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Capital structure choice of foreign subsidiaries: evidence from multinationals in Brazil

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  • Werlang, Sérgio Ribeiro da Costa
  • Novaes, Walter

Abstract

Is the capital structure choice of a foreign subsidiary different from the choice of a comparable company controlled by nationals? If so, what are the differences? In this paper we shed some light on these questions by looking at a sample of foreign subsidiaries in Brazil over the period 1985 to 1994. We find that the foreign subsidiaries in our sample are more levered than their Brazilian counterparts. This difference, however, has declined over time. The evidence is consistent with the hypothesis that foreign subsidiaries increase leverage as a hedge against an expropriation of assets in a nationalization process.

Suggested Citation

  • Werlang, Sérgio Ribeiro da Costa & Novaes, Walter, 1998. "Capital structure choice of foreign subsidiaries: evidence from multinationals in Brazil," FGV EPGE Economics Working Papers (Ensaios Economicos da EPGE) 340, EPGE Brazilian School of Economics and Finance - FGV EPGE (Brazil).
    • Handle: RePEc:fgv:epgewp:340
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    Cited by:

    1. José Luiz Rossi Júnior, 2007. "The Use of Currency Derivatives by Brazilian Companies: An Empirical Investigation," Brazilian Review of Finance, Brazilian Society of Finance, vol. 5(2), pages 205-232.
    2. João Paulo Martins Linhares & Hsia Hua Sheng & Daniela Verzola Vaz & Nilton Deodoro Moreira Cardoso Junior, 2017. "Influence of Macroeconomic Factors in the Capital Structure of Foreign Subsidiarie," Outlines of global transformations: politics, economics, law, Center for Crisis Society Studies, vol. 10(4).
    3. Pacheco, Luís, 2016. "Capital structure and internationalization: The case of Portuguese industrial SMEs," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 531-545.

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