Tax management: analysis of the influence on the equity cost of Brazilian companies

Purpose: The present study sought to investigate whether tax management influences the equity cost of Brazilian companies listed in Brazil, Bolsa e Balcão (B3) from 2014 to 2018. Methodology: The study included the analysis of Proxie Book-Tax Differences (BTD) as a tool for identifying tax management, as suggested in the work of Moreira e Silva (2019), as well as the control variables, which are the return on equity (ROE), market value (QTOBIN), company size (LNAT) and company financial leverage (ALV). For data collection, the Bloomberg® database and the Reference Form available on the B3 website were used. For that, it was used the Multiple Linear Regression of the data type in balanced panel, resulting in a final sample formed by 630 observations. Results: Through BTD proxie, referring to the difference between accounting profit and tax profit, and used to capture tax management in this research, it was not possible to identify any relationship with the equity cost. Thus, for the purposes of this research, the theoretical adequacy and the statistical models used did not show that good tax management practices have a positive or negative effect on the equity cost. Contributions of the Study: It is observed that Brazilian studies did not analyze the effect of tax management on the equity cost in Brazilian companies using the Book-Tax Differences (BTD) indicator as a tool for identifying tax management and its influence on the cost of capital. So, this research followed the recommendation suggested by Moreira e Silva (2019), to analyze this cost with another indicator, in this case, Book-Tax Differences (BTD). According to the results, it was not possible to identify any relationship with the equity cost, thus contributing to the consolidation of the findings by Goh et al. (2016) and Moreira e Silva (2019) who present CashETR as the best metric for tax management, given that the results presented using the variables ETR and BTD, demonstrated that the cost of capital required by investors was unrelated to the fiscal aggressiveness of companies.

Generalization of the Modigliani–Miller Theory for the Case of Variable Profit

For the first time we have generalized the world-famous theory by Nobel Prize winners Modigliani and Miller for the case of variable profit, which significantly extends the application of the theory in practice, specifically in business valuation, ratings, corporate finance, etc. We demonstrate that all the theorems, statements and formulae of Modigliani and Miller are changed significantly. We combine theoretical and numerical (by MS Excel) considerations. The following results are obtained: (1) Discount rate for leverage company changes from the weighted average cost of capital, WACC, to WACC–g (where g is growing rate), for a financially independent company from k0 to k0–g. This means that WACC and k0 are no longer the discount rates as it takes place in case of classical Modigliani–Miller theory with constant profit. WACC grows with g, while real discount rates WACC–g and k0–g decrease with g. This leads to an increase of company capitalization with g. (2) The tilt angle of the equity cost ke(L) grows with g. This should change the dividend policy of the company, because the economically justified value of dividends is equal to equity cost. (3) A qualitatively new effect in corporate finance has been discovered: at rate g < g* the slope of the curve ke(L) turns out to be negative, which could significantly alter the principles of the company’s dividend policy.

The Modigliani–Miller Theory with Arbitrary Frequency of Payment of Tax on Profit

The main purpose of the current study is the generalization and further development of the Modigliani–Miller theory taking into account one of the conditions of the real functioning of companies for the case of paying income tax with an arbitrary frequency (monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual payments). While a return is not required more than once a year, businesses may be responsible for filing estimated taxes based on profits earned. This requirement is dependent on showing a profit. For example, sole proprietors must file estimated taxes on profits quarterly, on the 15th day of April, June, September and January. In Russia, tax on profit payments could be made annually, quarterly, or monthly. We suppose, that more frequent payment of income tax impacts on all main financial indicators of the company and leads to some important consequences. We use analytical and numerical methods: we derive all main formulas of the modified Modigliani–Miller theory theoretically and then use them to obtain all main financial indicators of company and their dependences on different parameters by MS Excel. We show that: (1) all Modigliani–Miller theorems, statements and formulas change; (2) all main financial indicators, such as the weighted average cost of capital (WACC), company value, V, and equity cost, ke, depend on the frequency of tax on profit payments; (3) in the case of income tax payments more than once per year (at p ≠ 1), as takes place in practice, the WACC, company value, V and equity cost, and ke start depend on debt cost, kd, while in ordinary (classical) Modigliani–Miller theory all these values do not depend on kd; (4) obtained results allow a company to choose the number of payments of tax on profit per year (of course, within actual tax legislation): more frequent payments of income tax are beneficial for both parties, for the company and for the tax regulator.

