Family ownership and free cash flow

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thitima Sitthipongpanich
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Cash Flow ◽  
Generalized Method Of Moments ◽  
Free Cash Flow ◽  
Family Ownership ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Flow Sensitivity ◽  
Cash Flow Sensitivity ◽  
Lagged Dependent Variable ◽  
Interest Alignment

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of family ownership on investment-cash flow sensitivity and on firm performance. Design/methodology/approach The author uses panel data to examine the relationship between investment and cash flow and between family ownership and the firm performance of Thai listed firms from 2001 to 2008. To account for the endogeneity of the lagged dependent variable, the investment equation is estimated by the generalized method of moments, following Arellano and Bond (1991). Findings The presence of family owners reduces the sensitivity of investment and cash flow. At low and high levels of family ownership, an increase in family shareholding leads to lower investment-cash flow sensitivity. In contrast, firms with medium family ownership levels have higher investment-cash flow sensitivity. Only at high levels of family ownership is firm performance positively related to family shareholding. Originality/value The ownership levels of family shareholders affect the investment-cash flow sensitivity in an S-shaped relation, supporting the interest alignment and entrenchment effects. When family shareholders have high ownership incentives, their interest alignment reduces the agency costs of free cash flow problems and leads to higher firm performance.

CEO's education and investment–cash flow sensitivity: an empirical investigation

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaurav Gupta ◽  
Jitendra Mahakud ◽  
Vivek Verma
Keyword(s):  
Cash Flow ◽  
Technical Education ◽  
Generalized Method Of Moments ◽  
Financial Education ◽  
Educational Background ◽  
Manufacturing Firms ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Flow Sensitivity ◽  
Cash Flow Sensitivity ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the impact of financial and technical education of chief executive officer (CEO) on investment–cash flow sensitivity (ICFS) of Indian manufacturing firms.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses the dynamic panel data model and more specifically, the system-generalized method of moments (GMM) technique to investigate the effect of CEOs' education on ICFS of Indian manufacturing firms during the period 1998–1999 to 2016–2017.FindingsThe study shows that financial (technical) education of CEOs does (not) affect ICFS. The results explain that the role of the CEO's education in ICFS is highly significant during the crisis period. The robustness test depicts that the influence of financial education on ICFS is less (more) for group-affiliated and large-sized firms (stand-alone and small-sized firms). Further, the CEO's education is significantly associated with corporate investment decisions.Research limitations/implicationsDue to the unavailability of the CEO's compensation data for the selected sample, future research could explore the impact of CEO's education with respect to CEO's compensation on ICFS.Practical implicationsFirst, the authors find that financially educated CEOs affect ICFS; therefore, firms should take care of CEO's education during recruitment of CEOs. Second, lending agencies should also consider the educational background of the CEO before approval of funding to make it safe. Third, investors should keep in mind the educational background of the CEO for the growth of their investment as it may be easier for financially educated CEOs to borrow from the market at the time of requirement.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the existing literature by providing empirical evidence through analyzing the impact of a CEO's education on ICFS in the context of India. This study is very unique in itself as it uses the sample of manufacturing sectors of India, which are growing very fast and attracting global investors to create a global hub of manufacturing in India. This study also considers different types of education such as financial and technical education of CEOs in the context of a developing economy like India. This study made its findings robust across company characteristics and periods based on the financial crisis.

Unexpected investment, tunnelling and financial constraints

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Le Hong Ngoc Ha ◽  
An Thai
Keyword(s):  
Cash Flow ◽  
Financial Constraints ◽  
Agency Problems ◽  
Free Cash Flow ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Managers ◽  
Flow Sensitivity ◽  
Cash Flow Sensitivity ◽  
Stock Market Investors ◽  
The Impact

