A lease is a contractual agreement, in which the owner of the asset grants the other party the right to use the asset in return for a periodic payment, but retains the title over the property. The owner of the asset is called lessor and the party who uses the assets is called lessee.
Lessee pays a fixed periodic amount to the lessor. It is called lease rent. When period of lease expires, the asset is returned to the lessor. It is used more frequently with items like computers and electronic items which become obsolete soon. Leasing company (lessor) owns the equipment and hires it out to the customers (lessee pays rental income to hire assets). It is a medium term fund. New companies need expensive equipments to run the business: office, equipment leasing from larger companies like Apple.
Merits of Lease financing
1. It allows the lessee to acquire the asset with lesser investment.
2. Simple documentation makes it easier to finance assets.
3. Lease rentals get tax advantage as they are deductible for computing taxable profits.
4. It reduces initial capital for (new) businesses.
5. It provides added service: maintenance and upgrading. ,
6. It makes funds available without diluting the ownership of business.
7. The lease agreement does not bring any change in raising capacity of an organization.
8. The risk of obsolesce is borne by the lessor.
Demerits of Lease Financing
1. A lessee agreement imposes restrictions on usage of assets. For example, alternation and modification in assets may not be allowed.
2. The normal business operations may be affected if lease is not renewed.
3. It may result in higher payout obligations in case the equipment is not found useful and the lessee chooses for premature termination of the lease contact.
4. It never makes lessee the owner of the asset.

(a) Commercial banks: Commercial banks all over the world extend foreign currency loans for business purposes. For e.g. Standard Chartered emerged as a major source of foreign currency loans to the Indian industry. The types of loans and services provided by banks vary from country to country.
(b) International agencies and Development banks: These bodies provide long and medium term loans and grants to promote the development of economically backward areas in the world. The more notable among them include International Finance Corporation(IFC), EXIM Bank and Asian Development Bank.
(c) International Capital Markets: Modern organizations including multinational companies depend upon sizeable borrowing in rupees as well as in foreign currency Prominent financial instruments used for this purpose are:
1. Global Depository Receipts (GDR's)
2. American Depository Receipts(ADR's)
3. Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds(FCCB's).

Following are the main differences between a debenture and a share:
1. Debenture holder is a creditor of the company and cannot take part in the management of the company while a shareholder is the owner of the company. It is the basic distinction between a debenture and a share.
2. Debenture holders will get interest on debentures and will be paid in all circumstances, whether there is profit or loss will not affect the payment of interest on debentures. Shareholder will get a portion of the profits called dividend which is dependent on the profits of the company. It can be declared by the directors of the company out of profits only.
3. Shares cannot be converted into debentures whereas debentures can be converted into shares.
4. Debentures will get priority in getting the money back as compared to shareholder in case of liquidation of a company.
5. There are no restrictions on the issue of debentures at a discount, whereas shares at discount can be issued only after observing certain legal formalities.
6. Convertible debentures which can be converted into shares at the option of debenture holder can be issued whereas shares convertible into debentures cannot be issued.
7. There can be mortgage debentures i.e. assets of the company can be mortgaged in favor of debenture holders. But there can be no mortgage shares. Assets of the company cannot be mortgaged in favor of shareholders.

Equity shares are the most important sources of raising long term capital by a company. They represent the ownership of a company and therefore, the capital raised by issue of these shares is called owner's funds. Features of equity shares:
(a) Voting Rights: They have voting rights and hence they are the owners of the business.
(b) Participation in Management: Using their voting rights, equity shares holders get a right to participate in company's management.
(c) Return: These shareholders do not get a fixed dividend. They get according to the earnings of the company. They receive what is left after all other claims on the company's income and assets have been settled.
(d) Risk: They enjoy the reward and also bear the risk of ownership. Therefore, it is also called risk capital
(e) Permanent Capital: Equity capital serves as permanent capital as it is to be repaid only at the time of liquidation of a company.
(f) No charge on assets of the company: Funds can be raised though equity issue without creating any charge on the assets of a company. The assets of a company are therefore, free to be mortgaged for the purpose of borrowings, if the need be.
(g) More Costly: The cost of equity shares is generally more as compared to the cost of raising funds through other sources.

Different types of preference shares are discussed below:
(a) Cumulative and Non-cumulative: The preference shares which enjoy the right to accumulate unpaid dividends in future years if it is not paid during a year are termed as cumulative preference shares. On the contrary, a non-cumulative preference share is one in which dividend is not accumulated if it is not paid in the particular year.
(b) Participating and Non-participating Preference Shares: Those preference shares which have a right to participate in further surplus of a company's shares which after dividend at certain rate has been paid on equity shares are called participating preference shares. Those preference shares which do not have a right to participate in further surplus of a company's shares which after dividend at certain rate has been paid on equity shares are called non-participating preference shares.
(c) Convertible and Non-convertible Preference Shares: Those preference shares which can be converted into equity shares within a specified period of time are called convertible preference shares. On the contrary, preference shares which cannot be converted into equity shares within a specified period of time are called nonconvertible preference shares.

