Financial management in practice

This book is unique as it goes beyond the classical academic approach, and opts for an approach whereby the theoretical insights are systematically illustrated by concrete cases and exercises. This explains its title: Financial Management in Practice. This approach makes this book very suitable both for financial managers and for university and high school students.

Beginning with a description of the current banking and entrepreneurial landscape, the book proceeds to examine the basic concept of financial management. The business plan and financing plan become the working tools in the author’s search for optimal financing and in determining the value of the enterprise. This is followed by an analysis of all forms of debt financing such as overdraft, investment credits, straight loans, leasing and factoring.

Subsequently, the book examines mezzanine financing, formal and informal venture capital, including business angels and crowdfunding, as well as stock quotations and initial public offerings. The book concludes with a review on the Basel Accords, from the viewpoint of the entrepreneur. This way, the author provides ammunition for managers confronted with banks or venture capitalists who claim that some actions are not possible “because of Basel”.

The glossary at the end of the book lists the major financial terms to ensure smooth reading. The included tables with annuity factors should facilitate the investment analysis. And last but not least, solutions to the exercises have been included at the back of this book, so that the active reader can evaluate his own solutions.

“In contrast to the rather academic approach taken by other authors, Professor Aernoudt opts for an approach based on practice, with cases and exercises to enhance understanding of various theoretical approaches. This book therefore fills an important gap.”

Colin Mason, Professor of Entrepreneurship, Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK

Rudy Aernoudt studied economy and philosophy at the University of Louvain and European economics at the College of Europe. He holds the position of Professor of Corporate Finance and Enterprise Policy at the Universities of Ghent and Nancy. He is author of several books and papers in the field of economy, politics and philosophy.