Analysis of the impact mechanism of environmental regulations on corporate environmental proactivity—based on the perspective of political connections

Previous studies have demonstrated the favorable effects of political connections on corporate environmental proactivity (CEP). However, few studies have further verified whether this is definitively the case under environmental regulations and their underlying reasons, which would help elucidate the performance and motivation of politically connected firms’ (PCFs’) environmental proactivity. Using data from Chinese A-shares-listed industrial firms from 2010 to 2016, we find that environmental regulations can significantly improve CEP. Compared with non-politically connected firms (NPCFs), PCFs are more responsive to environmental regulations. Counterfactual analysis based on corporate resource conditions suggests that firms that are more supported by government in debt financing and show higher environmental proactivity are only found in PCF samples. In order to maintain this political relationship and continuously obtain debt financing support, PCFs tend to “bind” their business decisions to the government’s environmental governance objectives and display higher environmental proactivity. In summary, PCFs’ environmental proactivity involves self-interest decisions based on their resource conditions.     

The Effects of Ownership Structure on Corporate Financing Decisions: Evidence from Stock Market Liberalization

We analyze the impact of firm‐specific stock market liberalization events on the capital structure and debt maturity decisions of firms from emerging market economies. We differentiate between firms based on their ownership structures at the time of liberalization and analyze their post‐liberalization behavior regarding corporate financing decisions. Our empirical results show that single–class‐share firms (typically with stronger corporate governance and better information environments) respond differently to their dual–class‐share counterparts. Liberalization results in lower debt reliance for the former group while the latter lengthen the maturity of their debt portfolios. Jel Classification: F30; G15; G32.     

Environmental,Social, and Governance (ESG) Profiles,Stock Returns,and Financial Policy: Australian Evidence

This study investigates the independent effects of environmental (E), social (S), corporate governance (G), and the composite ESG ratings on stock returns and corporate financing decisions of the largest stocks in the Australian equity market. Firms with high composite ESG ratings tend to increase their leverage. For the individual ratings, we find different inferences: firms with low E and high G ratings tend to raise less debt. Firms with high G ratings hold less cash, while those with low G ratings have lower dividend payouts. S ratings have no impact on corporate financing decisions. There appears to be no significant difference in risk‐adjusted returns for portfolios based on ESG ratings, effectively indicating that there is no cost of ESG investment.     

Does the decision to issue public debt affect firm valuation? Russian evidence

This paper examines the association between firm valuation and the sources of debt financing. In particular, using a sample of 353 firms, we test whether the decision to issue bonds affects the firm's stock market performance in the emerging Russian markets. Our results indicate that public debt financing may have a negative effect on the firm's market valuation. After controlling for the differences in firm-specific characteristics and addressing potential endogeneity issues, we document that the firms which rely on public debt underperform relative to firms with other sources of debt financing in terms of stock market valuation.     

Succession financing in family firms

Business succession is one of the primary management challenges for family firms. However, many family firms fail at this task because of financial issues. Although a vast number of studies have investigated the succession process, research thus far has failed to determine how and why family firms select particular forms of financing for succession-related expenditures. Accordingly, this study conceptually and empirically investigates succession financing. We introduce a conceptual framework that investigates the reasons behind an owner-manager’s intent to use debt for succession financing. Specifically, our model accounts for general and succession-related personal factors. However, we also include a set of firm-specific financing behavioral controls in our research. The empirical results are derived from a sample of 187 German family firms, and the results highlight financial knowledge, attitudes, succession experience, and succession planning as significant determinants of the owner-managers’ debt usage intentions. The implications and avenues for future research are discussed.     