Commercial Paper:
1. Commercial paper is an unsecured, short-term debt instrument issued by a corporation, typically for the financing of accounts receivable, inventories and meeting short-term liabilities.
2. Maturities on commercial paper can range up to 365 days. The debt is usually issued at a discount, reflecting prevailing market interest rates.
3. Commercial paper is not usually backed by any form of collateral, so only firms with high-quality debt ratings will easily find buyers without having to offer a substantial discount (higher cost) for the debt issue.
Advantages and Limitations of Commercial Paper
Advantages:
1. For the most part, commercial paper is a very safe investment because the financial situation of a company can easily be predicted over a few months.
2. Typically only companies with high credit ratings and credit worthiness issue commercial paper. Hence the companies issuing them enjoy (a) the prestige associated with such issuance and (b) the ability to issue large quantum without much hassles like other types of financing which requires restrictions from regulatory bodies.
3. Interest rate is generally lower compared to others like bank loans and other types of short term financing
Disadvantage:
1. It does not have any flexibility with regard to repayments.

Public Deposits: Deposits accepted from public directly by the companies are called public deposits. These deposits generally carry a rate of interest higher than the deposits in commercial banks.
Merits of Public Deposits
1. The procedure of obtaining deposits is simple and does not contain restrictive conditions.
2. Cost of public deposits is generally lower than the cost of borrowings from banks and financial institutions.
3. Public company usually does not create a charge on the assets of the company.
4. As the depositors do not have voting rights, it does not dilute control in the company.
Demerits of Public Deposits
1. It is difficult for a newly established company to be able to get funds from public deposits.
2. It is dependent on public response and can't be relied on if financial needs are urgent.
3. It is difficult especially when size of deposits is large.
Retained Earnings: For any company, the amount of earnings retained within the business has a direct impact on the amount of dividends. Profit re-invested as retained earnings is profit that could have been paid as a dividend.
Merits of Retained Earnings:
(a) The management of many companies believes that retained earnings are funds which do not cost anything, although this is not true. However, it is true that the use of retained earnings as a source of funds does not lead to the payment of cash.
(b) The dividend policy of the company is in practice determined by the directors. From their standpoint, retained earnings are an attractive source of finance because investment projects can be undertaken without involving either the shareholders or any outsiders.
(c) The use of retained earnings as opposed to new shares or debentures avoids issue costs.
(d) The use of retained earnings avoids the possibility of a change in control resulting from an issue of new shares.
(e) Another factor that may be of importance is the financial and taxation position of the company's shareholders. For example, because of consideration of taxation, they would rather make a capital profit (which will only be taxed when shares are sold) than receive current income, then finance through retained earnings would be preferred to other methods.
Demerits of Retained Earnings:
(a) A company must restrict its self-financing through retained profits because shareholders should be paid a reasonable dividend, in line with realistic expectations, even if the directors would rather keep the funds for re-investing.
(b) At the same time, a company that is looking for extra funds will not be expected by investors (such as banks) to pay generous dividends, nor over-generous salaries to owner-directors.
(c) Scope of retained earnings is limited by amount of profits. A loss incurring firm has no source called retained earnings.

Debentures provide following advantages over issue of equity shares.
1. Voting Rights: Voting rights are not given to debentures while equity shareholders have voting rights.
2. Dilution of Controlling Power: Since voting power is not given, therefore, if funds are raised by issue of debentures then controlling power does not get diluted.
3. Redeemable: Debentures are redeemable. Therefore, funds become flexible. 'When funds are not required permanently but for 5 or 10 years. debentures are more suitable.
4. Fixed Rate of Interest: Debentures are to be paid at fixed rate of interest. However, we need to share profits with equity shareholders.
5. Creditor versus Owner: Debenture holder is a creditor of the company and cannot take part in the management of the company while a shareholder is the owner of the company. It is the basic distinction between a debenture and a share.
6. Convertibility: Shares cannot be converted into debentures whereas debentures can be converted into shares.

