Showing papers on "Capital structure published in 2022"
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors examined the capital structure of top ten market capitalization of the stock markets included in MSCI Emerging index with the use of artificial neural networks, support vector regression, and linear regression in forecasting methods.
Abstract: Capital structure is an integral part of the corporate finance that sources the funds to finance growth and operations. Managers always have to maintain value of the firm to be higher than the cost of capital in order to maximize the shareholders wealth. Empirical studies have used sources of finance like debt and equity as variables of capital structure. A choice between debt and equity finance analyzes the firm's ability to perform under the financially constrained environment to attain the sustainable growth. Therefore, it gives rise to a dire need to estimate the cost of capital precisely. We examined the capital structure of top ten market capitalization of the stock markets included in MSCI Emerging index with the use of artificial neural networks, support vector regression, and linear regression in forecasting methods. The capital structure is measured as the proportion of total debt over total equity (Tang et al., 1991). Other financial ratios such as profitability, liquidity, solvent, and turnover ratios were considered as drivers of the capital structure. Applying logistic and hyperbolic tangent activation functions, it was concluded that ANN has a great potential of replacing other traditional forecasting models with the nonstationary data. This research contributes with a new dimension for estimation through different activation functions. There is a possibility of ANN dominance as compared to the other models applied for predictability in financial markets.
19 citations
01 Jan 2022
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors analyzed the role of ownership structure and capital structure in sustainable product innovation in agri-food companies and found that family-owned firms show an aversion to this type of eco-innovation projects, regardless of their source of financing.
Abstract: Sustainable product innovation is a key issue facing agri-food companies to maintain and increase their competitiveness. Based on a sample of 320 international agri-food companies for the period 2002–2017, this paper analyzes the role that ownership structure and capital structure play with regard to sustainable product innovation as well as whether these financing decisions differ depending on the firm's ownership structure. The results indicate that family-owned firms show an aversion to this type of eco-innovation projects, regardless of their source of financing. On the contrary, ownership by cross-holdings favors investment in sustainable product innovation projects, showing a greater preference for the use of debt financing versus auto-financing to fund them.
17 citations
TL;DR: In this article , the authors identify the conceptual sources of the main empirical failures of the leading models of capital structure and show how those failures can be repaired by taking into account imperfect managerial knowledge and several other factors.
Abstract: Abstract An important piece of the capital structure puzzle has been missing, and it is not a contracting friction. It is recognition that managers do not have sufficient knowledge to optimize capital structure with any real precision. The literature critique in this paper i) identifies the conceptual sources of the main empirical failures of the leading models of capital structure and ii) shows how those failures can be repaired by taking into account imperfect managerial knowledge and several other factors. The analysis yields a compact set of principles for thinking about capital structure in an empirically supported way.
14 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors examined the impact of board characteristics on capital structure dynamics and the speed of adjustment and found that firms in a stakeholder-oriented corporate governance environment adjust their leverage faster than those in a shareholder-oriented environment.
Abstract: Theoretical arguments suggest that capital structure will adjust to the dynamics of the corporate governance environment. In line with this prediction, we examine the impact of board characteristics on capital structure dynamics and the speed of adjustment. Using 2690 firm-year observations for 2009–2018, we find that firms in a stakeholder-oriented corporate governance environment adjust their leverage faster than those in a shareholder-oriented environment. We also find that corporate board characteristics influence firms' capital structure and speed of adjustment towards target leverage. Our findings are robust to alternative measures of leverage and endogeneity. The overall evidence supports the relevance of the corporate board's composition in both shareholder-oriented and stakeholder-oriented corporate governanc (CG) environments. We conclude that board composition mitigates agency conflict.
13 citations
TL;DR: In this article , the impact of capital structure on environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance in the context of Jordanian companies was explored by using the content analysis approach and the longitudinal data generated from the annual reports of 51 industrial companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange for the period 2012-2020.
Abstract:
Purpose
This study aims to explore the impact of capital structure (CS), including total debts, short-term debt, long-term debt and total shareholder equity, on environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance in the context of Jordan.
Design/methodology/approach
To achieve the study’s objectives, the authors used the content analysis approach and the longitudinal data generated from the annual reports of 51 industrial companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange for the period 2012–2020.
