I provide evidence on the inefficient internal capital market hypothesis by examining the separation of a conglomerate through a spinoff. I document that (i) pre-spinoff firms are valued less than a portfolio of the industry matched single segment firms be cause headquarters allocates funds...

Within diversified firms, the negative impact of leverage on investment is significantly greater for high q than for low q segments, and significantly greater for non-core than for core segments. This is consistent with the view that diversified firms allocate a disproportionate share of their...

We analyze changes in investment policy following 106 spinoffs completed by diversified firms between 1981 and 1996. Prior to the spinoff, the sample firms are valued at a discount relative to a portfolio of comparable single-segment firms, and allocate funds inefficiently, investing too little...