Javier Sánchez Vidal () (Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena) Juan Francisco Martín Ugedo () (Universidad de Murcia)
Abstract
The objective of this work is to analyse the factors motivating firms to follow a conservative (or low-leverage) financial policy over several years. We carry out a study on a sample of 1,396 Spanish firms in the period 1993-2001. Using logit regression and various difference of means analyses, we test the influence of a number of variables associated with the pecking order theory, optimal capital structure theory and information asymmetries. Our findings show that conservative firms have a capital structure determined by the cash flows generated and their investment in tangible and intangible fixed assets, in accordance therefore with the pecking order theory. The findings do not provide support either for the optimal capital structure theory or for the role of information asymmetries, since in the majority of cases the results are not significant and/or contrary to what is predicted. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar los factores por los cuales una empresa sigue una política financiera conservadora o de bajo endeudamiento durante varios años. Se lleva a cabo el estudio con una muestra de 1.396 empresas para el periodo 1993-2001 y mediante regresión logit y diferentes análisis de diferencias de medias se testa la influencia de varias variables relativas a la teoría de la jerarquía, de la estructura financiera y a asimetrías informativas. Los resultados muestran que las empresas conservadoras tienen una estructura financiera determinada por los cash-flows generados y por las inversiones en inmovilizado material e inmaterial, acorde, por tanto, con la teoría de la jerarquía financiera. Los resultados para la teoría de la estructura financiera óptima y para las asimetrías informativas son poco significativos y, en algunos casos, contrarios a lo que predicen.
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Publisher Info
Paper provided by Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Económicas, S.A. (Ivie) in its series Working Papers. Serie EC with number
2005-19.
Find related papers by JEL classification: G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Capital and Ownership Structure
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