Level Of Leverage Research Articles

Economic policy uncertainty and credit risk in microfinance: A cross‐country analysis

AbstractUsing a cross‐country data set of 670 microfinance institutions (MFIs) in nine countries from 1999 to 2018, this study examines the impact of economic policy uncertainty (EPU) on the credit risk of MFIs. The empirical results show that EPU significantly increases the credit risk of MFIs. Our findings are valid in a series of robustness checks. The moderating effects reveal that group lending can mitigate the impact of EPU on the credit risk of MFIs and that EPU has a weaker impact on nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and cooperatives and credit unions (Coop/CUs). We explore potential channels through which credit risk is influenced by EPU from the perspectives of earnings volatility and cost. We find that EPU increases the credit risk of MFIs not only by reducing profitability and leverage levels and increasing earnings volatility but also by raising financing costs.

Driving force of value reversal in Chinese overleveraged firms: The mechanism and path of private placement.

To stimulate economic growth, China has launched multiple economic stimulus plans in recent years, intensifying corporate debt financing and subsequently elevating the leverage levels. Addressing and effectively reducing the leverage levels of our country's enterprises has emerged as a pressing issue in the trajectory of our economic development. This paper primarily investigates the drivers, pathways, and mechanisms for reversing the over-leveraged values of enterprises. Key findings include: (1) Excessive indebtedness exerts a negative impact on corporate value, with the suppressing effect intensifying as the degree of over-leverage increases; (2) Over-leveraged enterprises can effectively decrease their debt levels and enhance their value through private placement. Further research suggests that this mechanism operates by amplifying the operational leverage of over-leveraged enterprises post private placement and alleviating financing constraints, thereby elevating corporate value. (3) Compared to non-state-owned enterprises, state-owned enterprises exhibit higher levels of indebtedness. Among over-leveraged firms, enhancements in corporate governance and increased investment efficiency can positively transform corporate value. This study offers valuable insights for the ongoing supply-side structural reforms and governance guidance from the regulatory bodies.

Does the leverage of a company differ when led by a CEO from a reputable university?

This study investigates the influence of the educational background of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) from reputable universities on corporate leverage. Company leverage is an important financial policy that determines a company’s success. A review grounded in upper echelons theory indicates a correlation among CEO characteristics, strategic decisions, and corporate outcomes, with financial leverage serving as the representation in this study. The study was conducted on top-rated Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) companies in Southeast Asia during 2020–2022 using 1108 observations. Data were obtained from annual reports, company websites, and Refinitiv, and analyzed using regression. The results indicate that CEOs with an educational background from reputable universities tend to have lower leverage. This suggests that CEOs from prestigious universities tend to exhibit risk-averse tendencies when formulating or executing company debt policies. This study contributes to the literature on the correlation between CEO educational backgrounds and firms’ leverage, providing insight into the relationship between CEOs from reputable universities and the level of corporate leverage. It is also expected to contribute to the development of Upper Echelons Theory and the implementation of company policies such as CEO qualifications, CEO recruitment, and debt policy.

Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) 2.0: Account of Business and Financial Risk

The famous Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), widely used in practice, takes into account only the business risk associated with investments in a specific company [not the entire market (or industry)]. In practice, most listing companies use debt financing and operate at a non-zero leverage level. This means that the financial risk associated with the use of debt financing, along with business risk, must be taken into account. The purpose of this paper is to simultaneously account for business and financial risk. We combined the CAPM theory and the Modigliani-Miller (MM) theory, which is the perpetual limit of the BFO (Brusov-Filatova-Orekhova) theory. The article shows that R. Hamada’s attempt to take into account both business and financial risks has proved unsustainable, and the formulas he obtained, widely used in practice, are incorrect. The paper outlines the correct formulae that made it possible to generalize CAPM for the first time, taking into account both business and financial risk. The application of the new CAPM 2.0 model to a number of companies is considered and the difference between the results obtained within the framework of CAPM 2.0 and CAPM is demonstrated. CAPM is one of the main models [along with APT (arbitrage pricing theory) and WACC] within the income approach to business valuation. This significantly increases the value of the developed CAPM 2.0 approach, which can significantly improve the accuracy of the assessment.

