Free cash flow and capital structure is a widely covered topic, with several studies conducted in previous years and markets. We set out to examine the possible effects of free cash flow and capital structure on the Stockholm Nasdaq OMX between the years 2018 and 2022. Regarding this period, no previous studies had been conducted that consisted of a population encompassing an entire market. We decided to employ a deductive approach to perform our quantitative research. Using the ORBIS database, we gathered data regarding variables free cash flow, debt ratio, debt-equity ratio, asset turnover ratio, return on equity and return on assets. Return on equity and return on assets worked as our dependent variables, with free cash flow, debt ratio, debt-equity ratio and asset turnover ratio as independent variables. After testing the data for heteroskedasticity and autocorrelation, a fixed effects regression model was both constructed and examined along with a Pearson’s correlation test.  Our results indicated a significant negative relationship between free cash flow and return on equity, as well as a significant positive relationship between asset turnover ratio and return on equity. From these results, we gathered we had detected evidence to support the financial slack theory, which is a theory that highlights the importance of keeping an excess of resources to use when needed. The theory advocates using additional resources and not allowing an overflow of assets to gather dust in inventory.

This study examines the relationship between financial conditions and on-field success among 36 prominent European football clubs from 2010 to 2017. The research employs panel regression analysis to explore how clubs’ financial indicators such as wage costs, increasing revenues, debt-equity ratios, and return on assets correlate with their sporting performance. The findings suggest a substantial association between these financial factors and the clubs’ achievements. In particular, the results emphasize the importance of wage costs and increasingrevenues in boosting a club’s capacity to invest in high-quality players, thereby improving sporting outcomes. The presence of a top globally ranked player also has a significant impacton a club’s performance. These findings carry important policy implications for club management and governing bodies, particularly in revising wage regulations and promoting vigilant financial management for sustainable growth and competitiveness.

The relationship between disclosure about sustainability, financial performance, andcorporate governance deserves more attention in the modern business environment. Thisthesis investigates the complex variations in this relationship in the case of Swedish listedcompanies. This study intends to provide insight on the mechanisms by which governancestructures influence the financial consequences of sustainability initiatives byinvestigating how corporate governance functions as a mediator between sustainabilitydisclosure and financial performance. Utilizing data from the NASDAQ Stockholm via the REFINITIV EIKON Database, thestudy investigates the implicit impact of corporate governance components such as boardgender diversity and CEO-Chairman duality on determining the relationship betweensustainability practices and financial performance. The study's systematic search strategyand methodical analysis aim to provide significant insights for companies, investors, andregulators on how to use governance frameworks to generate sustainable andadvantageous business models. This study contributes to the broader conversation on corporate sustainability andgovernance practices by addressing a knowledge gap about how governance structuresregulate the relationship between sustainability disclosure and financial performance. Thefindings are meant to inspire stakeholders about the crucial role that governance plays inpromoting sustainable business practices in the Swedish corporate landscape, as well as tohave practical implications for companies looking to enhance their financial performanceand sustainability strategies.

This research examines at the effect of corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenditure in two state commercial banks and few other financial institutions that are listed on the CSE in Sri Lanka. The independent variable in this analysis is CSR expenditure, whereas the dependent variable is financial performance. Market- and accounting-based performance metrics (ROA, ROE and EPS) are used to assess the financial performance of the financial institutions. The study's control variables were firm age, firm size, and GDP growth rate. For a duration of Eight years, the researchers gathered secondary data on the financial institutions from 2015 to 2022 by using audited annual reports, which included 13 financial institutions as a sample. The study findings reveal that CSR has a statistically significant impact on financial performance. The correlation analysis demonstrated a statistically significant relationship between CSR expenditure and ROA, ROE, and EPS. The correlation coefficient showed that all of the suggested hypotheses were significant and acceptable. The findings from the regression analysis revealed that CSR expenditure has an impact on the financial institution's ROA, ROE, and EPS. The results and implications can assist Sri Lankan financial institutions in designing their CSR projects to maximize value for the organization, resulting in a win-win situation. In addition, investing in CSR as a non-profit endeavor might help financial institutions meet their social responsibility obligations while also enhancing future intangible revenues and preparing them for market competitiveness. In contrast, CSR investments may improve community development, diversity promotion, and quality of life while treating social challenges including poverty, healthcare, education, and environmental sustainability.

