M.Com. (Business Management) / South African companies now realise that they have a responsibility to ensure that the natural resources as well as the people living within the communities in which they operate must be preserved and nurtured to ensure that future generations enjoy their benefits as much as the current generation does today. Companies are under ever-increasing pressure from both internal and external stakeholders to consider the environmental and social impacts of their operations and to mitigate these impacts. To this end, sustainable development (SD) has gained significant importance and the reporting of sustainability performance is the means by which companies communicate their efforts to their stakeholders. This study analyses the relationship between sustainability performance and financial performance to ascertain whether the ‘business case’ for sustainability exists in South African listed companies. There has been a substantial amount of research on the topic of SD and its implications for companies; the focus for this study however is on whether sustainability initiatives are important indicators of financial performance. Research conducted by Montabon, Sroufe and Narashiman (2007:998), assessed the relationship between corporate reporting, environmental management practices and company performance, however the unit of analysis was North American, British and Australian companies. This study will replicate the study of Montabon et al, with a focus on South African Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) listed companies. In addition, comparisons will be drawn between developed world companies and companies within an emerging market. Pertinent literature on the topic has been reviewed and the results will be compared to the work of Artriach, Lee, Nelson, and Walker, J. (2010); Reed (2001) as well as Porter and van der Linde (1995). The results of the study reveal that an overall positive relationship exists between sustainability performance and financial performance thus, the research supports the notion that efforts to preserve and nurture environmental and human resources lead to improved financial performance.

Recent increases in stock repurchases among U.S. corporations coupled with a historically low cost of debt since the Global Financial Crisis has created media speculation that firms in recent years are paying for their expanding share buyback programs with debt. Repurchasing stock by increasing leverage, instead of using internal funds, implies that managers may speculate on current low interest rate environments at the expense of shareholders. Recent studies find that stock repurchases are associated with reductions in future firm employment and investments such as capital expenditures and research and development expenses. This study expands on prior studies by evaluating how debt-financed stock repurchases affect firm investment, investigating the likelihood of these repurchases in low interest rate environments and assessing the effects on firm value. Results confirm that, in recent years, debt-financed repurchases have increased substantially and the probability of debt-financed repurchases increases in the presence of low interest rates. This relationship is especially pronounced in the years following the Global Financial Crisis. Debt-financed repurchases are associated with small reductions in firm investment; however, these reductions are significantly less after adjusting for industry conditions. Finally, there is little evidence that the method of financing repurchases affects firm value nor does it increase a firm's operating performance.

This study examines the divide between finance theory and practice by analysing the significance of the determinants of capital structure choice among 123 listed firms on the JSE, to determine whether these firms follow the trade-off theory or the pecking-order theory. Data obtained from McGregor’s Bureau of Financial Analysis database was analysed using standard multiple regressions, stepwise regressions and ANOVA techniques to test for financing behaviour. The results indicated that the trade-off model has both cross-sectional and time-series explanatory power for explaining the financing behaviour, while tests on the pecking-order model were weak. The results further revealed a significant positive correlation between debt financing and financial distress, and a significant negative correlation between debt financing and the collateral value of assets during the period under study (1995-2005). These findings suggest a divergence between finance theory and practice for JSE listed firms and manifest conflicting ideologies between finance practices of developed and developing economies. / Business management / M. Com. (Business Management )

The use of financial planning and control systems is one of the factors that influence the survival of small businesses. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the use of financial planning and control systems contributes to the survival of manufacturing MSEs in the Tshwane metropolitan area. The development and use of financial planning and control systems in MSEs was investigated. Manufacturing MSEs were asked to disclose the financial planning and control systems being utilised. Respondents indicated that they use some form of financial planning and control, be it, on a formal or informal basis. Most of these firms had been operating for a number of years suggesting that the use of financial planning and control systems, inter alia, contributes to the survival of an entity. The more modern financial planning and control systems are not readily used by manufacturing MSEs, but could be beneficial to their survival. / Management Accounting / M. Com. (Accounting)

by Cheuk Kam-wa. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 43-45). / ABSTRACT --- p.iii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iv / LIST OF TABLES --- p.vi / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.vii / INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / WHAT IS ADR? --- p.5 / The Trading Mechanism --- p.6 / Issuance --- p.6 / Transfer - intra-market trading --- p.7 / Cancellation --- p.7 / Trading - pricing --- p.8 / Equity offerings --- p.8 / OVERVIEW OF US SECURITIES REGULATIONS --- p.10 / The Securities Act of 1933 --- p.10 / The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 --- p.11 / TYPES OF ADR --- p.13 / Unsponsored ADR --- p.13 / Sponsored ADR --- p.14 / Level-I --- p.14 / Level- II --- p.15 / Level- III --- p.16 / Rule 144A --- p.16 / ADVANTAGES AND BARRIERS OF ADR ISSUANCE TO HONG KONG LISTED COMPANIES --- p.19 / Advantages --- p.19 / Barriers --- p.20 / Deferred taxation --- p.21 / Proposed final dividend --- p.21 / Retirement scheme costs --- p.21 / Property revaluation --- p.22 / OVERVIEW OF THE ADR MARKETS --- p.25 / Comparison Between The Regional Stock Markets In The US --- p.26 / Outlook --- p.28 / THE IMPACT OF ADR LISTINGS ON RISK AND RETURN FOR HONG KONG LISTED COMPANIES --- p.32 / Methodology --- p.32 / The effect of the listing of ADRs on underlying stock price --- p.34 / Interpretation of results on the effect on underlying stock price --- p.36 / The effect of the listing of ADRs on underlying stock volatility --- p.37 / Interpretation of results on the effect on underlying stock volatility --- p.38 / Conclusions --- p.40 / APPENDIX 1 : LIST OF HONG KONG LISTED COMPANIES WITH ADR PROGRAMMES --- p.41 / REFERENCES --- p.43