A large industrial enterprise can raise capital from the following sources.
1. Equity Shares: Equity shares are the most important source of raising long term capital by a company. They represent the ownership of a company and therefore, the capital raised by issue of these shares is called owner's funds. These shareholders do not get a fixed dividend. They get according to the earnings of the company. They receive what is left after all other claims on the company's income and assets have been settled. They enjoy the reward and also bear the risk of ownership. They have voting rights. Using their voting rights, they get participation in management of the company.
2. Preference Shares: Preference shareholders are called so because they enjoy some preferential rights over equity shares. They get dividend at a fixed rate and dividend is given on these shares before any dividend on equity shares. When company winds up, preference shares are paid before equity shares. Preference shares also have a right to participate in excess profits left after payment being made to equity shares. They also have a right to participate in the premium at the time of redemption. In lieu of these preferential rights, their voting rights are taken i.e. they are not eligible for voting. Preference shares have some characteristics of equity shares as well as debentures. They are safer investment with stable return from investor's point of view and free from control from owner's point of view.
3. Debentures: Debenture is an acknowledgement by a company that the company has borrowed certain amount from the debenture holder which it promises to pay on a specific date. It is an important source for raising long term debt capital. Debentures bear a fixed rate of interest. In recent times, issue of zero interest debentures has also become popular which do not carry any explicit rate of interest. But they are issued at discount and redeemed at a premium or at par. It is the return on the debenture. Public issue of debentures requires that issue of debentures should be rated by a credit rating agency like CRISIL (Credit Rating and Information Services of India Limited).
4. Loans from Financial Institutions: The government has established many financial institutions like LIC, IDBI, ICICI etc all over the country to provide finance to these organizations. These institutions are established by central and state government both. These institutions provide owned capital as well as borrowed capital for long term and short term requirements. They provide financial and technical advice and consultancy to business firms. Obtaining loan from a financial institution increases good will of a company. These sources are available even during depression. Loans can be repaid in easy instalments.
5. Loans from Commercial Banks: Borrowings from banks are an important source of finance to companies. Bank lending is still mainly short term, although medium term lending is quite common these days. The rate of interest charged on mediumterm bank lending to large companies will be a set margin, with the size of the margin depending on the credit standing and risk of the borrower. A loan may have a fixed rate of interest or a variable interest rate, so that the rate of interest charged will be adjusted every three, six, nine or twelve months in line with recent movements in the Base Lending Rate. Short term lending may be in the form of:
(i) An overdraft, which a company should keep within a limit set by the bank. Interest is charged (at a variable rate) on the amount by which the company is overdrawn from day to day.
(ii) A short-term loan, for up to three years.
(iii) Medium-term loans are loans for a period of three to ten years.
6. Retained Earnings: For any company, the amount of earnings retained within the business has a direct impact on the amount of dividends. Profit re-invested as retained earnings is profit that could have been paid as a dividend. The management of many companies believes that retained earnings are funds which do not cost anything, although this is not true. However, it is true that the use of retained earnings as a source of funds does not lead to a payment of cash. In practice, the dividend policy of the company is determined by the directors. From their standpoint, retained earnings are an attractive source of finance because investment projects can be undertaken without involving either the shareholders or any outsiders. The use of retained earnings as opposed to new shares 01' debentures avoids issue costs. The use of retained earnings avoids the possibilit.y of a change in control resulting from an issue of new shares. Another factor that may be of importance is the financial and taxation position of the company's shareholders. For example, because of consideration of taxation considerations. they would rather make a capital profit (which will only be taxed when shares are sold) than receive current income, then finance through retained earnings would be preferred to other methods.

Trade Credit: Trade credit is the credit extended by the trader to another to purchase goods and services. It facilitates the purchase of supplies without immediate payment. In books of accounts they are shown as 'creditors' or 'bills payable'.
Merits of Trade Credit
1. It is a convenient and continuous source of finance.
2. It is readily available.
3. It helps in promoting sales of an organization.
4. If an organization wants to expand its inventory level so as to meet expected rise in demand, it may use trade credit.
5. It does not demand any security.
Demerits of Trade Credit
1. When easy and flexible trade credit is available, it may induce the firm to indulge in overtrading.
2. Trade credit can meet only limited financial needs. Funds required for inventory can be met through it but not others like plant and machinery, land and building or salaries of employees etc.
Bank Credit: Borrowings from banks are an important source of finance to companies. Bank lending is still mainly short term, although medium-term lending is quite common these days. Short term lending may be in the form of
(a) An overdraft, which a company should keep within a limit set by the bank. Interest is charged (at a variable rate) on the amount by which the company is overdrawn from day to day.
(b) A short-term loan, for up to three years.
(c) Medium-term loans are loans for a period of three to ten years. The rate of interest charged on medium-term bank lending to large companies will be a set margin, with the size of the margin depending on the credit standing and risk of the borrower. Aloan may have a fixed rate of interest or a variable interest rate, so that the rate of interest charged will be adjusted after the end of every three, six, nine or twelve months in line with recent movements in the Base Lending Rate.
Merits of Bank Credit
1. Economical: Rate of interest charged by banks is quite nominal and is therefore economical.
2. Maintains business secrecy: Banks maintain secrecy of the business. They do not disclose the information shared to any third party.
3. Less formalities: As compared to issue of shares, debentures or accepting public deposits, it has less legal formalities.
4. Flexible source: It can be increased or decreased as per the requirements of the business. It is not so that once a loan is taken it can't be reduced.
Limitations of Bank Credit
1. Short-term financing: It does not provide loans for long term as shares and debentures do.
2. Difficult procedure: As compared to commercial papers and trade credit, it involves many legal and paper formalities. It makes its procedure difficult.
3. Restrictive clauses: Bank credit has many restrictive clauses which includes mortgage on company's assets or ineligibility to raise funds from specific sources.