This study examined the nature and extent of relations between Management of Technology [MOT] and cost management. It explores the roles of competencies and competency measurement in these relations and its associations with company performance. The problem statement asks how the MOT community deals with cost management, whether MOT-based cost management competencies can be isolated and measured, whether a tool for measurement can be created, tested and validated and indeed whether it can be used to assess relations between MOT-based cost management competencies and company performance. To answer these questions, a MOT-based cost management competency index is formulated, consisting of problem statements representing MOT-based cost management insights, knowledge and practices. Designed in the format of a typical research survey, the index is used to source data from sampled companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange [JSE]. Although too small a sample to generalise about the population, sufficient data is collected and processed with statistical software programs. A second set of variables, about financial performance of the responding companies, consists of Asset Turnover [ATO] and Return on Assets Managed [ROAM]. Data for these variables is sourced from their annual financial statements and processed into ATO and ROAM indicators. The combined research data set is used to critically describe statistical qualities of variables such as ATO, ROAM, MOT-based cost management competencies of company executives, their education and exposure to the executive management teams in their respective organizations. The research data is subsequently subjected to correlation analysis, as foundation for hypothesis testing. Among the relationships described by correlation analysis and warranting further examination with regression analysis, are associations between MOT-based cost management competencies and ATO and between Education and MOT-based cost management competencies. The former association is found to be not significant, having the research hypothesis rejected. A significant association between Education and MOT-based cost management competencies is indeed found. Utilizing regression equations yielded by the analyses, the predictive capacity of regression analysis is used to demonstrate results of interventions in those associations postulated in the research hypotheses. The study concludes that it achieved a qualified success in its first objective, which was to formulate a MOT-based cost management competency index, and to demonstrate its application as measurement and management tool on executive managers of JSE-listed companies. The study failed in its second objective, which was to demonstrate a significant association between MOT-based cost management competencies and financial performance of sampled companies. Critical perspectives on the data and the associations tested reveal important shortcomings in the research. These perspectives do though create opportunities for refinement of the MOT-based cost management competency index as measurement and management tool, validation of its status, and indeed demonstration of its business value to the MOT and business community in particular. In closure, the study was meant as a contribution to the discourse on a credo for MOT and the MOT body of knowledge, and it subjects itself to critical analysis by the research community so as to establish whether it succeeded in indeed making such a contribution. / Business Management / M.Tech. (Business Administration)

Thesis (M.Com. (Accounting))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

It is acknowledged that the primary objective of any company should be the creation of shareholder-value. However, it is also recognised that there are other stakeholders, with their own financial and/or non-financial objectives, which could impact on a company's overall financial performance. Management should therefore identify stakeholder-groups which could impact on the company and formulate a model in addressing their objectives. This study integrates elements from the theory of shareholder-value, the agency-theory, the theory of property rights and different stakeholder orientation-models to develop the approach of responsible stakeholder-management in the creation of shareholder-value. Stakeholders can be grouped into economic, social and environmental components. The concept of sustainable development has exploded in recent years. Three main elements of sustainable development were identified, namely economic, social and environmental development, referred to as "Triple Bottom Line (TBL)". Several organisations have started focussing on the concept of sustainability by guiding the development of sustainability policies. However, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has become the de facto global standard for reporting on sustainable development. The concept of TBL, and how the three elements of sustainability could contribute to the maximisation of shareholder-value, is discussed. The results of the empirical study, where the financial performance and shareholder-growth of companies listed on the JSE and which adopted and reported on the GRI-guidelines, were compared to a group of companies in the same index grouping of the JSE that had not formally adopted and reported on the guidelines, identified a clear trend that those reporting on their sustainability policies had had a much better growth in five of the six financial measures used than the comparative group. / Thesis (M.Com. (Accounting))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

