Commercial Terms

Bifurcation

The splitting of something into two separate pieces. Bifurcation occurs when a company divides into two separate divisions to create two new companies and issue two new shares. Existing shareholders before the split are given shares of the new company though a corporate re-organization.

Byproduct

Output other than the principal product(s) of an industrial process, such as sawdust or woodchips generated in processing lumber. Unlike joint-products, byproducts have low value in comparison with the principal product(s) and may be discarded or sold either in their original state, or after further processing.

Underwater

A call option whose strike price is higher than the market price of the underlying security, or a put option whose strike price is lower than the market price of the underlying security. Thus, there is no incentive to exercise the option today. However, the option still has "time value", value based on the fact that the prices of the underlier can change. This "time value" diminishes as the option approaches maturity.

Dim Sum Bond

A bond denominated in Chinese yuan and issued in Hong Kong. Dim sum bonds are attractive to foreign investors who desire exposure to yuan-denominated assets, but are restricted by China's capital controls from investing in domestic Chinese debt. The issuers of dim sum bonds are largely entities based in China or Hong Kong, and occasionally foreign companies. The term is derived from the Chinese cuisine that involves serving a variety of small delicacies and is especially popular in Hong Kong.

Adjusted Basis Value

Original cost or base price of a fixed asset from which depreciation is deducted, and to which capital expenditure is added. It is a taxpayer's equivalent of book value, and is used to arrive at capital gain or capital loss (resulting from the sale of an asset) for computing applicable tax. Also called adjustable basis value.