Corporate finance practices in Morocco

2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (8) ◽  
pp. 865-880 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Kent Baker ◽  
Imad Jabbouri ◽  
Chaimae Dyaz
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Finance ◽  
Response Bias ◽  
Cost Of Capital ◽  
Capital Budgeting ◽  
Listed Companies ◽  
Rate Of Return ◽  
Allocation Of Resources ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Managers ◽  
The Cost

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine corporate finance practices in the frontier market of Morocco and compare the practices used by Moroccan companies to those in other countries. It focuses primarily on capital budgeting and real options. The study also examines whether corporate finance practices used in Morocco are consistent with more theoretically superior techniques. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a mail questionnaire to gather data from chief financial officers and other senior executives of Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) listed companies. Findings Moroccan managers generally view the internal rate of return, accounting rate of return, and payback method as more important than the theoretically superior net present value. Few of the responding firms use real options when making capital budgeting decisions. They tend to use less sophisticated techniques to evaluate investment opportunities and calculate the cost of capital than their counterparts in developed countries. The most frequently used techniques by CSE-listed companies to estimate the cost of equity capital are the cost of debt plus an equity risk premium and the accounting return on equity. CSE-listed companies rely heavily on management’s subjective judgment to estimate cash flows. Research limitations/implications Despite a 40 percent response rate, the number of responses did not permit examining whether differences in firm size, industry, educational background, and other characteristics affect the results. Although non-response bias is a potential limitation, test results show no statistically significant differences between the responding and non-responding companies on any of the five characteristics analyzed. These findings lessen concern about potential non-response bias. Given that the findings relate to a frontier market, they are most likely generalizable to similar countries in the Middle East and North Africa region. Practical implications The findings may be useful to various parties including corporate managers, boards of directors, and financial analysts. Given that investment decisions affect shareholder wealth, understanding the practices used by corporate managers is crucial in deciding what projects to undertake. This research raises awareness for management to review their corporate finance practices, compare them with their peers, and examine whether these techniques are aligned with proper allocation of resources and value maximization. Social implications Overall, the findings imply that Moroccan firms have room to improve their corporate finance practices. Failing to do so could have serious implications ranging from the inefficient allocation of resources in the economy to the destruction of shareholder value. Originality/value To the authors’ knowledge, this is the most comprehensive study using survey methodology to investigate corporate finance practices in Morocco. It provides new insights on such topics as capital budgeting, capital structure, cost of capital estimation, and real option techniques.

Corporate finance approaches of Icelandic private firms after the financial crisis

2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (11) ◽  
pp. 1274-1291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Twahir Khalfan ◽  
Jón Þór Sturluson
Keyword(s):  
Financial Crisis ◽  
Corporate Finance ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Cost Of Capital ◽  
Banking System ◽  
Capital Budgeting ◽  
Influential Factors ◽  
Private Firms ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Cost

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide insights about corporate finance decision-making of Icelandic private firms that have experienced a dramatic financial crisis in 2008–2010. It observes the capital budgeting methods and cost of capital techniques for private firms after a systemic financial crisis. Moreover, the paper identifies the main determinants of capital structure and capita rationing during this period. Design/methodology/approach This paper surveys corporate finance practices of 80 out of the 250 largest bank-centred private firms after the financial crisis. Findings Highly leveraged private firms that have experienced a dramatic financial crisis in 2008–2010 use payback and net present value techniques almost at a similar rate when assessing new investments. The sample firms largely rely on the cost of debt to determine the cost of invested capital. However, capital asset pricing model is the most popular method among the few sample firms that estimate the cost of equity. The need to maintain financial flexibility and cost associated with financial distress are the most influential factors regarding capital structures, whereas investment practices avoid capital rationing associated with the financial crisis. Research limitations/implications The limitations of the study are that it is country specific and absence of data over the period before the financial crisis that may have been applied to present more insight into this topic. Practical implications Sample firms fail to incorporate appropriate cost of capital methods and as the result they are likely to apply incorrect “hurdle rate” which could undervalue or overvalue new investments. This paper indicates that capital budgeting decisions by managers of the bank-centred Icelandic private firms who tend to be major shareholders do not reflect the tendency to expropriate outside and minority investors. Private firms that have emerged from the meltdown of the financial system highlighting the importance of “special” lending relationship in assisting bank-centred firms to avoid the severity of financial constraints. Originality/value This study employs a failure of the banking system to provide new knowledge about corporate finance practices of private firms after the financial crisis that have curtailed the access to both internal and external sources of capital.

scholarly journals The Use Of Capital Budgeting And Cost Of Capital Estimation Methods In Swedish-Listed Companies

2012 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 1451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fredrik Hartwig
Keyword(s):  
Cost Of Capital ◽  
Capital Budgeting ◽  
Listed Companies ◽  
Common Method ◽  
Estimation Methods ◽  
Cost Of Equity ◽  
Project Risk ◽  
Cross Country ◽  
The Cost

