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Do Firms Purposefully Change Capital Structure? Evidence from an Investment-Opportunity Shock to Drug Firms

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  • Giambona, Erasmo
  • Golec, Joseph
  • Lopez-de-Silanes, Florencio

Abstract

We study the capital structure changes of drug firms after an investment-opportunity shock brought about by the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act. Using a difference-in-difference approach, we show that the shock led drug firms to make their capital structures less constraining by decreasing leverage, shortening debt maturity, increasing unsecured debt, and reducing convertible debt. New debt covenants became less restrictive and firms raised equity to preserve borrowing capacity. Our results support the view that firms actively manage their capital structures to bolster financial flexibility and increase debt capacity in response to new investment opportunities.

Suggested Citation

  • Giambona, Erasmo & Golec, Joseph & Lopez-de-Silanes, Florencio, 2021. "Do Firms Purposefully Change Capital Structure? Evidence from an Investment-Opportunity Shock to Drug Firms," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 56(3), pages 915-944, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jfinqa:v:56:y:2021:i:3:p:915-944_6
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    Cited by:

    1. Blomkvist, Magnus & Felixson, Karl & Löflund, Anders & Vyas, Hitesh, 2022. "Strategic underleveraging and acquisitions," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    2. Lo, Andrew W. & Thakor, Richard T., 2023. "Financial intermediation and the funding of biomedical innovation: A review," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    3. François, Pascal & Naqvi, Hassan, 2023. "Secured and unsecured debt in creditor-friendly bankruptcy," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    4. Biguri, Kizkitza, 2023. "How Does Access to the Unsecured Debt Market Affect Investment?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    5. Gan, Liu & Xia, Xin & Zhang, Hai, 2022. "Debt structure and debt overhang," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    6. Dominika Gajdosikova & Katarina Valaskova & Tomas Kliestik & Maria Kovacova, 2023. "Research on Corporate Indebtedness Determinants: A Case Study of Visegrad Group Countries," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-30, January.

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