Syftet med denna studie var att analysera och beskriva huruvida det föreligger ett samband mellan kapitalstruktur och lönsamhet i små- och medelstora företag inom smycke- och klockbranschen. Valet av denna inriktning grundar sig på avsaknaden av tidigare forskning inom detta specifika område samt detaljhandelns dynamiska natur, vilket bidrog till ett ökat intresse. Studiens teoretiska ramverk baserades på pecking-order teorin. En kvantitativ metod med en deduktiv ansats har använts. Sekundärdata har hämtats från databasen Retriever Business. För att uppnå studiens ändamål har olika dataanalyser genomförts med hjälp av variablerna: lönsamhet (mätt som ROA och ROE), långfristiga skulder, kortfristiga skulder, storlek och ålder. Studien omfattar observationer från 166 mikroföretag inom smycke- och klockbranschen, verksamma under tidsperioden 2018-2022.  Resultaten utifrån regressionsanalysen visade ett negativt samband mellan kapitalstruktur och lönsamhet, vilket betonar riskerna med hög skuldsättning. Ett statistiskt signifikant samband visades mellan kortfristiga skulder och lönsamhet och indikerar att höga nivåer av kortfristiga skulder är associerade med lägre lönsamhet. Detta går delvis i linje med pecking order-teorin, men osäkerheten i resultaten kräver ytterligare forskning. Ett statistiskt signifikant samband påvisades mellan långfristiga skulder och lönsamhet vilket stöttas av pecking order-teorin. Resultaten för sambandet mellan företagsstorlek och lönsamhet var tvetydiga. Inga signifikanta samband hittades mellan företagens ålder och lönsamhet, vilket innebär att företagens ålder inte har någon statistiskt signifikant inverkan på lönsamhet i smycke- och klockbranschen.   Resultatet har analyserats utifrån tidigare forskning och pecking order-teorin som visar studiens varierande resultat. Vissa resultat stöttades av ställda hypoteser medan andra sa emot dem. / The purpose of this study is to analyze and describe the relationship between capital structure and profitability in small and medium- sized enterprises within the retal sector, with a specific focus on the jewelry and watch industry. This particular focus is chosen due to the lack of previous research in this specific area and the dynamic nature of the retail industry, which adds to its interest. The theoretical framework of the study is based on the pecking order theory. A quantitative method with a deductive approach had been utilized. Secondary data has been sourced from the Retriever Business database. To achieve the study's objectives, various data analyses were conducted using the variables: profitability (measured as ROA and ROE), long-term debt, short-term debt, size, and age. The study included observations from 166 micro-enterprises within the jewelry and watch industry, operating during the period 2018-2022. The results from the regression analysis demonstrated a negative relationship between capital structure and profitability, highlighting the risks associated with high levels of debt. A statistically significant relationship was found between short-term debt and profitability, indicating that higher levels of short-term debt are associated with lower profitability. This finding is partially in line with the pecking order theory, but the uncertainty in the results calls for further research. A statistically significant relationship was also observed between long-term debt and profitability, which supported the pecking order theory. The results for the relationship between firm size and profitability were mixed. No significant relationships were found between the age of the firms and profitability, suggesting that firm age does not have a statistically significant impact on profitability in the jewelry and watch industry. The results have been analyzed in the context of previous research and the pecking order theory, showing the study's varying outcomes. Some results supported the stated hypotheses, while others contradicted them.