Findings
The findings show that debt financing enhances ESG performance in all dimensions, while financing by equity did not affect ESG. Consequently, Jordanian companies’ managers are trying to reduce agency costs by investing in ESG activities. In addition, companies are focusing on debt financing instead of equity to achieve their financial as well as nonfinancial goals. This is because the opportunism of new shareholders will likely lead to a focus on maximizing their value at the expense of the broader group of stakeholders, and this will adversely affect companies’ ESG performance. Therefore, debt financing limits shareholder control.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first examination of the impact of CS financing choices on ESG performance. Thus, this study has important implications for the decisions of executives, policymakers, shareholders and lenders, as it enables them to better understand the linkage between CS and ESG.
12 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors investigated changes in the speed of adjustment toward target leverage ratio under the impact of COVID-19 economic crisis using an international sample of publicly listed firms.
12 citations
TL;DR: This paper investigated the relationship between firm characteristics and leverage based on a sample of firms listed in the Chinese Stock Index 300 and found that both the trade-off theory (TOT) and the pecking order theory (POT) confirm the validity of Chinese firms’ financing decisions at different quantiles of leverage.
Abstract: Our research investigates the connection between firm characteristics and leverage based on a sample of firms listed in the Chinese Stock Index 300. We aim to examine the sustainability of the financial structure of Chinese enterprises covering the period 2010–2019. We employ a conditional quantile regression that discloses the behavior of regressions across the leverage distribution and compares its results for different leverage levels with those achieved by the linear regression model. The results confirm the effects of the determinants of capital structure change since the quantile of leverage varies. We find that both the trade-off theory (TOT) and the pecking order theory (POT) confirm the validity of Chinese firms’ financing decisions at different quantiles of leverage. Specifically, the empirical results support the POT more over the TOT at higher levels of the quantile. Furthermore, the relationship between firm size and leverage strongly switches to support the POT at the highest quantile. All empirical results are obtained from quantile regression, consistent with the prediction for an increase in asymmetric information of the POT when Chinese firms employ more debt in their capital structure.
10 citations
TL;DR: In this article , the authors explored whether capital structure has a contingent role in the relationship between corporate governance quality and firm performance and found that the moderate effect of the capital structure reinforces this relationship.
Abstract: This study aims to explore whether capital structure (CS) has a contingent role in the relationship between corporate governance (CG) quality and firm performance. The empirical findings indicate that CG quality had a positive and significant effect on the performance of Jordanian non-financial firms listed on the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) from 2014 to 2019. Additionally, the moderate effect of the CS reinforces this relationship. These results are robust to alternative econometric specifications and variable definitions. This study utilizes certain firm-specific characteristics to represent the CS to assess its role as a moderating variable in the relationship between CG quality and firm performance. This study makes a contribution to the literature by showing that CS can strengthen the relationship between CG quality and firm performance. The results have important managerial implications for the practice of CG in developing countries. Firms in developing countries can enhance performance by implementing and abiding by good governance practices. Moreover, firms in developing countries should adopt effective financial strategies regarding CS to enhance the relationship between CG quality and firm performance. Finally, potential investors should consider the debt level in the CS of non-financial firms in Jordan when making investment decisions.
10 citations
TL;DR: In this article , the determinants of the capital structure of SMEs in Algeria during the period 2010-2018 were identified, where a sample consists of 20 SMEs from the Public Works and Hydraulics sector.
Abstract: This study aims to identify the determinants of the capital structure of SMEs in Algeria during the period 2010-2018. Where a sample consists of 20 SMEs from the Public Works and Hydraulics sector. The study used financial leverage as the dependent variable and assets structure, profitability, liquidity, and size as independent variables. The study used Panel Data methods for testing the hypothesis. The results show that profitability, liquidity, and assets structure are negatively related to financial leverage, while size does not affect the financial leverage. The results indicate that SMEs in Algeria rely on their internal resources to finance their activities.
9 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors investigated the impact of the capital structure on the profitability of the telecommunication industry in the USA and found that the ratio of TLsTAs has a significant impact on ROA and TETAs has no impact on the ROE.
Abstract: Debt finance, when considered a source of finance, always leads to financial risk; however, it is also considered a source of increased profitability in the normal business scenario. It has always been challenging to find the correct debt equity combination. In the discussed sample of the telecom industry in the USA, an abnormally high total liability-to-total assets ratio was observed. Thus, it is inclined to investigate the capital structure (CapSt) effect on firms’ profitability. By taking annual data of the telecom industry from 2012 to 2020 in the USA, unbalanced cross-sectional data (panel data) comprising 421 firm-year observations for 72 firms were studied using pooled panel regression, univariate analysis, correlation, and descriptive statistics models. We decided to test the impact of CapSt (Total Liabilities to Total Assets (TLsTAs) and Total Equity to Total Assets (TETAs)) on the profitability (Return on Assets (ROA) and Return on Equity (ROE)) of firms in the telecommunication industry in the USA. The results reveal that the ratio of TLsTAs has a significant impact on ROA, and TETAs has a significant impact on ROA. However, TLsTAs and TETAs have no impact on ROE.