PurposeBased on a sample of 1,435 Vietnamese listed firms over the period from 2005 to 2017, this study examines the sensitivity of unexpected investment to free cash flow and its mechanism.Design/methodology/approachWe tested three hypotheses using two-step system-GMM to investigate investment–cash flow sensitivity for various firm scenarios while accounting for confounding variables.FindingsFirms with negative free cash flow are more likely to engage in underinvestment; conversely, overinvestment is found primarily in firms with positive free cash flow. In terms of the mechanism, while underinvesting decisions are caused mainly by financial constraints, overinvesting behaviour primarily resulted from agency problems, typically in the form of principal-principal conflicts. Interestingly, under the impact of negative cash flow observations, financial constraints tend to decrease investment–cash flow sensitivity. Conversely, the agency costs hypothesis reveals that agency problems are more likely to increase investment–cash flow sensitivity.Originality/valueThese findings not only contribute to the current corporate literature but also provide some important practical implications for stock market investors, corporate managers, and policy-setting bodies, specifically in the Vietnamese market.

Corporate governance, accounting information environment and investment-cash flow sensitivity

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 492-507 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming Li ◽  
Liang Song
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Cash Flow ◽  
Accounting Information ◽  
Agency Problems ◽  
Free Cash Flow ◽  
Information Environment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Financial Decisions ◽  
Flow Sensitivity ◽  
Cash Flow Sensitivity

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to test the effects of antitakeover protection on investment-cash flow sensitivity and whether these effects are moderated by firms’ accounting information environment and agency problems. Design/methodology/approach To test the effects of agency problems, the authors use the passage of second-generation antitakeover laws as the testing ground, which is a pseudo-natural experiment that is widely used in the accounting, finance and economics literature (e.g. Armstrong et al., 2012; Bertrand and Mullainathan, 2003). Findings The authors’ analysis shows that investment-cash flow sensitivity is greater when managers are insulated from takeovers. The authors’ results also demonstrate that the effects of the passage of antitakeover laws on investment-cash flow sensitivity are greater when firms’ accounting information environment is poor, which is measured by fewer analysts following and higher analyst forecast dispersion. The authors also show that the effects of the passage of antitakeover laws on investment-cash flow sensitivity are greater when firms have severe agency problems, which are measured by more free cash flow. Originality/value The authors’ research extends the empirical accounting literature about the effects of corporate governance and accounting information environment on firms’ operating and financial decisions.

Debt holdings and investment cash flow sensitivity of listed firms

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 943-958 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johnson Worlanyo Ahiadorme ◽  
Agyapomaa Gyeke-Dako ◽  
Joshua Yindenaba Abor
Keyword(s):  
Cash Flow ◽  
Empirical Modeling ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Flow Sensitivity ◽  
Cash Flow Sensitivity ◽  
Cash Flow Sensitivities ◽  
Internal Funds

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of debt holdings on the sensitivity of firms’ investment to availability of internal funds. Design/methodology/approach For a panel data set of 27 Ghanaian listed firms for the period 2007–2013, the paper applies the Euler equation approach to the empirical modeling of investment. Findings The study finds support for the assertion that listed firms face less severe corporate control problems and lower financing constraints, and thus, have lower investment cash flow sensitivities. The study also finds that a significant positive sensitivity of investment to internal funds is associated with firms that have high debt holdings. Practical implications An implication of this study is that firms with high debt holdings face greater challenges in accessing external finance. These firms are likely to experience under-investment which at a macro level would translate into lower investments and economic growth for the country. Originality/value Empirical literature document that in the presence of market imperfections, investments of financially constrained firms become sensitive to the availability of internal finance. There are also contradictory evidences regarding the pattern of the observed investment cash flow sensitivity. This study examines the effect of debt holdings on the sensitivity of firms’ investment to availability of cash flow. This is yet to be empirically tested despite some theoretical explanations.

