Is Your Debt Both Efficient and Properly Structured?

There are a variety of reasons a company’s debt can become inefficient or improperly structured.  Companies are not static entities, but instead are constantly changing to meet market demands, growth and competitive landscapes.  Over time, these changes can lead to a capital structure that is no longer optimal for the company.  Below are some common occurrences that lead to a company with inefficient debt.

No-Bid Loan Renewals

I recently had a client that had been with the same bank for 25 years.  The bank met the company’s needs, and the relationship was good.  Only later, did the company learn that it was the most profitable customer the bank had on a per-dollar basis.  My client had never shopped its banking relationship, and the bank fees for ancillary services had slowly risen well above market, costing the client a significant amount each year.

Companies often believe that all banks and all loans are created equal, particularly in this low interest-rate environment.  If a company is using rates as the primary indicator of its banking cost, the perceived value of devoting time and resources to exploring alternative financing options appears nonexistent.  In truth, today most banks are as interested in a company’s other banking needs – deposits, treasury management, etc. – than the actual interest payments from a loan.  The result is that companies focus on the cost of interest while the bank is looking to maximize profit on ancillary items that may go unchecked.

This is not to imply that your current bank is taking advantage of your trust as a customer, but a reminder to encourage open dialogue during the renewal process so that your company is best served.

Mismatching Assets and Debt Facilities

One of the most common mistakes in building a debt structure is using short-term borrowings to purchase long-term assets.  Ideally, the structure of the debt will closely mirror the useful life of the asset.  If a company is purchasing an asset that will last five years, it makes sense to finance that purchase with a five-year term loan.

Below is a chart that generically shows proper finance structure:

 

Financing Asset

Example Asset

Optimal Debt Structure

Working Capital

A/R or Inventory

Revolving Line of Credit

Fixed Asset

Equipment

Capex Line of Credit
3- to 7-Year Term Loan

Real Property or Facilities

Manufacturing Plant

Mortgage

 

 

Let’s elaborate on an example of using short-term borrowings to purchase long-term assets and how it can affect a company.  A company has fully drawn down its $3 million line of credit to purchase a new facility.  This line of credit was intended to both assist the company’s liquidity and provide access to cash during negative cash-flow periods, but instead has been used to purchase an asset.

Now, as the company grows due to added capacity of the new facility, it has no liquidity or access to the working capital needed to grow its inventory.  If the company had properly financed the asset purchase, it would be slowly paying off the term debt used to purchase the facility while also having access to a $3 million line of credit to help grow operations and position itself to make the most of its investment.

An Imperfect Understanding of the Company as a Borrower

It is important for a company to understand itself through the eyes of a lender.  Only then, can a borrower not only negotiate the best deal, but also ensure the best structure with regards to covenants, guarantees and terms.  Often, SD Meridian has seen clients that either agreed to covenants that were too stringent or provided guarantees that were unnecessary because the company was talking to the wrong type of lender.  Understanding if the company is a cash-flow borrower, asset-based borrower or something else altogether is important to creating a good marriage of borrower and lender.

If you are concerned about your company’s debt structure or just curious to learn more, please reach out to Michael Von Lehman of Schneider Downs Meridian.

You’ve heard our thoughts… We’d like to hear yours

The Schneider Downs Our Thoughts On blog exists to create a dialogue on issues that are important to organizations and individuals. While we enjoy sharing our ideas and insights, we’re especially interested in what you may have to say. If you have a question or a comment about this article – or any article from the Our Thoughts On blog – we hope you’ll share it with us. After all, a dialogue is an exchange of ideas, and we’d like to hear from you. Email us at [email protected].

Material discussed is meant for informational purposes only, and it is not to be construed as investment, tax, or legal advice. Please note that individual situations can vary. Therefore, this information should be relied upon when coordinated with individual professional advice.

© 2024 Schneider Downs. All rights-reserved. All content on this site is property of Schneider Downs unless otherwise noted and should not be used without written permission.

our thoughts on
COVID-19: The Long Road to Recovery
Coronavirus Small Business Financial Relief Options - Updated
Coronavirus Small Business Financial Relief Options
Clarity on the Small Business Association Disaster-Relief Loan Program
Lessons Every Company Can Learn From the Decline of Sears
Turnaround Plan Required - Political Conversations in Business
Register to receive our weekly newsletter with our most recent columns and insights.
Have a question? Ask us!

We’d love to hear from you. Drop us a note, and we’ll respond to you as quickly as possible.

Ask us
contact us
Pittsburgh

This site uses cookies to ensure that we give you the best user experience. Cookies assist in navigation, analyzing traffic and in our marketing efforts as described in our Privacy Policy.

×