Den här studien undersöker hur den senaste finansiella krisen (Covid-19) har motiveratsvenska små och medelstora företags kapitalstruktur, genom att jämföra kapitalstrukturen förekris (2015-2018) och under kris (2019-2022). För att genomföra detta undersöktes fyrabranscher i 328 små och medelstora företag i Sverige och hur deras hävstång har förändratsunder studieperioden. Resultaten av denna studie visar att de undersökta svenska små ochmedelstora företagen sänkte sin hävstång under krisperioden, ökade kortfristiga skuldkvotenoch sänkte långfristiga skuldkvoten. / This study examines how the recent financial crisis (Covid-19) has motivated the capitalstructure of Swedish small and medium-sized enterprises, by comparing the capital structurebefore the crisis (2015-2018) and during the crisis (2019-2022). To carry this out, fourindustries in 328 small and medium-sized enterprises in Sweden were investigated and howtheir leverage has changed during the study period. The results of this study show that thesampled Swedish small and medium-sized enterprises lowered their leverage during the crisisperiod, increased the short-term debt ratio and lowered the long-term debt ratio.

This study explores Swedish real estate companies' financial risk management strategies during economic downturns, specifically during periods with significant hikes in policy and interest rates. Primarily utilizing a quantitative approach, the study analyzes data from publicly listed real estate firms with mixed portfolios on the Stockholm Stock Exchange Nasdaq Stockholm, aiming to understand the impact of financial strategies on company performance between Q3 2016 and Q4 2023. In complementing the quantitative data, the study also incorporates a qualitative component through interviews with experienced professionals in the real estate industry, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the strategies employed. This study addresses a research gap by providing quantitative evidence on risk management practices in the real estate sector. It investigates how these companies adjust their financial strategies in response to market conditions and the cyclical nature of real estate investments. The findings highlight asset divestment and capital structure management as critical strategies during downturns. Divestment is primarily used to increase liquidity in internal finances. Additionally, companies actively manage their debt levels through amortizations and refinancing loans to mitigate financial stress. The results suggest that maintaining a stable capital structure and leveraging internal financing are crucial for navigating economic uncertainties. These strategies enable firms to enhance their financial resilience and operational stability during challenging economic periods. The study's conclusions emphasize the importance of strategic financial planning and the need for adaptive risk management practices to sustain business operations in volatile economic environments. / Denna studie undersöker svenska fastighetsbolags strategier för hantering av finansiella risker under ekonomiska recessioner, särskilt under perioder med betydande höjningar av penning- och räntesatser. Studien använder främst en kvantitativ metod och analyserar data från börsnoterade fastighetsbolag med blandade portföljer på Stockholmsbörsen Nasdaq Stockholm, med målet att förstå påverkan av finansiella strategier på företagens resultat under perioden Q3 2016 – Q4 2023.För att komplettera den kvantitativa datainsamlingen inkluderar studien även en kvalitativ komponent genom intervjuer med yrkesverksamma inom fastighetsbranschen, vilket ger en mer omfattande förståelse av de strategier som används. Denna studie adresserar en forskningslucka genom att tillhandahålla kvantitativa bevis på riskhanteringsmetoder inom fastighetssektorn. Den undersöker hur dessa företag justerar sina finansiella strategier som svar på marknadsförhållanden och den cykliska naturen hos fastighetsinvesteringar. Resultaten lyfter fram tillgångsavyttring och kapitalstrukturhantering som kritiska strategier under nedgångsperioder. Avyttring används främst för att öka likviditeten i de interna finanserna. Dessutom hanterar företagen aktivt sina skulder genom amorteringar och refinansiering av lån för att mildra finansiell stress. Resultaten tyder på att upprätthållande av en stabil kapitalstruktur och användning av intern finansiering är avgörande för att navigera ekonomiska osäkerheter. Dessa strategier gör det möjligt för företagen att förbättra sin finansiella motståndskraft och operativa stabilitet under utmanande ekonomiska perioder. Studiens slutsatser betonar vikten av strategisk finansiell planering och behovet av adaptiva riskhanteringsmetoder för att upprätthålla affärsverksamheten i volatila ekonomiska miljöer.