In this paper Swedish listed companies use of capital budgeting and cost of capital estimation methods in 2005 and 2008 are examined. The relation between company characteristics and choice of methods is investigated and both within-country longitudinal and cross-country comparisons are made. Larger companies seem to have used capital budgeting methods more frequently than smaller companies. When compared to U.S. and continental European companies, Swedish listed companies employed capital budgeting methods less frequently. In 2005 the most common method for establishing the cost of equity was by asking the investors what return they required. By 2008 CAPM was instead the most utilised method, which could indicate greater sophistication. The use of project risk when evaluating investments also seems to have gained in popularity, while the use of company risk declined. Overall, the use of sophisticated capital budgeting and cost of capital estimation methods seem to be rising and the use of less sophisticated methods declining.

The impact of leverage on the cost of capital and market value

2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (9) ◽  
pp. 1081-1096 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrico Battisti ◽  
Luigi Bollani ◽  
Nicola Miglietta ◽  
Antonio Salvi
Keyword(s):  
Cost Of Capital ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Market Value ◽  
Listed Companies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Operating Profit ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact

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.

Capital budgeting practices: evidence from Sri Lanka

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Nurullah ◽  
Lingesiya Kengatharan
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Cost Of Capital ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Capital Budgeting ◽  
Rate Of Return ◽  
Chief Financial Officers ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate prevailing capital budgeting practices in Sri Lankan listed companies. Design/methodology/approach – A comprehensive primary survey was conducted of 32 out of 46 chief financial officers (CFOs) of manufacturing and trading companies listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange in Sri Lanka. Garnered data were then analyzed using appropriate statistical techniques. Findings – The results revealed that net present value (NPV) was the most preferred capital budgeting method, followed closely by payback (PB) and internal rate of return (IRR). Similarly, sensitivity analysis was regarded as the dominant capital budgeting tool for incorporating risk and the widely used method for calculating cost of capital was the weighted average cost of capital. Moreover, results revealed that size of the capital budget affects the use of the capital budgeting methods (NPV, IRR and PB) and incorporating risk tool (sensitivity analysis and simulation). Further, results revealed that CFOs had higher educational qualification were preferred to use sophisticated capital budgeting practices dominantly NPV, IRR and incorporating risk tool of sensitivity analysis although they were found to be reluctant in use of accounting rate of return. In a similar vein CFOs with higher experience were preferred using IRR and sensitivity analysis. Originality/value – This study contributed to academics, practitioners, policy makers and stakeholders of the company. Moreover, this research has proffered a more reliable and comprehensive analysis of capital budgeting practices in Sri Lankan listed manufacturing and trading firms. Since Sri Lanka is an unexplored country on capital budgeting practices, this research was originally contributed to the extant literature per se.

The financial consequences of human capital disclosure as part of integrated reporting

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Salvi ◽  
Nicola Raimo ◽  
Felice Petruzzella ◽  
Filippo Vitolla
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Firm Value ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Cost Of Capital ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Firm Risk ◽  
Integrated Reporting ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Financial Consequences ◽  
The Cost

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse the financial consequences of the level of human capital (HC) information disclosed by firms through integrated reports. Specifically, this work examines the effect of HC information on the cost of capital and firm value.Design/methodology/approachA manual content analysis is used to measure the level of HC information contained in integrated reports. A fixed-effects regression model is used to analyse 375 observations (a balanced panel of 125 firms for the period 2017–2019) and test the financial consequences of HC disclosure.FindingsThe empirical outcomes indicate that HC disclosure has a significant and negative effect on the cost of capital and a positive impact on firm value. Our results show that companies can reduce investors' perceived firm risk by improving HC disclosure, leading to a lower cost of capital. Moreover, our findings support the notion that increased levels of HC disclosure are linked to firms' improved access to external financial resources, consequently enhancing firm value.Originality/valueThis study is the first contribution to examine the financial consequences of HC disclosure and is one of the first to examine the level of HC information within integrated reports.

scholarly journals Reinvestment Bias When Analyzing Mutually Exclusive Assets

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 71
Author(s):  
Robert J. Sweeney
Keyword(s):  
Net Present Value ◽  
Capital Budgeting ◽  
Cash Flows ◽  
Rate Of Return ◽  
Internal Rate Of Return ◽  
Present Value ◽  
Internal Rate ◽  
Current Period ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Flows Over Time

Capital budgeting decisions generally involve the commitment of resources in the current period to secure positive cash flows over time that generate a rate of return in excess of the cost of the funds invested. The most common techniques used to perform this analysis are the Net Present Value (NPV) and the Internal Rate of Return (IRR).Conceptually, these two techniques are substitutable; i.e. the resulting decision from a NPV analysis is identical to the decision from an IRR analysis. In practice, however, the NPV and the IRR can, on occasion, produce conflicting decisions. Specifically, when analyzing mutually exclusive assets the Net Present Value can support one asset while the Internal Rate of Return supports the other. The purpose of this paper is twofold; first, to highlight structural deficiencies in the conventional application of the NPV and the IRR, and second, to demonstrate a procedure to correct for these structural errors.