by Yam Kam Shing. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 43-45). / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iii / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter II. --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.2 / Chapter III. --- EQUITY FINANCING --- p.4 / Listing Equity Shares In Hong Kong --- p.4 / Listing Equity Shares In Overseas Market --- p.10 / Venture Capital / Investment Funds --- p.15 / Private Placement --- p.21 / Chapter IV. --- DEBT FINANCING --- p.22 / Issuing Debt Securities --- p.22 / Project Finance --- p.29 / Borrowing from Local Banks --- p.32 / Borrowing from PRC Banks --- p.32 / Chapter V. --- OTHER METHODS --- p.33 / World Bank and its affiliates --- p.33 / Export Credit --- p.35 / Suppliers' Financing --- p.37 / Customer Financing --- p.38 / Franchising --- p.38 / Leasing --- p.38 / Counter-Trade --- p.39 / Staff Financing --- p.41 / Chapter VI. --- SUMMARY --- p.42 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.43 / APPENDICES --- p.46 / Abbreviations / SEHK the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Ltd / HKMA Hong Kong Monetary Authority / PBOC the People's Bank of China (the central bank of China) / MOFTEC the Ministry of Foreign Trade & Economic Cooperation of China / "Listing Rules ""Rules Governing the Listing of Securities"", SEHK"

by Chan Wai Wong, Cheung Che Yan Vivian. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 39-40). / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.iv / TABLE OF CONTENTS / LIST OF TABLES --- p.vi / LIST OF FIGURE --- p.vi / Chapter / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / """Blue Chip"" Companies" --- p.3 / """Red Chip"" Companies" --- p.4 / Chapter II. --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.6 / Optimal Capital Structure --- p.6 / Pecking Order Theory --- p.8 / Study on Capital Structure of Hong Kong Companies --- p.11 / Chapter III. --- DATA AND METHODOLOGY --- p.13 / Chapter IV. --- RESULTS AND FINDINGS --- p.17 / Pattern and Trend of Debt / Equity Ratios --- p.17 / Empirical Test of Pecking Order Application in Hong Kong --- p.23 / Blue Chip Companies --- p.23 / Red Chip Companies --- p.28 / Chapter V. --- CONCLUSION --- p.34 / APPENDIX --- p.36 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.39

The objective of the research reported in this dissertation is to conduct an empirical test of the hypothesis that, excluding income tax effects, the cost of capital to a firm is independent of the degree of financial leverage employed by the firm. This hypothesis, set forth by Franco Modigliani and Merton Miller in 1958, represents a challenge to the traditional view on the subject, a challenge which carries implications of considerable importance in the field of finance. The challenge has led to a lengthy controversy which can ultimately be resolved only by subjecting the hypothesis to empirical test. The basis of the test was Modigliani and Miller's Proposition II, a corollary of their fundamental hypothesis. Proposition II, in effect, states that equity investors fully discount any increase in risk due to financial leverage so that there is no possibility for the firm to reduce its cost of capital by employing financial leverage. The results of the research reported in this dissertation do not support that contention. The study indicates that, if equity investors require any increase in premium for increasing financial leverage, the premium required is significantly less than that predicted by the Modigliani-Miller Proposition II, over the range of debt-equity ratios covered by this study. The conclusion, then, is that it is possible for a firm to reduce its cost of capital by employing financial leverage. A secondary conclusion that can be drawn from this study is that earning power is an important variable to consider for inclusion in a regression model intended for use in investigating the effect of financial leverage on the cost of capital. The estimated partial regression coefficient of the earning-power variable was negative and highly significant in every cross-section year. Furthermore, earning power showed strong negative partial correlation with the debt-equity ratio. Therefore, omission of the earning-power variable from the regression model would have introduced upward bias into the estimated regression coefficient of the debt-equity ratio, making it appear that investors were reacting adversely to increasing debt-equity ratio. However, models used in previous tests of the Modigliani-Miller hypothesis have not included earning power.

This study examines the divide between finance theory and practice by analysing the significance of the determinants of capital structure choice among 123 listed firms on the JSE, to determine whether these firms follow the trade-off theory or the pecking-order theory. Data obtained from McGregor’s Bureau of Financial Analysis database was analysed using standard multiple regressions, stepwise regressions and ANOVA techniques to test for financing behaviour. The results indicated that the trade-off model has both cross-sectional and time-series explanatory power for explaining the financing behaviour, while tests on the pecking-order model were weak. The results further revealed a significant positive correlation between debt financing and financial distress, and a significant negative correlation between debt financing and the collateral value of assets during the period under study (1995-2005). These findings suggest a divergence between finance theory and practice for JSE listed firms and manifest conflicting ideologies between finance practices of developed and developing economies. / Business management / M. Com. (Business Management )

The use of financial planning and control systems is one of the factors that influence the survival of small businesses. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the use of financial planning and control systems contributes to the survival of manufacturing MSEs in the Tshwane metropolitan area. The development and use of financial planning and control systems in MSEs was investigated. Manufacturing MSEs were asked to disclose the financial planning and control systems being utilised. Respondents indicated that they use some form of financial planning and control, be it, on a formal or informal basis. Most of these firms had been operating for a number of years suggesting that the use of financial planning and control systems, inter alia, contributes to the survival of an entity. The more modern financial planning and control systems are not readily used by manufacturing MSEs, but could be beneficial to their survival. / Management Accounting / M. Com. (Accounting)