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 )

Thesis (MComm (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The objective of almost all firms should be to maximise the wealth of shareholders. To achieve this goal, firms should use an optimal combination of debt and equity, which will consequently result in the lowest weighted average cost of capital. Firms therefore need to determine their target capital structure. This will require firms to be aware of the various factors that can influence their decision-making regarding capital structure. The effects of firm characteristics and economic factors on capital structures have been researched in many countries. Various South African studies have been conducted on this topic; however, limited research was found where both the firm characteristics and economic factors were included in the same study. The majority of South African studies furthermore either focused on a specific industry on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange Limited (JSE) or their focus was predominantly on the theory of capital structure applied by South African firms. Most of the studies were also conducted for the period prior to the demise of apartheid in 1994. Six firm characteristics (profitability, asset structure, liquidity, business risk, growth and size) and three economic factors (interest rate, inflation and economic growth) were identified for this study. The primary objective was to determine the effect of firm characteristics and economic factors on the capital structure of South African listed industrial firms. External databases were used to obtain the data needed for statistical analysis. McGregor BFA (2008) was used to obtain the data required to calculate the measures for the firm characteristics. This database contains annual standardised financial statements for listed and delisted South African firms. INET-Bridge (2005), Statistica South Africa (2006) and the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) website were used to obtain data for the economic factors. The study was conducted for a period of 14 years, from 1995 to 2008. Focusing only on those firms that are listed at the end of the selected period would have exposed the study to a survivorship bias. The census for this study, therefore, included all firms listed on the industrial sector of the JSE, as well as those firms that delisted during the selected period. Firms had to provide financial data for at least five years in order to be included in this study. This requirement was incorporated since the data set contains cross-sectional and time-series dimensions. The final census included a total of 280 firms (170 listed firms and 110 delisted firms), providing 2 684 complete observations for the firm characteristics and 14 complete observations for the economic factors. The results from this study indicated that the growth of firms and the interest rate may be the most important firm characteristic and economic factor, respectively, to consider in financing decisions. The study furthermore indicated that differences exist between the results obtained for book value leverage and those obtained for market value leverage. An important observation is that the results are stronger when the performance of the variables in the preceding year is included. Not only are the R² values higher, but the independent variables also reported to be more significant when one-year lag variables are included. This may indicate that capital structure takes time to adjust. Differences between listed firms and delisted firms are also evident from the results. Lastly, it appears that the firms included in the study overall, lean more towards the pecking order theory than towards the trade-off theory. Based on these results, it appears that firm characteristics and economic factors do have an effect on capital structures of listed industrial firms in South Africa. Firms should, therefore, take these factors into consideration when making their optimal capital structure decisions. