We build a model of debt for firms with investment projects, for which flexibility and free cash flow problems are important issues. We focus on the factors that lead the firm to select the zero-debt policy. Our model provides an explanation of the so-called "zero-leverage puzzle". It also helps...

This study examines the whether or not family firms are financially healthier than non-family in terms of capital structure and leverage. It therefore takes into consideration the existence of any significant differences between the leverage and risk choices of family and non-family firms. Using...

We provide a fresh look at the performance of the stock prices of firms that launched an IPO between 2009 and 2019 and assess the role of their size, age and sector in affecting future performance. We utilize data about 1611 IPOs spanning 11 economic sectors using the event study method. We...

Using a large database of U.S. mergers and acquisitions (M&As) announced from 2010 through 2017, we examine the effects of capital ratio (leverage) on the announcement period stock price reaction as well as on longer-term stock returns and performance, for banks, making comparisons with...

We study the bond price reaction of a merged firms peers, in order to better understand how the market responds to a restructuring. We argue that a merger announcement may signal the possibility of a merger wave to the industry, and in doing so, increase the conditional probability that peer...

We provide evidence on leverage and debt maturity targeting in a large international setting. There are key differences in the relative importance of institutional factors in explaining actual as opposed to target capital structures. Targets and target deviations are plausibly influenced by the...

We study the financial determinants of cash holdings and discuss the importance of firm size in the post-crisis period. We employ panel data regression analysis on a sample of 6629 non-financial and non-utility listed companies in the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2018. We focus on the comparative...

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...

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between a firm’s capital structure (i.e., leverage) and its operating environment, taking into account firm (i.e., efficiency, asset structure, profitability, size, age and risk) and industry effects. For a sample of Greek...

Using US firms with over $5b market cap, this paper tests the impact of levered beta on the firm’s market value and optimal capital structure. Using the synthetic rating method in a recursive model, the paper shows the current and optimal weighted average cost of capital sensitivities as the...