9 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors examine whether effective tax rate and firm-specific factors (such as firm size, growth opportunities, tangibility, risk, profitability, non-debt tax shields and liquidity) impact the capital structure of multinational firms in the energy sector.
Abstract: This paper aims to examine whether effective tax rate and firm-specific factors (such as firm size, growth opportunities, tangibility, risk, profitability, non-debt tax shields and liquidity) impact the capital structure of multinational firms in the energy sector. We employ regression models consisting of OLS, fixed effect and random effect to test balanced panel dataset of multinational firms based in the UK and USA over the period 2011–2019. We show a positive and significant effect of tangibility, risk, profitability and non-debt tax shields on long-term and total debt measures of capital structure. In the case of short-term debt, however, we reveal that it is significantly negatively related to tangibility, non-debt tax shields and liquidity, and positively associated with firm risk. Moreover, we report that the effective tax rate and firm size are insignificantly negatively related to the leverage choices of multinational firms, and liquidity has a significant inverse relationship with long-term debt and total debt. This study reveals mixed support for the prevailing capital structure theories and evidence that multinational firms are unequivocally responsive to the capital structure. The results significantly contribute to evaluating multinational firms in the energy sector and show how managers can achieve an optimal level of capital structure.
TL;DR: In this paper , a generalized version of the MM theory with variable income is presented. But the authors focus on the case of variable income and do not consider the effect of the variable income on the stock market.
Abstract: To expand the applicability in practice of the modern theory of cost and capital structure, the theory of Brusov–Filatova–Orekhova (BFO), which is valid for companies of arbitrary age, is generalized for the case of variable income. The generalized theory of capital structure can be successfully applied in corporate finance, business valuation, banking, investments, ratings, etc. income. A generalized Brusov–Filatova–Orekhova formula for the weighted average cost of capital, WACC, is derived using a formula in MS Excel, where the role of the discount rate shifts from WACC to WACC–g (here g is the growth rate) for financially dependent companies and k0–g for financially independent companies is shown. A decrease in the real discount rates of WACC–g and k0–g with g ensures an increase in the company’s capitalization with g. The tilt of the equity cost curve, ke(L), increases with g. Since the cost of equity justifies the amount of dividends, this should change the dividend policy of the company. It turns out that for the growth rate g < g*, the tilt of the curve ke(L) becomes negative. This qualitatively new effect, discovered here for the first time, can significantly change the principles of the dividend policy of the company. The obtained results are compared with the results of the MM theory with variable income.
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors provided a novel look at the value of the interest tax shield and its determinants in the emerging economies of the Visegrad Four, using a one-way fixed effects model of panel data.
Abstract: Capital structure is one of the most frequently discussed issues within Corporate Finance Theory. Optimizing the capital structure and value of the tax shield through the evaluation of its interests can lead to the increasing value of the enterprise, followed by the rising competitiveness and flexibility. The aim of this study is to provide a novel look at the value of the interest tax shield and its determinants in the emerging economies of the Visegrad Four. The model was created on a net sample of nearly 7,000 profitable enterprises between 2015 and 2019 using a one-way fixed effects model of panel data. Regional model results show five main determinants of the debt tax shield (Tangibility, Current Ratio, Gearing, Cost of debt and Size). Others, such as non-debt tax shield, business growth or profitability, are regional, and their impact varies depending on the economic conditions of the countries. The direction of influence of the main determinants indicates that, contrary to the assumed trade-off theory, profitable companies manage the capital structure and the value of tax shield according to the pecking order or modified pecking order theory. The tax shield is made up mostly of interest on short-term loans, which increases the risk of financial distress. There is a hierarchy of funding sources, from trade credit, through shortterm loans, to long-term loans, which are used in the analysed firms to the smallest extent. The structure of liabilities may be considered another determinant of the debt tax shield.
TL;DR: In this article , the authors investigated the impact of female representation on boards and female CEOs on firms' sustainable performance in the context of an emerging economy and introduced the CEO duality as a moderator variable between sustainable firm performance and board gender diversity.