Corporate cash flow and dividends smoothing: a panel data analysis at Bursa Malaysia

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Apedzan Emmanuel Kighir ◽  
Normah Haji Omar ◽  
Norhayati Mohamed
Keyword(s):  
Panel Data ◽  
Cash Flow ◽  
Panel Data Analysis ◽  
Generalized Method Of Moments ◽  
Cash Flows ◽  
Payout Policy ◽  
Free Cash Flow ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Financial Firms ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the debate and find out the impact of cash flow on changes in dividend payout decisions among non-financial firms quoted at Bursa Malaysia as compared to earnings. There has been renewed debate in recent finance and accounting literature concerning the key determinants of changes in dividends payout policy decisions in some jurisdictions. The conclusion in some is that firms base their dividend decisions on cash flows rather than published earnings. Design/methodology/approach – The research made use of panel data from 1999 to 2012 at Bursa Malaysia, using generalized method of moments as the main method of analysis. Findings – The research finds that Malaysia non-financial firms consider current earnings more important than current cash flow while making dividends payout decisions, and prior year cash flows are considered more important in dividends decisions than prior year earnings. We also found support for Jensen (1986) in Malaysia on agency theory, that managers of firms pay dividends from free cash flow to reduce agency conflicts. Practical implications – The research concludes that Malaysian non-financial firms use current earnings and less of current cash flow in making changes in dividends policy. The policy implication is that current earnings are dividends smoothing agents, and the more they are considered in dividends payout decisions, the less of dividends smoothing. Social implications – If dividends smoothing is encouraged, it could lead to dividends-based earnings management. Originality/value – The research is our novel contribution of assisting investors and government in making informed decisions regarding dividends policy in Malaysia.

The impact of macroeconomic condition on investment-cash flow sensitivity of Indian firms

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-42
Author(s):  
Gaurav Gupta ◽  
Jitendra Mahakud
Keyword(s):  
Cash Flow ◽  
Economic Condition ◽  
Investment Decisions ◽  
Group Affiliation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Flow Sensitivity ◽  
Macroeconomic Condition ◽  
Gdp Growth Rate ◽  
Cash Flow Sensitivity ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of the macroeconomic condition on investment-cash flow sensitivity (ICFS) of Indian firms and examine whether the effect of macroeconomic condition on ICFS depends on the size and group affiliation of the firm. Design/methodology/approach An empirical investigation is conducted using a dynamic panel data model or more specifically system generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation technique. Findings Empirical findings postulate that the availability of cash flow influences the investment decisions which depicts that Indian manufacturing firms are internally as well as externally financially constrained. This study finds that good economic condition (period of high GDP growth rate) reduces the ICFS, although this effect is stronger for small-sized and standalone firms than the large-sized and business group affiliated firms. The authors find that macroeconomic condition has a positive and significant effect on investment decisions. Research limitations/implications This study has considered only the non-financial sector. The future research could explore the effect of macroeconomic condition on ICFS might be affected by firm other characteristics such as firm age and firm capital structure. Social implications The government should provide loan on the low rate to the small-sized firms and standalone firms because it is very difficult for these firms to finance their investment during the bad economic condition (period of low high GDP growth rate). Originality/value This study contributes to the existing literature by analyzing the impact of the macroeconomic condition on ICFS as well as investment decisions of the Indian manufacturing firms, which is an unexplored issue from an emerging market perspective. To the best of my knowledge, this is a first-ever study which explores the effect of macroeconomic condition on investment decisions with respect to business group affiliation and firm size.

CSR, agency costs and investment-cash flow sensitivity: a mediated moderation analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 299-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marwa Samet ◽  
Anis Jarboui
Keyword(s):  
Cash Flow ◽  
Agency Costs ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediated Moderation ◽  
Flow Sensitivity ◽  
Cash Flow Sensitivity ◽  
Internal Funds ◽  
Investment Spending