STRATEGIC TIMING: ANALYZING MARKET TIMING STRATEGIES FOR NON-FINANCIAL COMPANIES' LEVERAGE

This study investigates the impact of market timing strategies on the leverage of non-financial companies. Market timing involves making financial decisions based on expectations of future market movements. Using a sample of non-financial firms, we examine how companies strategically time their debt issuance and repayment activities in response to market conditions. Our analysis considers factors such as interest rate fluctuations, market volatility, and economic cycles. We employ quantitative methods to assess the effectiveness of different market timing strategies in influencing firms' leverage levels. The findings shed light on the dynamics between market conditions and corporate leverage decisions, providing valuable insights for financial managers, investors, and policymakers.

Is there an optimal level of leverage? The case of banks and non-bank institutions in Europe

In this paper, we evaluate whether banks and non-banks size and systemic risk are affected by their level of leverage. We implement a threshold analysis to a sample of European traditional banks and non-banks (Finance services and Real Estate Finance Services) over 2006:1-2019:4. We find that Finance Services show positive co-movements between leverage and size, independently of the level of leverage, while for traditional banks the level of leverage matters. Both banks and non-banks show positive correlation between leverage and systemic risk. During periods of crisis, SRISK measure of systemic risk allows to identify an optimal level of leverage.

Effect of Capital Structure on the Financial Performance of Ethiopian Commercial Banks

This study aimed to examine the effects of capital structure on the financial performance of Ethiopian commercial banks. The dependent variable, financial performance, is measured by Return on Assets (ROA), while factors such as loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR), asset-to-total equity ratio (ATER), total deposit-to-total asset ratio (TDTAR), capital adequacy ratio (CAD), and asset growth ratio (GA) were used as proxy independent variables to gauge capital structure. Using a quantitative approach and an explanatory research design, this study analyzes 6 years of audited financial reports from 14 commercial banks in Ethiopia. This investigation employs a random effect regression model and Stata 14 software package to explore the relationships among these variables. The result revealed that both the loan-to-deposit ratio and the total deposit-to-total asset ratio have a positive and significant impact on financial performance, while the asset growth ratio showed a negative effect. Based on these findings, this study recommends that bank authorities concentrate on bolstering their deposit base, managing asset growth efficiently, maintaining adequate capital levels, and optimizing leverage levels to improve financial performance and ensure long-term sustainability in the banking sector. Additionally, this research is anticipated to inform policymakers about regulatory frameworks for banks and assist banking managers in formulating effective capital financing strategies within the Ethiopian commercial banking sector, thus enriching the existing literature on the relationship between capital structure and financial performance.

Do Peers and National Culture Matter for Capital Structure Decisions of Emerging Market Corporations?

The study investigated how national culture acts as a mediating factor in the connection between peer effects and corporate capital structure in enterprises from emerging market nations. The methodology employs a two-stage least squares technique, incorporating fixed effects and an instrumental variable approach, to analyze the regression results obtained from ordinary least squares. The results indicate that the level of influence exerted by peers is significant for a firm when determining its own level of leverage. Furthermore, it has been noted that enterprises tend to adopt similar cultural traits as their peers, such as minimal power distance, high uncertainty avoidance, individualism and masculinity. Hence, managers may consider their peers’ decisions on leverage in the industry while making assessments about the appropriate level of leverage for their own company. Furthermore, as emerging economies often encounter perplexing and uncertain circumstances, obtaining reliable information from peers’ financial decisions can potentially mitigate the duration and cost associated with making this crucial decision.

Activity of light industry in Russia in the conditions of mobilization events in the field of economy

The purpose of the article is to establish the principles of organizing the light industry and adjacent sectors of the Russian economy in the context of mobilization activities in the economy, in order to ensure the uninterrupted supply of products to meet the needs of the troops within the framework of the state order. Methods. The industry analysis is carried out under two main assumptions: a) the industry should be reformed, on the terms of public-private mobilization partnership (PPMP); b) relations between the light industry and related economic sectors should be built on the terms of an inter-industry syndicate (cluster, strategic alliance). The assessment of the stability of companies in the light industry sector is carried out on the basis of a matrix aggregate calculator (MAC). The return on equity of companies is analyzed using the DuPont formula. Results. Based on the simulation results, it is shown that the industry maintains economic stability provided that three basic conditions are met: a) it maintains an irreducible net profitability at the level of 5–7 %; b) forms an irreducible turnover of its assets at the level of 1.5 times a year; c) is credited by the state under the supplier’s factoring scheme, which gives a level of financial leverage of about 1.6. All this together should lead to a return on industry equity (ROE) of about 20 % per annum, which guarantees a rapid attraction of private capital to the industry, with the issuance of additional state guarantees for capital protection (a real option for business). Discussion. A more detailed modeling of sectoral economic stability requires the correct selection of modeling factors by groups: Threats, Opportunities, BSC, Risks, Chances, Decisions. A special modeling of the industry corporate culture is needed, using the approaches of related specialties. Conclusion. The GFMP principle guarantees the sustainable functioning of the Russian economy in the conditions of a period of maximum and medium levels of response and high readiness. The conventional wisdom that it is possible to ensure the sovereignty of the country by keeping the peacetime economy in the rear is untenable.

