Should the cost of capital, used in connection with goodwill impairment testing, vary across countries?

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Elie Salameh

Learning outcomes Through the discussion of this case, students will have better understanding of the conceptual stakes related to accounting treatment for goodwill and factors determining goodwill impairment testing. The case also discusses the determination of the cost of capital and the impact of taking into account certain factors related to country risk for determining the discount rate in an international framework. Case overview/synopsis Greenfields Company continues to expand through acquisitions in emerging markets. The company aims to overcome the complexity of measuring goodwill subsequent to the initial recognition. The case was written to illustrate challenges of estimating the appropriate discount rate to be used in the goodwill impairment testing as investments in emerging countries give rise to many discount rate measurement problems such as the availability of statistical data and the risk assessment to be considered. Complexity academic level The case can be used at undergraduate or postgraduate level and it requires fundamental knowledge in accounting and corporate finance. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 1: Accounting and Finance.

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Eduardo Luis Montiel ◽  
Octavio Martinez

Learning outcomes These are the three most important learning outcomes: discuss the relevance of capital asset pricing model (CAPM) as the methodology to estimate the cost of equity for an investment in an emerging market; analyze the different alternatives to estimate country risk discussing the pros and cons of each. Consider the additional complexity in estimating the cost of equity, contrasting the perspective of a local, non-diversified investor with that of a multinational company operating in 39 countries. Case overview/synopsis The Chief Financial Officer of a business group has to determine the correct discount rate for an investment in a new hotel in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The group has traditionally used the same discount rate for all projects and is now presented with several alternatives by his team. Estimating the correct country risk adjustment for the project is an important challenge. He knows that there is no clear solution to this challenge that is accepted by all practitioners and academics, but he has to present a recommendation to the board. Complexity academic level The case study is designed for corporate finance, appraisal or international finance courses in both MBA and executive training programs. To discuss this case study, students are assumed to have been already exposed to the weighted average cost of capital and the CAPM. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email [email protected] to request teaching notes. Subject code CSS 1: Accounting and finance.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Abdollahi ◽  
Mehdi Safari Gerayli ◽  
Yasser Rezaei Pitenoei ◽  
Davood Hassanpour ◽  
Fatemeh Riahi

Purpose A long history of literature has considered the role of information risk in determining the cost of equity. The question that has remained unanswered is whether information risk plays any systematic role in determining the cost of equity. One of the fundamental decisions that every business needs to make is to assess where to invest its funds and to re-evaluate, at regular intervals, the quality of its existing investments. The cost of capital is the most important yardstick to evaluate such decisions. Greater information is associated with the lower cost of capital via mitigating transaction costs and/or reducing estimation risk and stock returns. This study aims to investigate the impact of information risk on the cost of equity and corporate stock returns. Design/methodology/approach The research sample consists of 960 firm-year observations for companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange from 2009 to 2018. The research hypotheses were tested using multivariate regression models based on panel data. Findings The results reveal that information risk has a significant positive impact on the firm’s cost of equity. However, the impact of information risk on stock returns is not statistically significant. Originality/value To the best of the knowledge, the current study is almost the first of its kind in the Iranian literature which investigates the subject matter; therefore, the findings of the study not only extend the extant theoretical literature concerning the information risk in developing countries including the emerging capital market of Iran but also help investors, capital market regulators and accounting standard setters to make timely decisions.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 142-162
Author(s):  
Paula Diane Parker ◽  
Nancy J. Swanson ◽  
Michael T. Dugan

Purpose This study aims to examine the unexpected portion of the pension discount rate to determine if the pension discount rate is being used to manage earnings for both financially healthy and financially unhealthy firms as categorized based upon their Altman z-score for bankruptcy. Design/methodology/approach Regression analysis is conducted with the unexpected portion of the pension discount rate as the dependent variable and various metrics indicating potential firm strengths and weaknesses as the independent variables. Findings This study finds evidence that suggests managers for both groups of firms are using their choice of discount rate to manage bottom-line earnings. These findings highlight the patterns of various firm choice differences found between the two groups and the magnitude of the differences between the groups. Originality/value Three streams of literature are considered in this research: earnings management, defined pension plans and z-score bankruptcy. This study extends prior research by examining the unexpected portion of the pension discount rate based on the z-score determination of whether a firm is considered financially healthy or financially unhealthy. Our findings highlight the impact of various firm choice differences found between the two groups of firms.


