and equity financing in order to ensure profitability?
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
Business financing is a very important business decision. Corporate financial managers have to decide whether to employ more of debt or more of equity whichever measure is adopted has effects. Everybody should bear in mind that the main objective of every business is to make profit of which this research work will through its findings achieve the followings:
1.5 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
Not minding that capital structure has many implications on a company such as profitability, market value of shares and financial distress, this study took at the relationship between capital structure and profitability of business organisation. Business organisation studied was manufacturing companies and oil servicing companies quoted in Nigerian Stock Exchange.
In course of the research work, the researcher encountered some problems that bring up their ugly heads. Business organizations should some elements of indifference in relating to their financial statement. Also, there was problems of dund and some gate men who refused that the researcher could not meet the financial managers e.g. Nigerian Bottling Company 9th Mile Corner Enugu.
However, the researcher was not discouraged by the problems. Through the mercy of God enough information were collected form general securities, a member of Nigerian Stock Exchange, Apes a member of Nigerian stock exchange all in Enugu, and University of Nigeria Enugu Campus Library.
1.6 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
The following hypothesis have been formulated to guide the study.
Hi: There is a strong relationship between capital structure and profitability of business organizations as measured by return on equity.
Hi: There is a strong relationship between capital structure and profitability of business organisation as measured by return on investment.
1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS
REFERENCE
Samuel J. M. etal (1992) Management of Finance: London:
Chapman and Hall
Pandey I.
1 - 5 of 96 Reviews |