我国上市公司债务融资结构存在的问题及对策研究

债务融资水平的高低及期限结构与公司绩效密切相关,与债务融资相关的决策亦构成公司重要的财务决策内容。目前,在我国市场制度不健全,监督管理体系不完善及我国特有政策性等问题的作用下,国内上市公司债务融资比率普遍偏低,债务融资结构治理普遍低效,这对优化融资结构,推进我国债券市场发展,加强银行作为债权人的治理作用以及完善经理人市场,提高我国上市公司经营绩效提出了较高要求。我国应推进公司债券市场发展,优化上市公司股权结构,加强银行作为债权人的治理作用,完善和发展经理人市场,完善企业破产机制,以此来改善我国债务融资状况及发挥债务融资的治理作用。     

我国制药行业上市公司资本结构的实证分析

2001年以来,医疗制度改革、GMP达标、加入WTO及OTC市场竞争的加剧等,使我国制药企业的产业环境发生了巨大变化,进而对制药企业的融资策略及资本结构决策行为也构成影响。在此背景下,本文以2002年深沪两市制药行业上市公司为样本,对影响我国制药行业上市公司资本结构的主要因素进行了实证分析,结果表明:增长期权对债务筹集能力显著正相关;销售费用融资主要来源于长期资本;规模对公司债务筹资能力具有正效应;公司的资产担保价值与长期负债比率正相关;产生内部资源的能力与短期债务间存在相互替代性;成长性、经营风险、非债务税盾和投资对资本结构的影响不大。     

Corporate governance in emerging markets: A survey

This paper reviews recent research on corporate governance, with a special focus on emerging markets. It finds that better corporate governance benefit firms through greater access to financing, lower cost of capital, better performance, and more favorable treatment of all stakeholders. Numerous studies show these channels to operate at the level of firms, sectors and countries—with causality increasingly often clearly identified. Evidence also shows that voluntary and market corporate governance mechanisms have less effect when a country's governance system is weak. Importantly, how corporate governance regimes change over time and how this impacts firms are receiving more attention recently. Less evidence is available on the direct links between corporate governance and social and environmental performance. The paper concludes by identifying issues requiring further study, including the special corporate governance issues of banks, and family-owned and state-owned firms, and the nature and determinants of public and private enforcement.     

Capital Structure Decisions During a Firm's Life Cycle

The study reported here examines the financing choices of small and medium-sized firms, i.e., those most vulnerable to information and incentive problems, through the lens of the business life cycle. We argue that the controversy in the empirical literature regarding the determinants of capital structure decisions is based on a failure to take into account the different degrees of information opacity, and, consequently, firms' characteristics and needs at specific stages of their life cycles. The results show that, in a bank-oriented country, firms tend to adopt specific financing strategies and a different hierarchy of financial decision-making as they progress through the phases of their business life cycle. Contrary to conventional wisdom, debt is shown to be fundamental to business activities in the early stages, representing the first choice. By contrast, in the maturity stage, firms re-balance their capital structure, gradually substituting debt for internal capital, and for firms that have consolidated their business, the pecking-order theory shows a high degree of application. This financial life-cycle pattern seems to be homogeneous for different industries and consistent over time.     

