What is Long-Term Financing?
Long-term financing is capital raised with a maturity exceeding one year, used to fund long-lived assets, expansion projects, and acquisitions. Common forms include term loans, project finance, bonds, sukuk, preferred equity, common equity, mezzanine debt, and finance leases. The financing structure should match the duration and risk profile of the underlying use of funds.
How It Works
- Identify funding need, duration, and acceptable cost.
- Choose between debt, equity, or hybrid based on capital structure strategy.
- Negotiate terms: tenor, rate, covenants, security, prepayment, and grace periods.
- Comply with regulatory requirements (SAMA for banks, CMA for public issuances).
- Repay or refinance at maturity in line with cash flow profile.
Saudi Context
Saudi corporates access long-term financing through bank syndicates (SAR or USD), Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF), Real Estate Development Fund, sukuk listed on the Saudi Debt Capital Market, and Tadawul equity issuances. PIF-backed companies often combine equity injections with project finance. SAMA-licensed banks dominate the SAR-denominated long-term debt market.
Example
A petrochemical company raises SAR 3 billion of 10-year sukuk to fund a new plant. Coupon is set at SAR profit rate + 175 bps. The proceeds fund 70% of CapEx, with the remaining 30% from internal equity, producing a project structure aligned with the long asset life of the plant.