Reconciling Open Interest with Traded Volume in Perpetual Swaps

Perpetual swaps are derivative contracts that allow traders to speculate on, or hedge, the price movements of cryptocurrencies. Unlike futures contracts, perpetual swaps have no settlement or expiration in the traditional sense. The funding rate acts as the mechanism that tethers the perpetual swap to its underlying with the help of arbitrageurs. Open interest, in the context of perpetual swaps and derivative contracts in general, refers to the total number of outstanding contracts at a given point in time. It is a critical metric in derivatives markets as it can provide insight into market activity, sentiment and overall liquidity. It also provides a way to estimate a lower bound on the collateral required for every cryptocurrency market on an exchange. This number, cumulated across all markets on the exchange in combination with proof of reserves, can be used to gauge whether the exchange in question operates with unsustainable levels of leverage, which could have solvency implications. We find that open interest in Bitcoin perpetual swaps is systematically misquoted by some of the largest derivatives exchanges; however, the degree varies, with some exchanges reporting open interest that is wholly implausible to others that seem to be delaying messages of forced trades, i.e., liquidations. We identify these incongruities by analyzing tick-by-tick data for two time periods in 2023 by connecting directly to seven of the most liquid cryptocurrency derivatives exchanges.

An Empirical Study of the Relationship Between Digital Transformation, Corporate Social Responsibility and Financial Performance

The article investigates the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and digital transformation (DT) on corporate financial performance (CFP) indicators, as well as the moderating effect of DT on the relationship between CSR and CFP indicators. The study was conducted using Stata 17.0 software based on data (5709 observations) on 558 A-share listed manufacturing companies of the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock for 2012-2021 (excluding financial and insurance companies, ST and ST* companies, as well as companies with incomplete data). The independent variable used in the modelling process is the CSR rating report of the Hexun website, indicators of which are reconstructed by dividing them into strategic CSR (shareholder responsibility, employee responsibility, customer responsibility) and altruistic CSR (environmental responsibility and social contribution). The dependent variable is 2 CFP indicators: return on equity (ROE) and TOBIN’s Q. The DT index is used as a moderating variable, for the calculation of which the texts of companies’ annual reports were segmented using the Python programming language and standardised data on the frequency of keywords in 4 dimensions: digital technology application, Internet business model, intelligent manufacturing and contemporary information system; the weights for each dimension index was determined using the entropy approach. The control variables are corporate assets (Size), financial leverage level (Lev), current ratio (Cur), firm growth (Gro), shareholding ratio of the largest shareholder (First) and technological innovation (RD) of companies. The study also considered the year and industry factors. To study the moderating effect of DT on the relationship between CSR and CFP indicators of companies in different situations, the grouping variables chosen were the ownership type (state-owned and non-state-owned companies), the enterprise lifecycle (cash flow portfolio method was used to identify its stages) and the degree of market competition (Herfindahl-Hirschman Index). The modelling is based on a fixed-effects regression model. The study found that both CSR and DT have a positive impact on CFP, and that DT moderates the relationship between CSR and CFP, indicating that integrating digital technologies with sustainable development strategies can enhance financial benefits. The study also highlights the importance of different dimensions of corporate social responsibility. A high level of digital transformation strengthens the promotion effect of strategic social responsibility on current and future financial success of companies. Meanwhile, the promotion effect of altruistic social responsibility on current financial performance is significant. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the positive moderating effect of digital transformation on the relationship between corporate social responsibility and financial performance mainly applies to private firms, firms in the mature stage, and firms with low market competition. The article offers practical advice for businesses seeking to use digital transformation to maximise economic and social value.