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dit behoort die doelwit van byna alle firmas te wees om die welvaart van aandeelhouers maksimaal te verhoog. Om hierdie doelwit te bereik, moet firmas 'n optimale kombinasie van geleende kapitaal en ekwiteit gebruik, wat gevolglik sal lei tot die laagste geweegde gemiddelde koste van kapitaal. Firmas moet dus hulle beoogde kapitaalstruktuur bepaal. Dit sal van firmas vereis word om bewus te wees van die verskillende faktore wat 'n invloed op hul kapitaalstruktuur-besluite kan hê. Die uitwerking van 'n firma se eienskappe en ekonomiese faktore op kapitaalstruktuur is al in baie lande nagevors. Verskeie Suid-Afrikaanse studies is in dié verband gedoen, maar daar is beperkte navorsing waar beide firma eienskappe en ekonomiese faktore in dieselfde studie ingesluit is. Die meerderheid Suid- Afrikaanse studies het gefokus op 'n spesifieke nywerheid op die Johannesburg Sekuriteite-beurs Beperk (JSE) of die hooffokus was op die teorie van kapitaalstruktuur soos deur Suid-Afrikaanse firmas toegepas. Die meeste van die studies is ook gedoen vir die tydperk voor die afskaffing van apartheid in 1994. Ses eienskappe van firmas (winsgewendheid, batestruktuur, likiditeit, sakerisiko, groei en grootte) en drie ekonomiese faktore (rentekoers, inflasie en ekonomiese groei) is vir die studie geïdentifiseer. Die primêre doelwit was om die uitwerking van firmas se eienskappe en ekonomiese faktore op kapitaalstrukture van genoteerde nywerheidsfirmas in Suid-Afrika te bepaal. Eksterne databasisse is gebruik om die data wat vir statistiese ontleding nodig was, te bekom. McGregor BFA (2008) is gebruik om die nodige data vir die berekening van die maatstawwe vir die firma se eienskappe te bekom. Hierdie databasis bevat jaarlikse, gestandaardiseerde finansiële state vir genoteerde en gedenoteerde Suid- Afrikaanse firmas. INET-Bridge (2005), Statistica South Africa (2006) en die Suid- Afrikaanse Reserwebank (SARB) se webtuiste is gebruik om die data vir die ekonomiese faktore te bekom. Die studie is uitgevoer vir 'n tydperk van 14 jaar, van 1995 tot 2008. Deur slegs op daardie firmas wat aan die einde van die navorsingstydperk genoteer was, te fokus sou die studie aan 'n oorlewingsydigheid blootstel. Die sensus vir die studie het, dus, genoteerde firmas op die nywerheidsektor van die JSE asook daardie firmas wat gedurende die geselekteerde tydperk gedenoteer is, ingesluit. Firmas moes finansiële data vir ten minste vyf jaar verskaf om by die studie ingesluit te word. Hierdie vereiste is gestel aangesien die datastel beide deursnee- en tydreeksdimensies bevat het. Die finale sensus het 'n totaal van 280 firmas (170 genoteerde firmas en 110 gedenoteerde firmas) ingesluit, waaruit 2 684 volledige waarnemings vir die firma se eienskappe en 14 volledige waarnemings vir die ekonomiese faktore gemaak kon word. Die resultate van hierdie studie dui moontlik daarop dat die groei van firmas en die rentekoers, onderskeidelik die belangrikste eienskap van 'n firma en ekonomiese faktor is om te oorweeg by finansieringsbesluite. Die studie dui verder daarop dat die resultate, onderskeidelik verkry vir boekwaarde-hefboomwerking en markwaardehefboomwerking, verskil. 'n Belangrike opmerking is dat die resultate sterker is wanneer die prestasie van die veranderlikes in die voorafgaande jaar ingesluit word. Nie alleen is die R²-waardes hoër nie, maar die onafhanklike veranderlikes blyk ook om meer beduidend te wees wanneer een-jaar-vertraagde veranderlikes ingesluit word. Verskille tussen genoteerde firmas en gedenoteerde firmas is ook duidelik uit die resultate van die studie. Laastens wil dit blyk dat die firmas in die studie oor die algemeen meer leun na die pikorde-teorie ("pecking order theory") as na die kompromis-teorie ("trade-off theory"). Op grond van hierdie resultate wil dit voorkom asof 'n firma se eienskappe en die ekonomiese faktore wel 'n uitwerking het op die kapitaalstrukture van genoteerde nywerheidsfirmas in Suid-Afrika. Firmas moet dus hierdie faktore in ag neem wanneer hulle besluite neem rakende hul besluite oor optimale kapitaalstruktuur.

