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The value of corporate financial flexibility in emerging countries

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  • Yung, Kenneth
  • Li, DeQing Diane
  • Jian, Yi

Abstract

Using a sample of firms from 33 emerging countries, we find evidence that corporate financial flexibility enhances investment ability and reduces the sensitivity of investment to cash flow. In addition, financial flexibility reduces equity payout and increases cash holdings. The effects of financial flexibility on investment ability and financial policies are elevated during the global financial crisis of 2007–2009. Our results also show that financial flexibility adds to firm value, particularly during the financial crisis. Financially flexible firms suffer less from negative shocks. We find that financially flexible firms had smaller cutbacks in investment expenditures and equity payouts and suffered less in operating performance than never financially flexible firms during the global financial crisis.

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  • Yung, Kenneth & Li, DeQing Diane & Jian, Yi, 2015. "The value of corporate financial flexibility in emerging countries," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 32, pages 25-41.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:mulfin:v:32-33:y:2015:i::p:25-41
    DOI: 10.1016/j.mulfin.2015.07.001
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Financial flexibility; Unused debt capacity; Financial crisis; Sensitivity of investment to cash flow; Firm value; Equity payout;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F30 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - General
    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G35 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Payout Policy

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