Quantifying the impact of interest rate volatility on Asian energy companies: A comparative study of fossil and renewable sectors

This study examines the impact of government bond yield volatility on companies in the fossil and renewable energy sectors in five Asian countries from 2015 to 2023. The analysis uses quantile-based methods to explore the spillover effects of yield volatility on companies with high and low debt levels in these sectors. The findings show that yield volatility tends to transmit shocks at lower quantiles and over shorter periods. The network connectedness is more critical at extreme upper and lower quantiles in the short term. The results also reveal significant differences in how yield volatility affects companies with high and low leverage levels, and these effects vary across the sample countries. Overall, this research provides valuable insights into the influence of yield volatility on financial decision-making in different contexts and industries. The study's results underscore the imperative for policymakers and stakeholders in the energy industry to give precedence to improving risk management methods.

Does Female Board Presence Moderate on the Relationship between Board Characteristic and Capital Structure? Evidence from Nigeria Listed Firms

Does Female Board Presence Moderate on the Relationship between Board Characteristic and Capital Structure? Evidence from Nigeria Listed Firms

The Effect of Leverage, Capital Intensity, Company Size, and Independent Commissioners on Tax Aggressiveness of Property and Real Estate Company Listed on Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) for the Period 2016 – 2020

This study aims to determine and analyse the effect of Leverage, Capital Intensity, Company Size, and Independent Commissioners on the Tax Aggressiveness of Property and Real Estate Companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) for the period 2016 – 2020. Using quantitative methods with associative relationships. The population in this study are Property and Real Estate Companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange, with a sample of 17 companies. Sampling was done by using purposive sampling method. Data analysis technique used multiple linear regression. The results of the research shows that Leverage has an effect on Tax Aggressiveness. Meanwhile, Capital Intensity, Company Size, and Independent Commissioner have no effect on Tax Aggressiveness. This can be interpreted that the level of Leverage can affect Tax Aggressiveness of Property and Real Estate Companies.

A Survey of Private Debt Funds

Abstract Despite its large and increasing size in the United States and Europe, the private debt (PD) market, compared to the bank and syndicated loan markets, has been researched little. In this paper, we survey U.S. and European investors with private debt assets under management (AuM) of over $390 billion. These investors are primarily direct lending funds. We ask the general partners (GPs) how they source, select, and evaluate deals; how they think of private debt relative to bank and syndicated loan financing; how they monitor their investments; how they interact with private equity (PE) sponsors; and how they view the future of the market. Respondents provide primarily cash-flow-based loans and believe that they finance companies and leverage levels that banks would not fund. Direct lending funds target unlevered returns that appear high relative to their risk. They use leverage in their funds, but appreciably less than banks and collateralized loan obligation funds (CLOs). They use and negotiate for both financial and negative covenants to monitor their investments. The presence of PE sponsors helps them lend more and craft more effective covenants. U.S. and European funds are similar along many dimensions, but European funds rely less on PE sponsors and compete more with banks. Overall, the private debt market is both different from and shares characteristics with bank loan and syndicated loan markets. (JEL G23, G30, G32)

The Analysis of Financial Reporting Quality and Firm Value

The objective of this research is to obtain empirical evidence about the effect of financial reporting quality on firm value. Financial reporting quality is measured using two proxies, accrual quality through Ball-Shivakumar Model (AQ) and earnings management through Modified Jones Model (EM). Firm value is measured using share price, Price to Book Value, Tobin’s Q, and Market Value-Added. Control variables used are leverage (Debt to Equity Ratio), profitability (Return on Asset), and firm size (ln total assets). This study focuses on manufacturing businesses that were listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange during the years 2018 and 2021. The sample was chosen through a purposive sampling technique, specifically targeting companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange that operate in the manufacturing sector and provide audited financial statements. Analyzed the secondary data utilizing descriptive statistics, normality test, classical assumption tests, and hypothesis testing. The findings of this investigation are (1) AQ has no effect on share price, PBV, Tobin’s Q and MVA (2) EM has positive and significant effect on all proxies of firm value, except MVA. The quality of financial reporting, the level of leverage, the size of the firm, and its profitability all have a simultaneous and considerable impact on the value of the firm.

Digital inclusive finance: A lever for SME financing?

