Recapitalization

Recapitalization is a type of corporate reorganization involving substantial change in a company's capital structure. Recapitalization may be motivated by a number of reasons. Usually, the large part of equity is replaced with debt or vice versa. In more complicated transactions, mezzanine financing and other hybrid securities are involved.

One example of recapitalization is a leveraged recapitalization, wherein the company issues bonds to raise money, and then buys back its own shares. Usually, current shareholders retain control. The reasons for this sort of recapitalization include:

Another example is a leveraged buyout, essentially a leveraged recapitalization initiated by an outside party. Usually, incumbent equityholders cede control. The reasons for this transaction may include:

Another example is a nationalization, wherein the nation in which the company is headquartered buys sufficient shares of the company to obtain a controlling interest. Usually, incumbent equityholders lose control. The reasons for nationalization may include:

...
Wikipedia