Capital structure decision making: A model for family business

Most theoretical and empirical studies of capital structure focus on public corporations. Only a limited number of studies on capital structure have been conducted on small-to-medium size enterprises (SMEs), and this deficiency is particularly evident in investigations into factors that influence funding decisions of family business owners.Theory indicates that there is a complex array of factors that influence SME owner-managers' financing decisions. Recent family business literature suggests that these processes are influenced by firm owners' attitudes toward the utility of debt as a form of funding as moderated by external environmental conditions (e.g., financial and market considerations).A number of other factors have been shown to influence financing decisions including culture; entrepreneurial characteristics; entrepreneurs' prior experiences in capital structure; business goals; business life-cycle issues; preferred ownership structures; views regarding control, debt–equity ratios, and short- vs. long-term debt; age and size of the firm; sources of funding for growth; attitudes toward debt financing; issues relating to independence and control; and perceived risk and attitudes toward personal risk.Although these factors have been identified, until now there does not appear to have been any attempts to develop empirically-based models that show relationships between these factors and family business owners' financing decisions. Utilizing theories derived from divergent disciplines, this study develops an empirically tested structural equation model of financing antecedents of family businesses. Participants of our study involved a random sample of 5000 business owners who were mailed a 250-item Australian Family and Private Business questionnaire developed specifically for this investigation.Notably, our findings reveal that firm size, family control, business planning, and business objectives are significantly associated with debt. Small family businesses and owners who do not have formal planning processes in place tend to rely on family loans as a source of finance. However, family businesses in the service industry (e.g., retailers and wholesalers) are less likely to use family loans as are those owners who are planning to achieve growth through new products or process development. Use of capital and retained profits is likely for family businesses planning to achieve growth through an increase in sales but less is likely for family businesses in the manufacturing sector and lifestyle firms. In addition, debt and family loans are negatively related to capital and retained profits. Equity is a consideration for owners of large businesses, young firms, and owners who plan to achieve growth through increasing profit margins. However, equity is less likely to be a consideration for older family business owners and owners who have a preference for retaining family control.Our findings suggest that the interplay between multiple social, family, and financial factors is complex. In addition, our findings indicate the importance of utilizing theories that also help to explain behavioral factors (e.g., owners' needs to be in control) that affect financial structure decision-making processes. Practitioners and researchers should consider the dynamic interplay among business characteristics (e.g., size or industry), behavioral aspects of business financing (e.g., business objectives), and financial factors (e.g., gearing levels) when working with and researching family enterprises.     

Internal vs External Financing of R&D

The empirical evidence suggests that while small firms in United States, United Kingdom and Canada rely on internal funds for financing R&D, similar firms in Japan, Germany and France have access to bank loans. In this paper, we analyze the financial decisions of small firms willing to invest in R&D. We find that their high ratio of intangible assets, along with the high risk nature of their investments, can explain their inability to raise debt in external capital markets. We also show that financing R&D with bank loans might be feasible, especially, if banks are willing to monitor the investment activities of their clients.     

财务松弛对公司业绩的影响研究——基于融资约束和代理成本的视角

财务松弛政策由现金持有政策和负债冗余政策组成.文章以我国1998-2007年的上市公司为实证研究对象分析财务松弛对企业绩效的影响,并进一步分析代理成本和融资约束对财务松弛经济后果的影响.研究发现财务松弛和企业业绩正相关,融资约束进一步提升了企业财务松弛的价值,对财务松弛-业绩敏感性产生显著正向影响,代理成本对财务松弛-业绩敏感性的负向影响只在非融资约束的情况下较为明显.     

Financial Attitudes in Family Firms: The Moderating Role of Family Commitment

This study investigates how family commitment moderates whether and how financial knowledge, positive experience with debt suppliers, and economic goal orientation affect owner–managers' attitudes toward debt financing in family firms. Using a sample of 280 German family firms, we find significant relationships between both financial knowledge and positive experience with debt suppliers and owner–managers' financial attitudes toward debt. Our findings show that family commitment moderates these relationships such that high family commitment increases the impact of prior experience with debt suppliers, though the effect of economic goal orientation is lowered and reversed. Overall, we contribute to research on financial decision making, capital structure, and social capital in family firms.     

Stock listing and financial flexibility

A stock listing usually reflects easy access to external equity financing. Although scant empirical evidence exists on the matter, the literature suggests that the enhanced standing towards creditors - which would result in easier access to debt financing - is an extra advantage of being publicly quoted. This paper tests whether a stock listing leads to more flexibility of debt financing, using a data set of listed and comparably large unlisted companies. The data reveals that listing mainly increases the flexible use of debt financing. The difference between listed and unlisted firms is most apparent when investment opportunities tend to arrive in low-cash-flow states. Furthermore, as the unlisted firms in the dataset are all large consolidating business groups, the results indicate that a group structure does not substitute for listing. The results are robust to different estimation methods.     