Equity Cost Induced Dichotomy for Optimal Dividends with Capital Injections in the Cramér-Lundberg Model

We investigate a control problem leading to the optimal payment of dividends in a Cramér-Lundberg-type insurance model in which capital injections incur proportional cost, and may be used or not, the latter resulting in bankruptcy. For general claims, we provide verification results, using the absolute continuity of super-solutions of a convenient Hamilton-Jacobi variational inequality. As a by-product, for exponential claims, we prove the optimality of bounded buffer capital injections (−a,0,b) policies. These policies consist in stopping at the first time when the size of the overshoot below 0 exceeds a certain limit a, and only pay dividends when the reserve reaches an upper barrier b. An exhaustive and explicit characterization of optimal couples buffer/barrier is given via comprehensive structure equations. The optimal buffer is shown never to be of de Finetti (a=0) or Shreve-Lehoczy-Gaver (a=∞) type. The study results in a dichotomy between cheap and expensive equity, based on the cost-of-borrowing parameter, thus providing a non-trivial generalization of the Lokka-Zervos phase-transition Løkka-Zervos (2008). In the first case, companies start paying dividends at the barrier b*=0, while in the second they must wait for reserves to build up to some (fully determined) b*>0 before paying dividends.

Shareholder Perks and Firm Value

Shareholder perks are in-kind gifts or purchase discounts that disproportionately reward small shareholders. Data from Japanese firms indicate that firms initiating perk programs attract individual retail shareholders and experience increases in share values. We find support for three channels by which perks increase firm value: an increase in share liquidity, a decrease in the equity cost of capital, and signaling to investors. A fourth channel, by which perks help to market the firm's products to consumers, receives mixed support. We do not find evidence that perk programs work to entrench managers.

Decision Making for Project Appraisal in Uncertain Environments: A Fuzzy-Possibilistic Approach of the Expanded NPV Method

The major drawback of the classic approaches for project appraisal is the lack of the possibility to handle change requests during the project’s life cycle. This fact incorporates the concept of uncertainty in the estimation of this investment’s worth. To resolve this issue, the authors use fuzzy numbers, possibilistic moments of fuzzy numbers and the hybrid (fuzzy statistic) fuzzy estimators’ method in order to introduce a fuzzy possibilistic version of the expanded net present value method (FPeNPV). This approach consists of two factors: the fuzzy possibilistic NPV and the fuzzy option premium. For the estimation of the fuzzy NPV, some basic assumptions are taken into consideration: (1) the opportunity cost of capital, used as the present value interest factor calculated through the weighted average cost of capital (WACC), (2) the equity cost, determined through the possibilistic set-up of the capital asset pricing model CAPM, and (3) the inflation factor, also included in the estimation of the NPV. The fuzzy estimators’ method is used for the computation of the fuzzy option premium. An algorithm of nine major steps leads to the computation of the FPeNPV. This gives the administration the opportunity to adapt to potential changes in the company’s internal and external environments. In this way, the symmetry between the planning and execution phase of a project can be reinstated. The results validate the statement that fuzzy and intelligent methods remain valuable tools to express uncertainty in various scientific areas. Finally, an illustrative example aims at a thorough comprehension of this new approach of the expanded NPV method.

Analisis Pengaruh Upaya Penghindaran Pajak terhadap Biaya Ekuitas pada Perusahaan yang Terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia

The purpose of this research analysis study is to explain and introduce what are the effects of tax avoidance measures on the financial costs of a company. This research was conducted using a sample of company data registered in the Indonesia Stock Exchange in the period 2013 to 2017. The sample used was 145 companies after being excluded companies that have the effect of avoiding negative taxes and financial statements that are incomplete or do not meet the criteria. The results show no significant relationship between tax avoidance with the cost of equity. Research also includes moderation variables to strengthen the relationship of tax avoidance to the cost of equity. The variable of marginal moderation of incentives, outside party supervision and information quality are proven to have an effect of increasing the effect of tax avoidance on the cost of corporate equity. This shows that there are many factors that affect the cost of equity in addition to tax avoidance. The measurement of equity costs used by CAPM is one of the equity cost measurement models that can be applied in Indonesia. So the results of these studies produce unfavorable regression results on tax avoidance efforts as measured by ETR. The results of this study only focus on Indonesia, which can only provide information benefits for Indonesian companies.

Malmquist Productivity Analysis of Top Global Automobile Manufacturers

The automobile industry is one of the largest economies in the world, by revenue. Being one of the industries with higher employment output, this has become a major determinant of economic growth. In view of the declining automobile production after a period of continuous growth in the 2008 global auto crisis, the re-evaluation of automobile manufacturing is necessary. This study applies the Malmquist productivity index (MPI), one of the many models in the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), to analyze the performance of the world’s top 20 automakers over the period of 2015–2018. The researchers assessed the technical efficiency, technological progress, and the total factor productivity of global automobile manufacturers, using a variety of input and output variables which are considered to be essential financial indicators, such as total assets, shareholder’s equity, cost of revenue, operating expenses, revenue, and net income. The results show that the most productive automaker on average is Volkswagen, followed by Honda, BAIC, General Motors, and Suzuki. On the contrary, Mitsubishi and Tata Motors were the worst-performing automakers during the studied period. This study provides a general overview of the global automobile industry. This paper can be a valuable reference for car managers, policymakers, and investors, to aid their decision-making on automobile management, investment, and development. This research is also a contribution to organizational performance measurement, using the DEA Malmquist model.