This paper systematically investigates the relationship between digital inclusive finance and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) financing constraints. We extrapolate the influence model between them from an economic theory perspective and conduct an empirical test using two-way fixed effects and a mediation effect model. The results show: (1) Digital inclusive finance significantly alleviates the financing constraints of SMEs; (2) Compared to the breadth of coverage, the depth of use of digital inclusive finance has a more noticeable effect; (3) The alleviation effect of digital inclusive finance exhibits heterogeneity. It can correct the attribute mismatch, field mismatch, and regional mismatch of traditional financial loan services; (4) Digital inclusive finance alleviates SME financing constraints by reducing financing costs and controlling leverage levels, increasing internal sources of enterprise funds. This research is significant for promoting digital inclusive finance to alleviate the financing difficulties of SMEs in China and provides valuable solutions for other countries to mitigate the “Macmillan Gap” phenomenon.

The impact of financial ratios on financial distress in the transportation sector

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of various financial ratios on the financial instability of companies, with particular emphasis on the profitability ratio of Return on Assets (ROA), liquidity ratio of Current Ratio (CR), activity ratio of Total Assets Turnover (TATO), and solvency ratio of Debt to Assets Ratio (DAR). The study employs secondary data and selective selection to choose a sample of thirteen transport companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) between 2020 and 2022. The study utilised multiple linear regression analysis methods, employing SPSS as the testing programme. The Altman Z-Score method was employed to prioritise the financial distress component. The results indicated that the liquidity ratio, a component of the activity ratio, had a positive impact on financial distress, suggesting that more liquidity might be associated with increased financial hardship. Conversely, the utilisation of leverage was discovered to have an adverse impact on financial distress, indicating that elevated levels of leverage may reduce the likelihood of financial hardship for the selected entities. This study offers useful insights into the intricate relationship between particular financial statistics and the financial distress situation of organisations. It provides a detailed comprehension of how the interplay between liquidity, leverage, and activity dynamics affects the overall financial health of transport companies in the Indonesian stock market.

The Effect of Profitability, Liquidity and Leverage Ratios on Internet Financial Reporting and Company Size as Moderating Variables During The Covid 19 Pandemic (An Empirical Study on the BEI Various Industries Sub-Sector)

Internet media has become a tool that provides a means for open company financial reporting as information for external parties because openness can reduce the level of information asymmetry that can occur in financial reports, so that it can accelerate company growth. The nature and characteristics of the internet which is easy to spread (pervasiveness), knows no borders (borderlessness), is timely (real time), low cost (low cost), makes disclosing information via the company website easier in finding all the necessary information related to the company, without having to incur high costs, Abdillah (2015). The development of the internet has created a new way of conveying company financial report information, namely using the Internet Financial Repoting (IFR) system, Yuli Kurniawati (2018). Every company has had many improvements in terms of company profits. Profitability is an indicator measuring management performance in managing company assets which can be shown by increasing profits that can be generated by the company. By indicating that the greater the company's profitability value, the company has good performance management. The liquidity ratio is an indicator of the level of a company's ability to pay short-term obligations. If the company is illiquid, there is a tendency for the company to experience bankruptcy. The ratio is prorated using the Current Ratio, which is about the comparison between current assets and current liabilities. The leverage ratio is a ratio that is an indicator of a company's capital structure. A high level of leverage can encourage management to carry out Internet Financial Reporting to take advantage of opportunities for good information from the company. Company size is a description of how big or small a company is, which can be measured by the size of the asset value, total sales, or the market value of the company's equity. Profitability and leverage influence the Internet Financial Report, while liquidity has no influence on the Internet Financial Report. Size can strengthen the influence of leverage on the Internet Financial Report, while size cannot strengthen the influence of profitability and liquidity on the Internet Financial Report

Pengaruh Informasi Keuangan dan Non Keuangan Terhadap Initial Return pada Perusahaan yang Melakukan IPO di Bursa Efek Indonesia pada Tahun 2019-2021

This study aims to determine the effect of financial and non financial information as measured by Earning per Share (EPS), Return On Assets (ROA), Debt to Equity Ratio (DER), Leverage Level and Company Age on Intial return in companies that conduct an IPO and be listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange.The type of research used in this research is quantitative research. The sample in this study is a manufacturing company that conducts an initial public offering (IPO) and is listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2019-2021 using the purposive sampling method. Purposive sampling is a sampling technique with certain criteria which results in a total sample of 23 companies. The type of data used in this research is quantitative data in the form of annual financial reports. Data sources used in data collection include secondary data. The data analysis classical assumptions. The purpose showed that partially based on the T-Test Earning Per Share (EPS) had a positive and significant effect on Initial Return. Return On Asset (ROA), Debt To Equity Ratio (DER), Leverage Level and Company Age have no effect on Intial Return.