Financing Small Technology-Based Companies: The Relationship between Familiarity with Capital and Ability to Price and Negotiate Investment

This study examines the financing of small technology-based firms. Specifically, the study investigates the familiarity of owners of small technology-based firms with alternative forms of capital by stage of development and in comparison with their ability to price and negotiate external equity and debt investment. The results indicate that owners are most familiar with traditional sources of capital, somewhat less familiar with capital commonly used to fund growth, and least familiar with government funding initiatives. Owners believe that they are better able to negotiate than to price equity and debt. The perceived ability to negotiate and price externally funded investments increases as the firm matures through the various stages of development.     

Institutions and corporate capital structure in the MENA region

This paper provides novel evidence on firm- and country-level determinants of firm capital structure decisions in the MENA region. Using a sample of 444 listed firms from ten countries, over the 2003–2011 period, we find that MENA firms have target leverage ratios towards which they adjust over time. Yet, the speed of adjustment varies from one country to another. Our findings also suggest that some firm-level factors are associated with leverage consistent with the trade-off and pecking order theories of capital structure. We further find robust evidence that better institutional quality leads firms to use more debt.     

The environmental effect of trade liberalization: Evidence from China's manufacturing firms

While prior literature on trade liberalisation and the environment has mostly focused on the macroeconomic ramifications, this study explores at the firm level whether and how changes of trade barriers brought about by China's accession to the WTO may impact on its manufacturing firms’ environmental performance. Adopting a difference-in-differences (DID) methodology, we document the effects of tariff reductions on improving firm-level SO2 emission intensity, and the key corporate strategic decisions responsible for delivering the observed results, with robustness tests covering other major pollutants. In response to trade liberalisation, firms are found to increase labour resources for environmental protection and to improve their production processes to reduce emission intensity. This study contributes to the literature by investigating at the level of the operating firm how output and input tariff reductions may impact on environmental performance and uncovering for the first time the specific actions responsible for the results.     

零杠杆现象演变趋势与公司财务特征

零杠杆现象在我国上市公司中普遍存在,零杠杆公司占比逐年增长。研究发现, IPO重启、股票市场层次以及行业效应有助于解释逐年递增的零杠杆趋势。从财务特征来看,零杠杆公司规模小、年龄小、非债务税盾大、成长机会大、资产有形性低、现金流充裕、盈利性高、留存收益多、资本支出少;同时,零杠杆公司普遍受到融资约束,这意味着融资难的局面尚未改善,中小企业自身以及外部资本市场需要继续努力。     

Relationship lending and SME financing in the continental European bank-based system

This paper analyzes the relationship between banks and SMEs in the continental European bank-based system. We find that SMEs with longer bank relationships have enhanced access to loans, but at the same time they bear a higher cost for their debt. We also find that firms maintaining two bank relationships get the cheapest debt, which establishes a limit for the degree of concentration of bank relationships. Our results also show that the existence of trust between firm and bank improves access to financing and reduces the borrowing costs, whereas it increases the likelihood that guarantees will have to be provided. As a consequence, it seems that a relationship based on trust is a better strategy to improve SMEs’ access to finance than the establishment of longer or more concentrated relationships.     

Pecking order and debt capacity considerations for high-growth companies seeking financing

This paper examines incremental financing decisions within high-growth businesses. A large longitudinal dataset, free of survivorship bias, to cover financing events of high-growth businesses for up to 8 years is analyzed. The empirical evidence shows that profitable businesses prefer to finance investments with retained earnings, even if they have unused debt capacity. External equity is particularly important for unprofitable businesses with high debt levels, limited cash flows, high risk of failure or significant investments in intangible assets. These findings are consistent with the extended pecking order theory controlling for constraints imposed by debt capacity. It suggests that new equity issues are particularly important to allow high-growth businesses to grow beyond their debt capacity.