Incorporate finance, aleveraged recapitalization is a change of the company'scapital structure, usually substitution of debt forequity.
Such recapitalizations are executed via issuingbonds to raise money and using the proceeds to buy the company's stock or to pay dividends. Such a maneuver is called aleveraged buyout when initiated by an outside party, or a leveraged recapitalization when initiated by the company itself for internal reasons. These types of recapitalization can be minor adjustments to the capital structure of the company, or can be large changes involving a change in the power structure as well.
Leveraged recapitalizations are used by privately held companies as a means of refinancing, generally to provide cash to the shareholders while not requiring a total sale of the company. Debt (in the form of bonds) has some advantages over equity as a way of raising money, since it can havetax benefits and can enforce a cash discipline. The reduction in equity also makes the firm less vulnerable to ahostile takeover.
Leveraged recapitalizations can be used by public companies to increaseearnings per share. TheCapital structure substitution theory shows this only works for public companies that have anearnings yield that is smaller than their after-tax interest rate on corporate bonds, and that operate in markets that allow share repurchases.
There are downsides, however. This form of recapitalization can lead a company to focus on short-term projects that generate cash (to pay off the debt and interest payments), which in turn leads the company to lose its strategic focus.[1] Also, if a firm cannot make its debt payments, meet itsloan covenants orrollover its debt it entersfinancial distress which often leads tobankruptcy. Therefore, the additional debt burden of a leveraged recapitalization makes a firm more vulnerable to unexpected business problems includingrecessions andfinancial crises.
Downes, John (2003).Dictionary of Finance and Investment Terms. Barron's.ISBN 0-7641-2209-6.