共一冊，約四萬餘字分五章十三節 第一章：緒論 第一節：研究動機與目的 第二節：有關文獻探討 第二章：研究架構與方法 第一節：研究架構 第二節：研究設計 第三節：研究方法 第四節：研究限制 第三章：資本結構理論與決策分析 第一節：傳統資本結構理論 第二節：NI與NOI 資本結構理論 第三節：MM資本結構理論 第四章：實證研究 第一節：實證流程 第二節：資料特性與統計分析 第三節：因素分析與迴歸分析建立與檢定 第五章：結論：研究結果及其在財務管理上之涵義

雖然許多研究已針對認股權證評價進行調整，但是其價格低估的問題仍無法解決。因此，本文將探討認股權證發行對股價報酬動態過程的影響。本文將證實是否認股權證發行將影響其標的股價之動態過程，倘若股價報酬的動態過程已反應了認股權證發行的潛在稀釋效果，則進行充分調整的股權稀釋模型將低估認股權證的價格。為了確認在評價認購權證時充分調整稀釋效果的必要性，本文將檢測權證發行對股票報酬過程的影響。本文利用延伸Garch-M模型，導出四個檢驗稀釋效果的模型。實證結果顯示，在發行認股權證之後，股價報酬的變異數顯著降低，該結果在釐清股權稀釋效果與不對稱效果之後，該稀釋效果依然顯著。 / As the underestimation of warrants remains unsolved after many adjustments presented by previous researchers, we further investigate the impact of the warrant introduction on the underlying stock return processes. This research attempts to determine whether the introduction of warrants influences the return processes of underlying stocks. If the introduction creates a potential dilution effect in stock return processes, full dilution adjustment pricing models would lead to underestimation. To exam whether full dilution adjustments are required for warrant pricing, the GARCH-M model has been extended to derive four models for testing the dilution effect on stock return processes. Empirical results show that the volatilities of underlying stock return processes are significantly reduced following warrant introduction even after clarification and distinguishing dilution from asymmetric effect.

Four essays, or chapters, model the capital structure, governance, and investment decisions as part of a sequential game. Each chapter is separate in its context, assumptions, and conclusions. The titles of the chapters are below. Abstracts of each essay or chapter can be found at the beginning of each chapter. The titles of the chapters or essays are as follows: I. Managerial Ownership with Rent-Seeking Employees, II. Financing Professional Partnerships, III. Sunk Cost Efficiency with Identical Competitors, and IV. Business Stealing and Bankruptcy. With the exception of Chapter III, which is meant to complement Chapter IV, these essays argue that the structure of financial contracts can affect the real behavior of firms. The first chapter argues that financial governance policies affect the behavior of rank-and-file employees. In Chapter II, the governance and capital structure of professional service firms affects clients’ expectations of the firm’s quality. In Chapter IV, the enforcement of financial contracts by bankruptcy courts affects the number of firms that enter and exit the industry.

This doctoral thesis consists of five self-contained essays.Common themes that unify the essays are the conditions for innovative engagements and the effort to endogenize innovations into the explanation of profitability, productivity and growthin manufacturing and service production. The purpose is to explore the importance of innovation in explaining heterogeneity in the performance of firms. The traditional analysis of the relationship between research and developmentand productivity is extended and developed by using, on the onehand, firm-level data not previously available and, on theother, a modern state-of-the-art econometric framework. Essay I. Methods and results are reviewed and stylized facts presented regarding the return on innovation. The limitations of the data and methods used in mainstream literature are discussed. A set of firm-level observations recently made available and a multiple knowledge production function analysis have been used to clarify the role of innovation in explaining performance heterogeneity among manufacturing firms inSweden. Essay II. The relationships between innovation and productivity among manufacturing firms in Finland, Norway and Sweden are studied. The main purpose is to investigate the contributions of firm-level innovation in creating the large observed differences in aggregated productivity growth between Norway on the one hand and Finland and Sweden on the other. Essay III. The focus of this essay is threefold. One, since innovation has been found to be a major contributor to productivity growth in manufacturing, we seek to find whether there is any evidence for the notion that service industrie shave a lower propensity to be innovative or that they are less efficient in deriving benefits from innovations. Second, we consider what real productivity growth does, and what the measurement methods do to produce the reported weak growthrates in services. Third, given that intermediate services have been found to be one of the fastest growing input factors inmanufacturing, largely reflecting the replacement of internally provided activities by externally produced outputs, we examine what the impact of outsourcing is on productivity growth in manufacturing. The essay brings a comparative perspective to these issues by analyzing the firm-level data on innovativeactivities and economic performance in knowledge-intensive