Abstract: The objective of the study is to investigate the impact of female representation on boards and female CEOs on firms’ sustainable performance in the context of an emerging economy. We also introduce the CEO duality as a moderator variable between sustainable firm performance and board gender diversity. For this purpose, the study uses a panel data sample from 2005 to 2020 for non-financial listed firms in Pakistan. We use the firm’s operational self-sufficiency for the sustainable performance of firms. For robustness, the study also uses other accounting-based and market-based proxies. We apply the static (fixed and random effect) and dynamic panel estimation (GMM) techniques to deal with the heterogeneity and dynamic endogeneity issues in panel data estimation. The finding shows a significant positive impact of female directors on board and female CEOs on sustainable performance, whereas CEO duality does not moderate this relationship. Furthermore, we find that CEO duality has a significant negative impact on firms’ sustainable performance, which supports the agency theory hypothesis. The study also controls corporate board level factors, including board size and board independence, and uses leverage, firm size, capital expenditure, and tangible assets as firm-level control. The results also reveal that board size and board independence have a significant positive impact on firms’ sustainable performance. Furthermore, firm size, tangibility, and firm age have a significant positive, whereas leverage and capital expenditure have a negative impact on firms’ sustainable performance. Finally, the study has policy implications for stakeholders.
TL;DR: In this article , the authors examine the effects of country-level governance on the capital structure and investment financing decisions of firms and find that firms operating in countries with stronger governance decrease their leverage while increasing their debt maturity.
TL;DR: In this article , Manso et al. examined the impact of ambiguity on the capital structure decision, using a static tradeoff theory model in which agents are both ambiguity and risk averse.
Abstract: We examine the impact of ambiguity, or Knightian uncertainty, on the capital structure decision, using a static tradeoff theory model in which agents are both ambiguity and risk averse. The model confirms the well-known result that greater risk—the uncertainty over outcomes—leads firms to decrease leverage. Conversely, the model indicates that greater ambiguity—the uncertainty over the probabilities associated with the outcomes—leads firms to increase leverage. Using a theoretically based measure of ambiguity, our empirical analysis presents evidence consistent with these notions, showing that ambiguity has an important and distinct impact on capital structure. This paper was accepted by Gustavo Manso, finance.
TL;DR: In this article , the authors identify the effect of tax avoidance and institutional ownership on business borrowing policy, using data on 207 companies listed on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HOSE) in Vietnam from 2008 to 2016.
Abstract: Abstract Beginning with classical theories on finance, such as the capital structure theory, the trade-off theory of capital structure, and the pecking order theory, the literature shows a negative correlation between tax avoidance and institutional ownership with respect to the business cost of debt. However, the impact of tax avoidance and institutional ownership on corporate debt policy in Vietnam is an under-researched topic. The aim of the study is to identify the effect of those mentioned factors on business borrowing policy, using data on 207 companies listed on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HOSE) in Vietnam from 2008 to 2016. The study employs model proposed by Lim in 2009 to achieve mentioned research object with Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS) method to overcome for any defection. The study results show no conclusive empirical evidence of a relationship between business’s cost of debt and tax avoidance and institutional ownership. This result contrasts with the conclusion in previous studies and can be explained by the characteristics of the funding market in Vietnam where financial organizations often focus on business results and management efficiency in making lending decisions and this characteristic is at no sign of change soon.
TL;DR: In this article , the impact of capital structure and innovation on firm performance among small and medium-sized (SMEs) Mexican manufacturing firms and analyze the indirect effects of capital structures to determine mediating effects of innovation.
TL;DR: In this paper , the effect of corporate governance on capital structure, and moderating impact of board gender diversity on this nexus was investigated, and it was found that gender diversity is associated with better corporate governance quality and positively impact firm's leverage.
Abstract: This paper investigates the effect of corporate governance on capital structure, and moderating impact of board gender diversity on this nexus. Using a sample of 2062 firm-year observations of 226 non-financial firms listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) from 2008 to 2019, we have conducted multiple regression analysis, and found that larger and independent board positively affect firm leverage, whereas, the negative impact of CEO duality was observed on this relationship. Moreover, we found that gender diversity is associated with better corporate governance quality and positively impact firm’s leverage. Additionally, the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimation was applied for the robustness and the results obtained confirmed the main findings of the study. The study provides support for the mandatory placement of female directors on the corporate board by Code of Corporate Governance (CCG) regulations Pakistan, and needs for implementation of corporate governance mechanism in the listed firms to gain lender’s confidence.