An analysis of cost of capital, capital structure and capital budgeting practices: a survey of South African listed companies

2008 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 31-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Correia ◽  
P. Cramer
Keyword(s):  
Capital Structure ◽  
South African ◽  
Cost Of Capital ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Capital Budgeting ◽  
Listed Companies ◽  
Sample Survey ◽  
The South ◽  
Equity Ratio ◽  
Finance Theory

This study employs a sample survey to determine and analyse the corporate finance practices of South African listed companies in relation to cost of capital, capital structure and capital budgeting decisions.The results of the survey are mostly in line with financial theory and are generally consistent with a number of other studies. This study finds that companies always or almost always employ DCF methods such as NPV and IRR to evaluate projects. Companies almost always use CAPM to determine the cost of equity and most companies employ either a strict or flexible target debt‐equity ratio. Furthermore, most practices of the South African corporate sector are in line with practices employed by US companies. This reflects the relatively highly developed state of the South African economy which belies its status as an emerging market. However, the survey has also brought to the fore a number of puzzling results which may indicate some gaps in the application of finance theory. There is limited use of relatively new developments such as real options, APV, EVA and Monte Carlo simulation. Furthermore, the low target debt‐equity ratios reflected the exceptionally low use of debt by South African companies.

Corporate governance and cost of equity: empirical evidence from Latin American companies

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 831-848 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emanuele Teti ◽  
Alberto Dell’Acqua ◽  
Leonardo Etro ◽  
Francesca Resmini
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Cost Of Capital ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Equity Capital ◽  
Cost Of Equity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the extent to which corporate governance (CG) systems adopted by Latin American listed firms affect their cost of equity capital. Several studies on the link between the two aforementioned dimensions have been carried out, but none in the context of Latin American firms. Design/methodology/approach A CG index is created by taking into account the peculiarities of each country and the recommendations given by the corresponding CG institutes. In particular, to assess the level of CG quality, three sub-indexes have been identified: “Disclosure”, “Board of Directors” and “Shareholder Rights, Ownership and Control Structure”. Findings The results indicate a negative relationship between CG quality and the cost of equity. In particular, the “Disclosure” component is the one mostly affecting the cost of equity. Research limitations/implications This study contributes to the literature by adding knowledge on the relationship between CG and cost of capital considering, for the first time, the overall Latin American market. Practical implications The paper proves that institutional investors all over the world are disposed to pay a premium to invest in firms with effective CG standards; moreover, this premium is higher in emerging countries such as those analyzed in this paper, rather than in developed countries. Originality/value To the authors' knowledge, this is the first paper empirically investigating the relationship between CG and cost of capital in Latin America.

Better risk pricing can unlock billions in investment

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Direct Investment ◽  
Cost Of Capital ◽  
Political Risk ◽  
Investment Decisions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Percentage Points ◽  
Risk Pricing ◽  
The Cost

Subject Pricing political risk. Significance The mis-measurement of political risk is resulting in the cost of capital being valued 2-4 percentage points higher than it should be in assessments ahead of cross-border investment decisions. Research suggests that in 2016 this could have increased net foreign direct investment (FDI) to non-advanced countries by more than 10%. Impacts Political risk measurement is set for a renaissance, with interest from practitioners and end-users likely to proliferate. Frontier markets that are on the edge of inclusion in 'emerging' portfolio allocations could see an uptick in investment inflows. Returns to long-term capital managers, from insurers to pension funds, will rise as cost-of-capital calculations grow in sophistication.

scholarly journals The internal rate of return (IRR): projections, benchmarks and pitfalls

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 664-669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Patrick ◽  
Nick French
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Capital Budgeting ◽  
Cash Flows ◽  
Rate Of Return ◽  
Internal Rate Of Return ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Principal Measure ◽  
Internal Rate ◽  
Measure Of Performance ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discuss the use of the internal rate of return (IRR) as a principal measure of performance of investments and to highlight some of the weaknesses of the IRR in evaluating investments in this way. Design/methodology/approach This Education Briefing is an overview of the limitations of the IRR in making capital budgeting decisions. It is illustrated with a number of counter-intuitive examples. Findings The advantage of the IRR is that it is, on the surface, a wonderfully simple benchmark. One figure that tells a story. But, the disadvantage is that if used in isolation the IRR can give misleading results when used to assess investment proposals. Practical implications The IRR should be used in conjunction with other analyses to appraise projects, so that the user can determine its veracity in the context of other benchmarks. This context is particularly important when assessing investments with unusual cash flows. Originality/value This is a review of existing models.

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