Capital Structure Of Non-financial Firms Research Articles

Covid-19 Pandemic and Capital Structure: Evidence from West Africa

The question of whether the Covid-19 pandemic is a predictor of firms’ capital structure has remained unanswered following limited empirical studies. The financial structure of every business is its lifeblood which is the most important decision-making at any stage of the business’s operation. This study investigated the effect of covid-19 on the capital structure of non-financial firms listed on the Ghana stock exchange (GSE). The study focused on long-term debt, short-term debt and total debt ratios as a measure of capital structure. The study adopted the ex-post facto research design, the population consisted of 23 listed non-financial firms out of which 21 were sampled. Data was sourced from audited annual financial reports of the selected companies. Panel regression and ANOVA were used to analyze the data. The findings of the study revealed that covid-19 pandemic showed an insignificant effect on capital structure measured as long-term debt. This implies that the pandemic did not cause significant volatility to the long-term debt of non-financial firms in Ghana within the period of the study. Furthermore, the covid-19 pandemic showed no significant effect on short-term debt. This indicates that short-term borrowings for non-financial firms listed on GSE were not significantly affected by the covid-19 pandemic. The findings of the study further revealed that the covid-19 pandemic does not have a significant effect on the total debt of listed non-financial companies in Ghana. The study recommends that the capital structure policy of non-financial firms listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange should be maintained. This is because the study revealed that the severity of the covid-19 pandemic on business operations did not significantly affect the capital structure of the firms as measured by long-term debt, short-term and total debt.

The Relationship between Corporate Governance Quality and Firm Performance: The Moderating Role of Capital Structure

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.

The impact of bank regulation on firms’ capital structure: Evidence from multinationals

This paper examines how the capital structure of non-financial firms is affected by international variation in bank regulation. A concise model yields an estimating equation that relates a firm's capital structure to bank regulatory variables and their interactions with the tax rate reflecting the tax deductibility of interest. We identify an effect of bank regulation on leverage by considering establishments of the same multinational firm located in different countries. Our results indicate that capital regulation stringency and official supervisory power are negatively related to firm leverage, while restrictions on non-lending activities and on financial conglomerates vary positively with firm leverage. High tax rates mitigate these effects.

Effect of corporate governance on the capital structure on non-financial firms in developing countries: A Qualitative Approach

This study adopted a qualitative technique to examine the effect of corporate governance on the capital structure of non-financial firms in developing countries from 2011 to 2022. The study reviewed thematically evidence from 50 previous studies that examined the effect of board size on leverage. The study demonstrates an inconsistent outcome, with 52 per cent of findings positive, 32 negative and 17 mixed results. The study also found that adopting a single theory is insufficient to explain the rationale of the relationships between corporate governance and capital structure. While most studies adopted secondary data, future studies may focus on using primary data and other methods instead of regression or multiple regression analysis.

Firm Capital Structure and Financial Sector Performance in Nigeria

This study employed the two-step systems GMM and fixed-effect model to examine the relative importance and explanatory power of six (6) variables in considering the capital structure of 36 non-financial companies listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange from 2008-2019. The study also examined the effect of the rule of law, institutional quality, macroeconomic management, financial sector performance, and accountability and corruption on firm capital structure. The findings of the study affirm' the theoretical underpinnings of the pecking order theory in Nigeria. The study finds that profitability and Liquidity ratios are negatively associated with debt ratios among non-financial firms in Nigeria. Firm size and tangibility of firm assets positively affect the debt ratio of these firms. The study also concludes that the rule of law, macroeconomic management, financial sector performance, accountability, and corruption indeed matter in determining firm financing mix in Nigeria. Indeed, the rule of law, financial sector rating, accountability, and corruption forms the fundamental basis for the enforcement of contracts, registration, and protection rights. The study provides evidence to the effect that these variables are critical for both equity and debt financing. This study adds to the existing literature as all the determinants used in the study are statistically significant in determining the capital structure of non-financial firms in Nigeria.

