Which of the following is NOT a use of funds in a financial transaction?

In financial transactions, uses of funds refer to the allocation of capital for various purposes, such as paying for the transaction itself, covering costs associated with the deal, or investing in further opportunities.

Transaction value specifically refers to the total amount being paid for the acquisition or investment, which is a clear use of funds. The beginning balance of cash is also deemed a use of funds because it represents the available liquidity that can be utilized in the transaction. Likewise, deal fees, which are costs incurred to facilitate the transaction (such as legal or advisory fees), are considered a use of funds, as these expenses need to be covered during the financial process.

In contrast, future investment options pertain more to potential avenues for deploying capital rather than actual expenditures in the context of the current transaction. These options represent opportunities that may arise after the funds have been allocated, rather than a direct use of funds in the financial transaction being considered. Therefore, identifying future investment options as NOT a use of funds is accurate since it does not involve immediate outflows related to the transaction at hand.