Q. Availability of fresh issue of equity?
A fresh issue of equity finance mayn't be readily available to a listed company or may be available on terms that are unacceptable with regards to issue price or issue quantity if the stock market is depressed (a bear market). Current shareholders may be reluctant to subscribe to a rights issue for instance if they have made other investment plans or if they have urgent calls on their existing finances. A fresh issue of debt finance may not be available to a listed company or available at a cost considered to be unacceptable if it has a poor credit rating or if it faces trading difficulties.