manufacturing and service firms in Sweden. Essay IV.This essay investigates the sensitivity of estimated relationships between innovation and firm performance. The essay compares the sensitivity of results with regards to different types of models, estimation methods, measures of firm performance, classification of firms, type of innovations and data sources. The analyses are performed on both the level and growth rate of firm performance, and theinfluence of outliers is explored. Essay V. The role of capital structure and external financing in innovation and production is studied. Results from different model specifications are explored. A preferred dynamic model with flexible adjustment is used for an inter-country and an intra-country comparison of the determinants of the optimal mix between debt and equity as wellas the rate of change towards an optimal capital structure. / <p>QC 20100526</p>

Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att studera hur små- och medelstora företags kapitalstruktur påverkas av företagets lönsamhet, ålder, tillväxt, materiella anläggningstillgångar, storlek och bransch. Metod: Studien genomför en kvantitativ undersökning med en deduktiv ansats. Med utgångspunkt i tidigare forskning utformas sex oberoende variabler för att sedan testa dess påverkan på kapitalstrukturen. Data samlas in från företagens årsredovisningar med hjälp av databasen Retriever och behandlas i Microsoft Excel. Data analyseras sedan med hjälp av korrelationsanalyserna Pearson´s r och Spearmans rho samt en multipel regressionsanalys i statistikprogrammet SPSS för att utröna eventuella samband. Resultat &amp; slutsats: Studien erhåller en förklaringsgrad på 7,1 procent samt konstaterar att variablerna lönsamhet och ålder har ett positivt samband med soliditet, och därmed en negativ koppling till belåning. Den oberoende variabeln materiella anläggningstillgångar uppvisar en positiv korrelation med skuldsättningsgraden. Resultaten som studien kommer fram till finner stöd i tidigare forskning med undantag för den oberoende variabeln tillväxt och till viss del bransch. Slutligen fastställer studien att ålder är den oberoende variabel med störst inverkan på kapitalstrukturen. Förslag till vidare forskning: Det skulle vara intressant att undersöka fler faktorer än vad denna studie behandlar, för att se dess påverkan på kapitalstrukturen. Ett ytterligare förslag till fortsatt forskning är att genomföra en mer djupgående analys av branscherna, då dessa genererade varierande samband. Uppsatsens bidrag: Studiens resultat bidrar till ökad förståelse för kapitalstruktur i svenska SME samt verkar som indikator för vilka faktorer som har betydelse för soliditeten. Därmed bidrar arbetet till teoribildningen gällande svensk kapitalstruktur. Uppsatsen kan fungera som en vägledning för befattningshavare vad det gäller företagets finansiella struktur och utgör därför också ett praktiskt bidrag. / Aim: The purpose of this study is to examine how Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise’s capital structure is influenced by the company's profitability, age, growth, tangible assets, size and sector. Method: The study carries out a quantitative survey with a deductive approach. Based on previous research six independent variables is designed with the purpose to test their  impact on capital structure. The data is collected from annual reports using the database Retriever and processed in Microsoft Excel. The data is analyzed by using the two correlation analysis Pearson’s r and Spearman’s rho and a multiple regression analysis in the statistic program SPSS to determine any correlation. Result &amp; Conclusions: The study receive an explanation rate of 7.1 percent and concludes that the variables profitability and age show a negative correlation with debt ratio, and thus a negative connection to borrowing. The independent variable tangible assets show a positive correlation with debt. The results of the study obtain support in previous research, with reservation for the independent variable growth and, to some extent, a few sector categories. Finally, the study shows that age is the independent variable with the greatest impact on capital structure. Suggestions for future research: It would be interesting to examine more factors than this study addresses, to see its impact on capital structure. A further proposal for future research is to conduct a more in-depth analysis of the variable sector, as it generates varying connection. Contribution of the thesis: The study results contribute to greater understanding of the capital structure in the Swedish SME and acts as an indicator of the factors that are important for the equity ratio. Thereby contributing to the theory regarding Swedish capital structure. The paper can serve as a guide for management in terms of its financial structure and is therefore also a practical contribution.