The Impact of Debt on Capital Structure: Empirical Evidence from Nigeria

This study evaluates the impact of tax shield on capital structure of quoted non-financial firms in Nigeria. Five hypotheses were formulated following the dependent variables of Long Term Debt Ratio and Short Term Debt Ratio. The independent variables employed for this study are: Operating Income, Non-Debt Tax Shield, Debt Tax Shield, Trade Credit Ratio, Firm Size and Firm Leverage. This study is based on ex-post facto research design and made use of panel data set collected from thirty five (35) non-financial companies over a five year period of 2015 and 2019 financial year. We analyzed the data set using panel least square regression analysis. Our finding supports the trade-off theory developed by Modigliani and Miller’s [1] who explained that, “the relevance of debt with the existence of taxes is beneficial for the formation of a firm’s capital structure and serves to shield earnings from taxes. The result showed that both variables of debt tax shield and firm leverage significantly impact on capital structure of non-financial firms in Nigeria during the period under investigation. The study recommends among others that concerted efforts should be made by financial regulatory bodies to stabilize the tax structure/system in Nigeria. This is based on the fact that reduction of tax frictions not only increases capital buffers for all firms; it also decreases the “Risk Taking” levels of firm managers.

The Impact of Bank Regulation on Firms' Capital Structure: Evidence from Multinationals

This paper examines how the capital structure of non-financial firms is affected by international variation in bank regulation. A concise model yields an estimating equation that relates a firm’s capital structure to bank regulatory variables and their interactions with the tax rate reflecting the tax deductibility of interest. We identify an effect of bank regulation on leverage by considering establishments of the same multinational firm located in different countries. Our results indicate that greater capital stringency and greater supervisory power affect negatively firm leverage, while restrictions on activities and on financial conglomerates affect positively. High tax rates mitigate these effects.

Ownership Structure, Corporate Governance and Capital Structure of Non-Financial Firms of Pakistan

This study is undertaken with the purpose of investigating the impact of ownership structure and corporate governance on the capital structure of Pakistani listed firms from 2011-2014, feasible general least square is used to investigate the impact of ownership structure and corporate governance on capital structure of KSE 100 index firms. Explanatory variables include ownership concentration, managerial ownership, foreign ownership, institutional ownership, board size, board independence and CEO duality along with the three control variables namely firm size, firm profitability and liquidity. There is insignificant positive relationship between ownership concentration and capital structure, managerial ownership has a significant negative impact on debt ratio. Foreign ownership has also a significant negative impact on firm capital structure and institutional ownership has significant positive impact on capital structure. Board size is positively related to capital structure, board independence also positively related to firm’s debt ratio but CEO duality negatively related to the dependent variable, all these variables have significant impact on capital structure of Pakistani firms.

Determinants of Capital Structure: Empirical Evidence from Turkey

The primary aim of this study is to identify the firm-specific determinants of the capital structure of non-financial firms in Turkey and to test whether the determinants offered by financial theory are able to provide convincing explanations for non-financial firms in Turkey. Because the relationship between liquidity and capital structure is not well examined for Turkish market in the context of capital structure theories, we include liquidity as independent variable in our models in addition to profitability, growth, non-debt tax shields, size, tangibility, and risk. We use panel regression as econometric model and cover the period from 2009 to 2016. Our results show that profitability, non-debt tax shield, size, tangibility, and liquidity are significant determinants of the capital structure, size being the most robust one. On the other hand, growth and volatility are not significantly related with the leverage. Moreover, we conclude that capital structure decisions of non-financial firms in Turkey are mostly consistent with the hypothesis of pecking order theory rather than trade-off theory.

Dynamic Model of Optimal Capital Structure: Evidence from Nigerian Listed Firms

Examination of optimal capital structure in financial markets with imperfections suggests that when deviations from optimal capital structure occur, adjustment costs may prevent firms from moving towards target capital structure. However, previous studies on the capital structure of non-financial firms in Nigeria did not consider these imperfections and adjustment costs. It is against this background that this study investigates the dynamic adjustment to target capital structure by non-financial firms listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. By utilizing a framework that provides for the determination of adjustment costs, the results reveal the existence of dynamic adjustment to optimal capital structure suggesting attempts made by the sampled firms to maximize shareholders wealth. A comparison of the adjustment costs with those of firms in more developed economies shows that Nigerian firms have higher costs of adjustment indicating that the level of development of the market is important in lowering transaction costs. In addition, tangibility of assets, non-debt tax shield, growth opportunity, firm size, profitability and inflation significantly influence Nigerian firms’ optimal capital structure.