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors examine how changes in property rights security impact firm capital structure decisions by exploiting a quasi-natural experiment, specifically, the implementation of China's Property Rights Law in 2007 (the Law).
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors examined the dynamics and determinants of target capital structures among manufacturing firms listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange during the period from 2012 to 2021, and concluded that there is evidence of dynamic adjustment to the optimal capital structure of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria.
Abstract: The study examines the dynamics and determinants of target capital structures among manufacturing firms listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange during the period from 2012 to 2021. The study is motivated by the disparity in the Speed of Adjustment (SOA) to target leverage, which is influenced by firm-specific attributes largely dependent on macroeconomic indices. Therefore, understanding the determinants of SOA to target leverage is germane because no two macro-economic environments are the same. A longitudinal research design is used with a population of 75 manufacturing firms. The sample consists of 42 firms, drawn using a simple random technique. Secondary data is sourced from the annual report. Generalized Method of Moments is the estimation technique. The result shows that manufacturing firms adjust to a target capital structure with a high speed of 72%. This confirms the application of dynamic trade-off theory among listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Profitability, firm size, and asset tangibility are significant determinants of SOA to a target capital structure, confirming pecking order, agency, and static trade-off theories, respectively. Tax shelter and growth were not significant determinants. The study concludes that there is evidence of dynamic adjustment to the optimal capital structure of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Governments and policymakers in firms should make effective policies that aid speedy access to long-term funds by these firms to increase their SOA to target capital structure.
TL;DR: In this article , the authors examined the relationship between intellectual capital and firms' financial leverage by exploring whether firm profitability mediates this relationship, using a dataset of Chinese agricultural listed companies during the period of 2014-2020.
Abstract: The objective of this paper is to examine the relationship between intellectual capital (IC) and firms’ financial leverage by exploring whether firm profitability mediates this relationship, using a dataset of Chinese agricultural listed companies during the period of 2014–2020. Financial leverage is measured by the debt-to-asset ratio, and IC is measured via the modified value-added intellectual coefficient (MVAIC) model. The results reveal that financial leverage is lower in firms with higher levels of IC, and IC positively affects firm profitability. In addition, firm profitability partially mediates the relationship between IC and financial leverage. When MVAIC is disaggregated into its four components, firm profitability has a partially mediating effect on the relationship between physical and human capitals and financial leverage. This paper might provide corporate managers with a clear understanding of IC’s impact on firm indebtedness.
TL;DR: In this article , the impact of the key parameters of capital structure, corporate governance, and equity ownership was tested using regression analysis (panel data method) on firm performance, measured by profitability.
Abstract: This paper aimed to research the interrelation between capital structure, corporate governance, equity ownership, and how they affect firm performance. The sample used consisted of 10 leading-energy-sector companies traded in the NYSE, most of which rank among the largest companies in the world by market capitalization, while the US-based ones are also Fortune 500 companies. Over the eleven-year period examined, from 2009 to 2019, a sampling frame of 110 data series was gathered and analyzed using panel data methodologies. The impact of the key parameters of capital structure, corporate governance, and equity ownership was tested using regression analysis (panel data method) on firm performance, measured by profitability. Our results support a significant relation among major capital structure and corporate governance parameters and firm performance, whereas no evidence was found to support a significant impact of equity ownership on the dependent variable found ascertained. Furthermore, our findings support that in our sample firms, pecking order and agency cost theories play an important role in the financing of these firms, while static trade and irrelevance theory find no support.
TL;DR: This paper examined the role of earnings management in the relationship between firm performance and capital structure, dividing earnings management into discretionary and nondiscretionary accruals to test established theories on the capital structure.
TL;DR: This article investigated the influence of corporate governance and ownership structure on the relationship of corporate sustainability performance and dividend policy by using a panel dataset of 79 non-financial companies listed on Borsa Istanbul 100 Index for the years 2014-2020.
Abstract: The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of corporate governance and ownership structure on the relationship of corporate sustainability performance and dividend policy by using a panel dataset of 79 non-financial companies listed on Borsa Istanbul 100 Index for the years 2014–2020. We employed the panel logit, probit and tobit regression models for the analysis. The results indicate that corporate governance and family ownership significantly and positively moderate the relationship between corporate sustainability performance and dividend policy, while concentrated ownership and institutional ownership do not play a significant moderating role on this relationship. The findings also show that firm-level corporate governance is associated with high dividend payments, suggesting that this institutional mechanism helps reduce agency problems and lead companies to allocate capital more efficiently. The findings provide valuable insights for companies in structuring sustainability activities and shaping dividend policies with regard to ownership structure. It also offers policy prescriptions in emerging markets in the area of corporate financing policies.