It is acknowledged that the primary objective of any company should be the creation of shareholder-value. However, it is also recognised that there are other stakeholders, with their own financial and/or non-financial objectives, which could impact on a company's overall financial performance. Management should therefore identify stakeholder-groups which could impact on the company and formulate a model in addressing their objectives. This study integrates elements from the theory of shareholder-value, the agency-theory, the theory of property rights and different stakeholder orientation-models to develop the approach of responsible stakeholder-management in the creation of shareholder-value. Stakeholders can be grouped into economic, social and environmental components. The concept of sustainable development has exploded in recent years. Three main elements of sustainable development were identified, namely economic, social and environmental development, referred to as "Triple Bottom Line (TBL)". Several organisations have started focussing on the concept of sustainability by guiding the development of sustainability policies. However, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has become the de facto global standard for reporting on sustainable development. The concept of TBL, and how the three elements of sustainability could contribute to the maximisation of shareholder-value, is discussed. The results of the empirical study, where the financial performance and shareholder-growth of companies listed on the JSE and which adopted and reported on the GRI-guidelines, were compared to a group of companies in the same index grouping of the JSE that had not formally adopted and reported on the guidelines, identified a clear trend that those reporting on their sustainability policies had had a much better growth in five of the six financial measures used than the comparative group. / Thesis (M.Com. (Accounting))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Företag på NASDAQ OMXS Small Cap har sedan 2008 omfattats av svensk kod för bolagsstyrning, Koden. Kodens målgrupp är företagen men syftet är att främja investerares och aktieägares intressen. Det är således rimligt att ställa krav på att Kodens regler är av hög kvalité utifrån deras perspektiv. I studien undersöks vilka samband som existerar mellan reglerna i Koden angående styrelsen och Small Cap företagens lönsamhet, mätt som räntabilitet på totalt kapital. Sambanden används sedan för att avgöra om reglerna i Koden är korrekt utformade eller om de behöver modifieras. Resultaten visar att VD-ersättning är negativt relaterad till räntabilitet på totalt kapital vilket innebär att regeln om en ersättningskommitté behöver modifieras eller kompletteras. Inga samband hittades mellan kvinnor i styrelsen och lönsamhet och ej heller mellan styrelsens storlek och lönsamhet. Reglerna kring dessa två variabler bedöms vara i linje med resultatet och behöver inte modifieras. Svagare negativa samband hittades mellan styrelsens oberoende avseende ledning och ägare och lönsamhet. Reglerna angående styrelsens oberoende avseende ledning bedöms vara i behov av en mindre justering, likaså reglerna angående oberoende avseende ägarna. / NASDAQ OMXS Small Cap firms are since 2008 subject to swedish code of corporate governance, the Code. The Code’s targetgroup are firms but the purpose is to promote investor and shareholder interests. It’s thus reasonable to ask for high quality in the rules of the Code from their perspective. This study examine which connections between rules of the Code concerning board of directors and profitability, measured as return on assets, that exist. These connections are then used to decide if the rules of the Code are correct or in need of modification. Our results show that CEO-remuneration is negatively related to profitability which means that the rule about remunerationcommittee need a modification or to be supplemented. No connections between number of women in boards and profitability was found and no connection between board size and profitability either. The rules of the Code regarding these two variables are in line with our results and need no modification. Weaker connections between board independence with respect to management and owners and profitability was found. The rules of the Code regarding board independence concerning management and owners are in need of small adjustments.

This study examined the nature and extent of relations between Management of Technology [MOT] and cost management. It explores the roles of competencies and competency measurement in these relations and its associations with company performance. The problem statement asks how the MOT community deals with cost management, whether MOT-based cost management competencies can be isolated and measured, whether a tool for measurement can be created, tested and validated and indeed whether it can be used to assess relations between MOT-based cost management competencies and company performance. To answer these questions, a MOT-based cost management competency index is formulated, consisting of problem statements representing MOT-based cost management insights, knowledge and practices. Designed in the format of a typical research survey, the index is used to source data from sampled companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange [JSE]. Although too small a sample to generalise about the population, sufficient data is collected and processed with statistical software programs. A second set of variables, about financial performance of the responding companies, consists of Asset Turnover [ATO] and Return on Assets Managed [ROAM]. Data for these variables is sourced from their annual financial statements and processed into ATO and ROAM indicators. The combined research data set is used to critically describe statistical qualities of variables such as ATO, ROAM, MOT-based cost management competencies of company executives, their education and exposure to the executive management teams in their respective organizations. The research data is subsequently subjected to correlation analysis, as foundation for hypothesis testing. Among the relationships described by correlation analysis and warranting further examination with regression analysis, are associations between MOT-based cost management competencies and ATO and between Education and MOT-based cost management competencies. The former association is found to be not significant, having the research hypothesis rejected. A significant association between Education and MOT-based cost management competencies is indeed found. Utilizing regression equations yielded by the analyses, the predictive capacity of regression analysis is used to demonstrate results of interventions in those associations postulated in the research hypotheses. The study concludes that it achieved a qualified success in its first objective, which was to formulate a MOT-based cost management competency index, and to demonstrate its application as measurement and management tool on executive managers of JSE-listed companies. The study failed in its second objective, which was to demonstrate a significant association between MOT-based cost management competencies and financial performance of sampled companies. Critical perspectives on the data and the associations tested reveal important shortcomings in the research. These perspectives do though create opportunities for refinement of the MOT-based cost management competency index as measurement and management tool, validation of its status, and indeed demonstration of its business value to the MOT and business community in particular. In closure, the study was meant as a contribution to the discourse on a credo for MOT and the MOT body of knowledge, and it subjects itself to critical analysis by the research community so as to establish whether it succeeded in indeed making such a contribution. / Business Management / M.Tech. (Business Administration)