STRUKTUR MODAL PERUSAHAAN-PERUSAHAAN NON KEUANGAN YANG TELAH GO PUBLIC DI BURSA EFEK INDONESIA BERDASARKAN TRADE OFF THEORY

This study aims, First, to obtain the empirical evidence about the capital structure of non-financial firms in Indonesia Stock Exchange. Second, to obtain the empirical evidence about the impact of capital structure on the value of non-financial firms in Indonesia Stock Exchange. Third, to obtain the empirical evidence about the impact of profitability, size of the firm, growth opportunity, the structure of assets, and the cost of bankruptcy to capital structure of non-financial firms in Indonesia Stock Exchange.
 To achieve these objectives, conducted research on companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. Research conducted on 163 companies with the observation period in 2011. All the required data obtained from the Indonesian Capital Market Directory. Furthermore, to explain the determinants of capital structure of the firm to used the t and F test with alpha 10 percent.
 Based on the results of the study, the conclusions as follows: First, the capital structure of the firm has a negative and significant effect on the value of the firm. Second, there is no optimal capital structure on a non-financial corporations. Third, the size of the firm, the structure of assets, and the cost of bankruptcy have positive and significant effect on the capital structure of the firm. Fourth, profitability and the growth opportunities of the firm does not significantly influence to the capital structure. Fifth, variations in the profitability, size of the firm, growth opportunities, the structure of assets, and the cost of bankruptcy are able to explain the variations of capital structure 10,2 percent. Sixth, the coefficient towards research results influence the profitability and bankruptcy costs the company is not in accordance with the trade-offs theory.

Determinants of capital structure: an empirical study of firms in Iran

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate the determinants of capital structure of non-financial firms in Iran. Design/methodology/approach – This paper reviews different conditional theories of capital structure to formulate testable propositions concerning the determinants of capital structure of Iranian companies. Pooled ordinary least squares and panel econometric techniques such as fixed effects and random effects are used to investigate the most significant factors that affect the capital structure choice of manufacturing firms listed on Tehran Stock Exchange Iran during 2003-2007. Findings – The results of the study suggest that variables such as firm’s size, financial flexibility, asset structure, profitability, liquidity, growth, risk and state ownership affect all measures of capital structure of Iranian corporations. Short-term debt is found to represent an important financing source for corporations in Iran. The results of the present research are consistent with some capital structure theories. Research limitations/implications – In general, the results provide evidence that the five theories discussed influence emerging markets. Due to the existence of a negative relationship between profitability and capital structure, investors must consider capital structure before making investment decisions. Practical implications – This study has laid some groundwork to explore the determinants of capital structure of Iranian firms upon which a more detailed evaluation could be based. Furthermore, the empirical findings will help corporate managers in making optimal capital structure decisions. Originality/value – To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that explores the determinants of capital structure of manufacturing firms in Iran by using the most recent data. Moreover, this paper provides a theoretical model to explain the mechanism of how the ownership structure impacts debt financing.

Crowding-out or shying-away: impact of corporate income tax on capital structure choice of firms in Pakistan

This article aims to investigate whether corporate income taxes affect the capital structure of nonfinancial firms listed on Karachi Stock Exchange Pakistan during 1972–2010. Empirical results suggest that taxes are positively related to total debt ratio and short-term debt ratio, whereas they are negatively related to long-term debt ratio. The negative relationship between taxes and long-term debt ratio appears illogical considering the tax advantage of debt in the presence of the corporate income tax. However, the observed crowding-out of corporate debt financing due to the presence of nondebt tax shields provides some logic on the demand side. While on the supply side the banks shy away from long-term debt in peculiar socioeconomic realities of Pakistan. The mixed relationships of corporate income tax with different measures of capital structure partially confirm the prophecy of trade-off theory in Pakistan. In addition, we find that other firm-specific variables which appear to significantly influence...

Determinants of the Capital Structure of Listed Vietnamese Companies

This paper provides the first insights into the capital structure of listed companies in Vietnam, one of the most dynamic economies in the Asia-Pacific region. We employ a panel GMM (generalized method of moments) system estimator to analyse the determinants of the capital structure of non-financial firms listed on either the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange or the Hanoi Stock Exchange for the period 2007–11. We conclude that, despite the emergence in recent years of equity and a corporate debt capital market, the capital structure of Vietnamese enterprises is still dominated by the use of short-term financing sources. Further, our results show that state-controlled enterprises continue to have preferential access to finance and that high-growth firms still rely principally on external debt rather than equity issuance. These results indicate that policy-makers need to continue to pursue policies that will deepen capital markets and ensure that bank finance is allocated on a purely commercial basis.