TL;DR: In this article , the authors examined the relationship between the deviation from the golden ratio-based capital structure and the deviations of firms' revenue, income, stock price and market value data from their historical maximum.
TL;DR: In this paper , a risk management process is integrated into the enterprise management process, which is called integrated risk management (IRM) process, and accounting is the most important element of the system.
Abstract: Effective and integrated risk management requires integrating the risk management process into the enterprise management process. Each enterprise takes risks to achieve the planned results. The market economy creates both opportunities to achieve the planned profits and the risk of losses as a result of unfavorable changes in the company's environment and errors within the organization. At the time of making a decision, it is never certain how the conditions for the implementation of the planned project will develop in the future. Accounting, which is the most important element of the system, plays an important role in the risk management process information business unit. Nowadays, all business decisions are burdened with risk, which is why organizations more and more often decide to implement a risk management system.
TL;DR: In this paper , the effect of the component of cost of capital (COC) and capital structure (CS) on firm value was investigated. But the authors focused on the impact of COC and CS on the firm value and found that CS is a quasi-moderator variable and plays a role in increasing firm value.
Abstract: Cost and capital structure are needed to evaluate the feasibility of the investments made by a company. This study aims to estimate and analyze the effect of the component of cost of capital (COC) and capital structure (CS) on firm value. Pulp & Paper companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) became the research sample for the 2013–2020 period. The research method applied is a moderation regression analysis approach. The empirical findings of the study prove that firm value is not influenced by the cost of debt (COD), while the cost of equity (COE) has a negative effect, and COC is positive. COC is a combination of the use of debt and equity, modeling by adding a CS variable as a moderating variable; this leads to the conclusion that COD and COE have a negative effect on firm value, whereas COC and CS have a positive effect. The finding of the role of CS as a moderating variable reveals that CS is a quasi-moderator variable and plays a role in increasing.
TL;DR: In this article , the authors focus on the role of psychology in capital structure decisions of Indian CEOs and find that overconfident CEOs prefer debt over equity and short-term debt over longterm debt.
Abstract: Executive Summary Capital structure decisions are vital for firms. Existing theories on capital structure partially explain the difference in capital structure decisions of identical firms. Researchers have integrated psychology with finance in recent years to explain the difference in capital structure decisions better. To help practitioners and academicians understand the role of psychology in capital structure decisions, this article focuses on CEO overconfidence and its influence on equity versus debt financing, short-term versus long-term debt financing, and level of debt financing concerning tax shields. Indian CEOs are unique in their leadership style, values and beliefs. Overconfidence among CEOs of S&P BSE 200 firms is measured using the press coverage of CEOs, and this proxy depicts how the press portrays CEOs. An extensive search on CEOs in relevant search engines helped measure overconfidence among CEOs. The results from regression models document that overconfident CEOs prefer debt over equity and short-term debt over long-term debt. In addition, overconfident CEOs are found to not avail the full benefits of tax shield and follow a conservative debt policy. The presence of bias of overconfidence among CEOs distorts optimal decision-making and deviates capital structure decisions from trade-off theory and pecking order theory of capital structure. The evidence on external versus internal financing helps explain the biased preference of overconfident CEOs for debt and short-term financing. The biased beliefs lead CEOs to form high expectations of cash flows. Overconfidence among CEOs is found to significantly influence capital structure decisions. The robustness of the results corroborates existing findings and documents the influence of behavioural biases on corporate decision-making.
TL;DR: In this article , the authors developed a model of optimal capital structure in imperfectly competitive markets by focusing on a duopoly and showed that in equilibrium the industry leader uses debt conservatively, while the follower uses debt more aggressively and, as the result, defaults first.
Abstract: Abstract We develop a model of optimal capital structure in imperfectly competitive markets by focusing on a duopoly. The model endogenizes both the financing and investment decisions of firms. We show that in equilibrium the industry leader uses debt conservatively, while the follower uses debt more aggressively and, as the result, defaults first. The model generates novel predictions about the leverage choices of the leader and the follower, their default likelihood, and the degree of leverage dispersion between competing firms. These predictions are strongly supported by the data.