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to document the relation between investment-cash flow sensitivity and a firm’s engagement in corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in European context. Specifically, this paper aims to empirically examine how CSR moderates the sensitivity between investment spending and firm internal funds. Design/methodology/approach The Euler equation technique approach is applied to test the sensitivity of investment to internally generated funds for a panel data set of 398 European companies listed in the STOXX Europe 600 during 2009-2014. Furthermore, a mediated moderation model is developed in order to examine the moderating role of CSR in the investment-cash flow sensitivity, as well as the mediating role of agency costs on the moderation effect of CSR. Findings The results show that CSR performance weakens the sensitivity of investment to internal funds; agency costs of free cash flow mediate the negative moderating effect of CSR on investment-cash flow sensitivity. Thus, this study demonstrates empirically that firms with socially responsible practices are better positioned to obtain financing in the capital markets through reducing market frictions as well as agency costs. Practical implications Firms are invited to engage more in CSR activities that reduce agency conflicts between management and shareholders. Originality/value The originality of this paper consists in proposing the establishment of both direct and indirect link between CSR and investment-cash flow sensitivity.

Investment-cash flow sensitivity and financial constraints: evidence from Pakistan

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 403-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasir Riaz ◽  
Yasir Shahab ◽  
Robina Bibi ◽  
Shumaila Zeb
Keyword(s):  
Panel Data ◽  
Financial Markets ◽  
Cash Flow ◽  
Market Integration ◽  
Financial Constraints ◽  
Generalized Method Of Moments ◽  
Listed Companies ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cash Flow Sensitivity

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide new insights about investment-cash flow sensitivities (ICFS) as a representative of financial constraints, by examining panel data consisting of 288 listed firms in Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a panel data methodology and first difference generalized method of moments to control the problems of heterogeneity and endogeneity. By five different criteria, estimations are made for full and pre-classified sub-samples. Sargan test and Arellano-Bond serial correlation statistic are used for identification and validation of instruments and model. Findings According to the results, the ICFS has increased monotonically with the level of financial constraints. Further, the results depict that ICFS for the constrained group is much higher as compared to the unconstrained group. Overall, the result illustrates positively significant ICFS. Practical implications This study confirms signs of imperfections in the capital market, which leads to financial markets inaccessibility preceded by high under-investment costs and low social and economic development. Thus, proper policy designing and instigation are necessary for the subsidies, taxation, and foreign direct investment and later for financial market development and promotion of private corporate investment. Originality/value Previous studies have mostly focused on developed countries where large listed companies work in well-developed financial markets and do not face severe financial constraints because of the greater market integration (Bekaert et al., 2011, 2013) and superior investor protection laws (Djankov et al., 2008; La porta et al., 1998). However, this study focuses on listed companies from the emerging Pakistani market, which will bring forth the interesting aspects of ICFS and will enhance the existing literature effectively.

Financial constraints for investment in Brazil

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vicente Lima Crisóstomo ◽  
Félix Javier López Iturriaga ◽  
Eleuterio Vallelado González
Keyword(s):  
Panel Data ◽  
Euler Equation ◽  
Cash Flow ◽  
Financial Constraints ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Growth Opportunities ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Flow Sensitivity ◽  
Cash Flow Sensitivity ◽  
Investment Models

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to verify the existence of financial constraints for investment in Brazil, an emerging market with growing international visibility. Design/methodology/approach – Using panel data methodology and generalized method of moments (GMM), the paper estimates dynamic investment models based on the Euler equation and Tobin's q for a panel data set of 199 Brazilian non-financial firms for the time period 1995-2006. Findings – Results show that Brazilian firms face financial constraints since their investments depend on internally generated funds. Results are robust to different investment models based on the Euler equation, also controlling for growth opportunities. Significant investment-cash flow sensitivity has been found for the whole sample of firms. Subsamples of firms considered as under financial constraints, according to dividend payout and equity issuance policies, have higher investment-cash flow sensitivity. Investment-cash flow sensitivity of financially constrained firms in Brazil is higher than that in the UK and in Romania, a transition economy. Originality/value – The results extend empirical evidence of financial constraints in Brazil. The paper contributes to the literature by assessing the firms’ financial constraint status on an annual basis, and by using panel data methodology and GMM to estimate dynamic models of investment that take into account the proposals of the hierarchy of finance theory. In addition, the paper controls for growth opportunities. Capital market imperfections affect firm investment in Brazil and such effects are even stronger for financially constrained firms.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document