Pecking at Pecking Order Theory: Evidence from Pakistan’s Non-financial Sector

This study tests the Pecking Order Theory for the capital structure of listed firms in Pakistan. As per Pecking Order Theory in capital structure formulation, internally generated resources would have first priority, followed by debt issuance where equity is used as a last resort. In its strong form, the Pecking Order Theory sustains that equity issues would never occur, whereas in its weak form, limited amounts of issues are acceptable. The methodology adopted in this empirical study involves cross-section regressions and the testing of hypotheses stemming from the underlying theory in its strong and weak forms. A sample of capital structure of non-financial firms listed at KSE is considered from 2001 to 2008. A statistical tool of panel data regression analysis is used to test different firms' data. The value of R2, t-test and F-Stat indicate firms in KSE supporting the weak form of pecking order theory, i.e., the option of using internal equity and debt is more preferred and a limited amount of external equity is used for reinvestment and fund raising purposes.

Kyoto Protocol and capital structure: a comparative study of developed and developing countries

This study examines the impact of the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol on the capital structure of nonfinancial firms in 45 countries from 2002 to 2007. Results show that in general, the Protocol ratification has a negative impact on the leverage of firms. Such negative impact is apparent in developed than in developing countries. Furthermore, this negative impact is reinforced by a market-based, as opposed to bank-based, financial system. Lastly, results suggest that the Protocol ratification has reduced agency costs for firms in developed as opposed to developing countries. Results provide policy implications. In general, firms in ratifying countries should reduce leverage in response to stricter climate-related regulations as they undergo transition toward becoming environment friendly. Such leverage reduction should be more pronounced in developed than in developing countries. Firms in ratifying countries with market-based financial system should reduce leverage more than those in ratifying countrie...

Determinants of Capital Structure: Empirical Evidence from Pakistan

This study investigates capital structure of nonfinancial firms registered on Karachi Stock Exchange (Pakistan) from 2003 to 2008 to find which independent variables determine the capital structure of Pakistani firms. We find statistically significant coefficients for profitability, size, tangibility, growth, dividend and inflation. The negative relationships between profitability and leverage; positive relationships between growth and long term debt and dividend and total debt of firms confirm the presence of pecking order theory in determining the financing behavior of Pakistani firms. The strong positive relationships between tangibility and leverage and size and leverage support the theortical predictions of trade-off theory. The positive relationship between expected future inflation and current borrowing supports market timing theory. The research finds significant change in financing behavior of firms across industries. We find partially different results from other studies in Pakistan as well as in developing countries. Conclusion from perior research from developed world is also valid in Pakistan.

Do Firm Boundaries Affect Financing Policy? Evidence from Non-Financial Conglomerates with Financial Subsidiaries

I study the capital structure of non-financial firms that own a financial subsidiary. In a panel of U.S. non-financial firms over 1984-2007 I find that a significant part of the overall Compustat non-financial universe maintains a financial subsidiary. Such non-financial firms have higher overall leverage and shorter debt maturity. However, these firms have lower excess leverage. My findings thus appear to support Diamond’s (2006, 2007) hypotheses that the establishment of a financial subsidiary in non-financial firms lowers their borrowing capacity and shortens their debt maturity due perhaps to the weaker incentives to monitor on part of the captive financial subsidiaries. Overall, these findings suggest that firm boundaries are an important factor to determine corporate financing policy. They also highlight an additional cost associated with internal capital markets, namely, the diminished borrowing capacity and shortened debt maturity for non-financial borrowers in internal capital markets.

An Empirical Study on the Determinants of the Capital Structure of Listed Indian Firms

This study presents empirical evidence on the determinants of the capital structure of non-financial firms in India based on firm specific data. A comparative analysis is done for pre-liberalization and post-liberalization periods. The study period and sample firms for pre-liberalization period are 1990-1992 and 498, respectively. The same for post-liberalization period are 1997-1999 and 1411. Empirical results imply that tax effect and signaling effect play a role in financing decisions where as agency costs effect financing decision of big business houses and foreign firms. It is also revealed that size of the firm and business risk became significant factors influencing the capital structure during post-liberalization period.

An empirical study on the determinants of the capital structure of Thai firms

This study presents empirical evidence on the determinants of the capital structure of non-financial firms in 1996. Empirical results imply that the tax effect, the signaling effect, and the agency costs play a role in financing decisions. Ownership structure also effects financial policy. Single-family owned firms have significantly higher debt level. Only in single-family owned firms does managerial shareholdings have consistently positive influence on firm leverage. Finally large shareholders affect the debt ratio negatively, implying that they may monitor the management.