2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (9) ◽  
pp. 1081-1096 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrico Battisti ◽  
Luigi Bollani ◽  
Nicola Miglietta ◽  
Antonio Salvi

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the impact of leverage on the cost of capital and market value in the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX), where there are Sharīʿah and non-Sharīʿah compliant firms. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a mixed methods sequential exploratory design and is based on an empirical analysis undertaken with a sample of firms listed on the IDX. In particular, a qualitative analysis was conducted to identify the Sharīʿah-compliant firms and the qualitative study was designed to compare some financial elements in Sharīʿah and non-Sharīʿah compliant listed companies. The correlations among the main elements observed are considered and a principal component analysis describes the framework. Findings First, the results of the analysis show that for the Sharīʿah-compliant companies, identified as those that apply Islamic principles, the lower level of leverage that it is typical of these type of firms implies a higher cost of capital [cost of equity and weighted average cost of capital (WACC)] than non-Sharīʿah ones. Secondly, for the Sharīʿah-compliant companies, the lower level of leverage entails a higher market value measured by the multiples method (price/earning and enterprise value/operating profit) than for non-Sharīʿah ones. Originality/value This paper sheds new light on how leverage can affect the cost of capital and market value in the case of Sharīʿah and non-Sharīʿah compliant listed companies in the IDX. In particular, this research highlights the fact that Sharīʿah-compliant firms, despite having a higher WACC, create more market value compared to non-Sharīʿah compliant ones.


Author(s):  
Aws AlHares

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of corporate governance mechanisms on the cost of capital in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Design/methodology/approach A panel data of 240 companies from Anglo-American and European countries between 2010 and 2017 were used. The ordinary least-squares multiple regression analysis was used to examine the relationships. The results were also robust to alternative measures and endogeneities. Findings The results showed that the corporate governance index and director ownership were negatively related to the cost of capital. Moreover, the study also reports a positive correlation between block ownership and the cost of capital. Originality/value This study extended the corporate governance literature by offering new evidence on the effect of corporate governance mechanisms on the cost of capital. Our findings will help regulators and policymakers in the OECD countries to evaluate the adequacy of the current corporate governance reforms to prevent management misconduct and scandals.


2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 400-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongqing Li ◽  
Ian Eddie ◽  
Jinghui Liu

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the potential impact of the approved Australian carbon emissions reduction plan on the cost of capital and the association between companies’ carbon emission intensity and the cost of capital. Design/methodology/approach – A sample of Australian Stock Exchange 200 (ASX 200)-indexed companies from 2006 to 2010 is used. Hypotheses are tested based on Heckman’s two-stage approach. Three regression models are developed to examine the association between carbon emissions and the cost of capital. Findings – Using a sample of ASX 200-indexed listed companies, the paper finds that the cost of capital, including the cost of debt and the cost of equity, will increase for emissions-liable companies. Results also show that the cost of debt is positively correlated with a company’s emission intensity. However, little evidence supports that the emission intensity affects the cost of equity. Originality/value – As it is evident that the emissions reduction plan will adversely affect corporate entities’ cost of capital, this study suggests that companies, investors and lenders need to include carbon emission in risk analysis. An emissions-liable company should establish strategies to combat the impact of the Plan on rising cost that comes with the enforcement of the Plan. Government assistance is essential in the transitional period.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haruna Maama ◽  
Ferina Marimuthu

PurposeGiven the significant role of both integrated reporting and cost of capital in the survival and prosperity of a firm, it is essential to understand their relationship by investigating whether integrated reporting influences the cost of capital of a firm. This research paper aims to examine the impact of integrated reporting practice on the cost of capital of listed firms in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).Design/methodology/approachThe study covered a period of 10 years from 2009 to 2018. One hundred and forty-seven listed firms in 10 SSA countries were used for the study. The study employed panel data analysis and utilised a dynamic estimation technique called the generalised method of moments.FindingsThe evidence shows that integrated reporting has a negative relationship with cost of capital, indicating integrated reporting can reduce firms' cost of capital. The results further showed that social, governance and environmental disclosures all have negative relationships with cost of capital, suggesting that firms that make these disclosures would have a lower cost of capital. These results are consistent with signalling theory, which holds that firms send a positive signal to the market about their performance and prospects when they provide information relating to value creation, predominantly environmental, social and governance issues.Research limitations/implicationsThe major limitation of the study is the selection of only English-speaking countries. French-speaking countries may have a different reporting practice, hence a different effect on the cost of capital.Practical implicationsThis study contributes to policy development on integrated reporting in SSA and informs key stakeholders involved in promoting and supporting the adoption of integrated reporting in Africa.Originality/valueThe findings from this paper consolidate existing research in integrated reporting and cost of capital by providing empirical evidence on the relationship between integrated reporting, its components and the cost of capital from emerging economies. This study contributes to the understanding of investors' reactions to integrated reporting. Further, it fills a gap in the non-availability of literature on the relative impact of the various components of integrated reporting.


