We analyze the valuation effect of board industry experience and channels through which industry experience of outside directors affects firm value. Firms with more experienced outside directors are valued at a premium compared to firms with less experienced outside directors. Additional tests...

We use a dynamic adjustment model and panel methodology to investigatethe determinants of a time- varying optimal capital structure. Because firmsmay temporarily deviate from their optimal capital structure in the presenceof adjustment costs, we also endogenize the adjustment process. In partic...

We use a dynamic framework and panel methodology to investigate the determinants of a time-varying corporate capital structure. Our sample comprises 706 European firms from France, Germany, Italy and the U.K. over the period from 1983 to 2002. If capital structure adjustment is costly, firms may...

Using a panel of 425 European firms over the period from 1990 to 2005, we revisit Welch's (2004) finding that stock returns are the primary determinant of capital structure changes and that corporate motives for net issuing activities are largely a mystery. We document that roughly half of the...

We use a dynamic framework and panel methodology to investigate thedeterminants of a firms’ time-varying capital structure. Our sample comprises706 European firms from France, Germany, Italy and the U.K. overthe period from 1983 to 2002. If capital structure adjustment is costly, firmsmay...

It is often argued that Black-Scholes (1973) values overstate the subjectivevalue of stock options granted to risk-averse and under-diversified executives.We construct a “representative” Swiss executive and extend the certainty-equivalence approach presented by Hall and Murphy (2002) to...

We analyze the zero-leverage phenomenon around the world. Countries with a common law system, high creditor protection, and a dividend imputation or dividend relief tax system exhibit the highest percentage of zero-leverage firms. The increasing prevalence of zero-leverage firms in all sample...

We use a dynamic adjustment model and panel methodology to investigate the determinants of a time- varying optimal capital structure. Because firms may temporarily deviate from their optimal capital structure in the presence of adjustment costs, we also endogenize the adjustment process. In...