Theory suggests that management may be able to increase firm value through the strategic use of debt when facing contingent liabilities. This paper examines whether managers strategically use financial policy when facing the risk of one such liability – litigation claims. I find that greater...

A deep-ingrained doctrine in asset pricing says that if an empirical characteristic-return relation is consistent with investor “rationality,” the relation must be “explained” by a risk (factor) model. The investment approach questions the doctrine. Factors formed on characteristics are...

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between dividend policy and share price volatility with a focus on consumer product companies listed in Malaysian stock market. For this purpose, a sample of 84 companies from 142 consumer product companies listed in main market of Bursa...

Corporate finance theory provides both precise and approximate formulas for the maximum growth rate of a firm, typically called the internal growth rate (when no external funds are permitted) and the sustainable growth rate (when the capital structure is held fixed). The assumption in these...

Corporate finance theory provides both precise and approximate formulas for the maximum growth rate of a firm, typically called the internal growth rate (when no external funds are permitted) and the sustainable growth rate (when the capital structure is held fixed). The assumption in these...

There are two types of stock dividend in the Chinese stock market. This paper examines them in the period of 1997-2008. Empirical findings indicate that the stock dividend effect appears twice. The average abnormal return is 0.88% on the stock dividend proposal date and 0.35% on the stock...

There are two types of stock dividend in the Chinese stock market. This paper examines them in the period of 1997-2008. Empirical findings indicate that the stock dividend effect appears twice. The average abnormal return is 0.88% on the stock dividend proposal date and 0.35% on the stock...

We empirically investigate the adoption of stock option plans in Japan after the corporate governance reforms of the early 2000s. We examine the determinants of stock option grants, especially focusing on the effects of herding behavior among Japanese firms and the change of accounting treatment...

The paper provides review of Modigliani-Miller capital structure irrelevance proposition and its development since 1958. The paper suggests some pedagogical insights and introduce risk-shifting interpretations of the MM model. We also discuss shapes of cost of debt and cost of equity functions...