2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-38
Author(s):  
Renuka Kamath ◽  
Nilendra Singh Pawar

Learning outcomes Through the analysis of the case, the students will be able to: 1. appreciate the dynamics in a multi-channel environment especially in the relatively new ecommerce space in India; 2. understand the decision-making process and the impact on various stakeholders in adopting a new ecommerce sales channel; and 3. evaluate financial implications of channel profitability and its implication on the decision. Case overview/synopsis Philadelphia Home Products (PHP) India was facing a sales slowdown and was looking at a foray into the e-commerce channel, as an answer for business growth. The decision was not an easy one, as it had implications on existing channel partnerships and the organization. Channel choice decisions had acquired a new dimension with the proliferation of ecommerce platforms and changing online consumer buying habits. It was January 2015 and Nandini Devgan, CEO of PHP India was with her experienced team, who clearly had differing points of view. She needed to put the organization back on a growth trajectory, but how does she balance the various differing views put forth by her team? Was entering the ecommerce channel the best option? Complexity academic level This case is designed for use at the postgraduate level in courses, such as sales management, channel management, e-commerce and strategic marketing courses, as well as in executive management programs. The case is relevant from the context of channel management of a Consumer-Packaged Goods company in India, where e-commerce is nascent yet growing. It gives students a practical hands-on decision-making situation, where there are complexities of quantitative and qualitative nature. It triggers a discussion where the chief executive officer (CEO) and her team are facing growth and profitability issues, and have to take a decision on whether or not to adopt the e-commerce channel while managing the existing channels. Supplementary materials Teaching note is available for educators only. Subject code CSS 8: Marketing.


2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 182-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruhaya Atan ◽  
Md. Mahmudul Alam ◽  
Jamaliah Said ◽  
Mohamed Zamri

Purpose The ESG factor, which consists of environmental, social, and governance factors, represents the non-financial performance of a company. United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment invites investors to consider ESG issues when evaluating the performance of any company. Moreover, nowadays, the contribution of corporations towards sustainable development is a major concern of investors, creditors, government, and other environmental agencies. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of ESG factors on the performance of Malaysian public-limited companies (PLC) in terms of profitability, firm value, and cost of capital. Design/methodology/approach A total of 54 companies are selected from Bloomberg’s ESG database that has complete ESG and financial data from 2010 to 2013. This study conducted panel data regressions such as the pooled OLS, fixed effect, and random effect. Findings Based on the regression results, there is no significant relationship between individual and combined factors of ESG and firm profitability (i.e. ROE) as well as firm value (i.e. Tobin’s Q). Moreover, individually, none of the factors of ESG is significant with the cost of capital (weighted average cost of capital, WACC), but the combined score of ESG positively and significantly influences the cost of capital (WACC) of a company. Practical implications As this is a new study on Malaysia, the findings of this study will be useful to investors, SRI analysts, policy makers, and other related agencies. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first empirical study to examine the impact of ESG factors on the performance of Malaysian PLC in terms of profitability, firm value, and cost of capital.


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 385-395
Author(s):  
Richard Cebula ◽  
James E. Payne ◽  
Donnie Horner ◽  
Robert Boylan

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of labor market freedom on state-level cost of living differentials in the USA using cross-sectional data for 2016 after allowing for the impacts of economic and quality of life factors. Design/methodology/approach The study uses two-stage least squares estimation controlling for factors contributing to cost of living differences across states. Findings The results reveal that an increase in labor market freedom reduces the overall cost of living. Research limitations/implications The study can be extended using panel data and alternative measures of labor market freedom. Practical implications In general, the finding that less intrusive government and greater labor freedom are associated with a reduced cost of living should not be surprising. This is because less government intrusion and greater labor freedom both inherently allow markets to be more efficient in the rationalization of and interplay with forces of supply and demand. Social implications The findings of this and future related studies could prove very useful to policy makers and entrepreneurs, as well as small business owners and public corporations of all sizes – particularly those considering either location in, relocation to, or expansion into other markets within the USA. Furthermore, the potential benefits of the National Right-to-Work Law currently under consideration in Congress could add cost of living reductions to the debate. Originality/value The authors extend the literature on cost of living differentials by investigating whether higher amounts of state-level labor market freedom act to reduce the states’ cost of living using the most recent annual data available (2016). That labor freedom has a systemic efficiency impact on the state-level cost of living is a significant finding. In our opinion, it is likely that labor market freedom is increasing the efficiency of labor market transactions in the production and distribution of goods and services, and acts to reduce the cost of living in states. In addition, unlike previous related studies, the authors investigate the impact of not only overall labor market freedom on the state-level cost of living, but also how the three sub-indices of labor market freedom, as identified and measured by Stansel et al. (2014, 2015), impact the cost of living state by state.


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