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Debt Financing and Financial Flexibility Evidence from Pro-active Leverage Increases

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  • David J. Denis
  • Stephen B. Mckeon

Abstract

Firms that intentionally increase leverage through substantial debt issuances do so primarily as a response to operating needs rather than a desire to make a large equity payout. Subsequent debt reductions are neither rapid, nor the result of pro-active attempts to rebalance the firm s capital structure towards a long-run target. Instead, the evolution of the firm s leverage ratio depends primarily on whether or not the firm produces a financial surplus. In fact, firms that generate subsequent deficits tend to cover these deficits predominantly with more debt even though they exhibit leverage ratios that are well above estimated target levels. While many of our findings are difficult to reconcile with traditional capital structure models, they are broadly consistent with a capital structure theory in which financial flexibility, in the form of unused debt capacity, plays an important role in capital structure choices.

Suggested Citation

  • David J. Denis & Stephen B. Mckeon, 2010. "Debt Financing and Financial Flexibility Evidence from Pro-active Leverage Increases," Purdue University Economics Working Papers 1243, Purdue University, Department of Economics.
  • Handle: RePEc:pur:prukra:1243
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    File URL: https://business.purdue.edu/research/Working-papers-series/2010/1243.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. White, Halbert, 1980. "A Heteroskedasticity-Consistent Covariance Matrix Estimator and a Direct Test for Heteroskedasticity," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 48(4), pages 817-838, May.
    2. Mitchell A. Petersen, 2009. "Estimating Standard Errors in Finance Panel Data Sets: Comparing Approaches," Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 22(1), pages 435-480, January.
    3. Huang, Rongbing & Ritter, Jay R., 2009. "Testing Theories of Capital Structure and Estimating the Speed of Adjustment," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 44(2), pages 237-271, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Fliers, Philip T., 2019. "What is the relation between financial flexibility and dividend smoothing?," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 98-111.
    2. 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.
    3. Kuti, Mónika, 2011. "Cash Flow at Risk, Financial Flexibility and Financing Constraint," Public Finance Quarterly, Corvinus University of Budapest, vol. 56(4), pages 505-517.
    4. Nwaobia A. N. & Kwarbai J. D. & Jayeoba, O. O. & Ajibade A. T., 2016. "Financial Reporting Quality on Investors’ Decisions," International Journal of Economics and Financial Research, Academic Research Publishing Group, vol. 2(7), pages 140-147, 07-2016.
    5. Gregory, Richard P., 2020. "Political risk and financial flexibility in BRICS countries," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 166-174.
    6. Anastassiadis, Friederike & Liebe, Ulf & Mußhoff, Oliver, 2015. "Financial Flexibility in agricultural investment decisions: A discrete choice experiment," Agricultural Economics Review, Greek Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12.
    7. Amore, Mario Daniele & Minichilli, Alessandro & Corbetta, Guido, 2011. "How do managerial successions shape corporate financial policies in family firms?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 17(4), pages 1016-1027, September.
    8. Zaher Abdel Fattah Al-Slehat, 2021. "The Impact of the Financial Flexibility on the Performance: An Empirical Study on a Sample of Jordanian Services Sector Firms in Period (2010-2017)," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 14(6), pages 1-1, July.
    9. Devos, Erik & Dhillon, Upinder & Jagannathan, Murali & Krishnamurthy, Srinivasan, 2012. "Why are firms unlevered?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 18(3), pages 664-682.

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