published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

Thesis (doctoral)--Universiẗat Hamburg, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 270-290).

Aktieägare investerar kapital med avsikt att få en avkastning, vilket är direkt kopplat till bolagets lönsamhet. För en kapitalintensiv sektor som fastighetsbranschen, är det av stor betydelse att ha en kapitalstruktur väl anpassad till bolagets förutsättningar och behov eftersom detta påverkar resultatet och därmed lönsamheten. Kapitalstrukturen inom bolag beror av flera faktorer, men något som är tydligt enligt tidigare studier är att ägarstrukturen har en koppling till bolagsfinansieringen. De senaste åren har möjligheten till finansiering ändrats drastiskt, med både striktare kapitalkrav från bankerna, men även nya finansieringsalternativ såsom obligationer och certifikat. Detta innebär att kapitalstrukturen har förändrats under de senaste åren, och vi vill därför undersöka hur ägarstrukturen kan kopplas till kapitalstrukturens utveckling och utformning.  Vi utreder denna kopplingen genom en kvantitativ ansats där vi samlar information från bolagens årsredovisningar under en femårig period. Vi studerar ägarstrukturen utifrån ägarfördelning samt ägarkoncentration medan kapitalstrukturen utreds baserat på skuldsättningsgrad och skuldfördelning. Studien bidrar till en ökad förståelse för vad ägarstrukturen kan säga om ett bolags kapitalstruktur. Resultaten kan användas av bolagsledningar vid beslutsfattandet rörande kapitalanskaffning, för att på så sätt kunna agera i ägarnas intresse. Vi finner att privata ägare samt ägande från försäkrings- och pensionsbolag samt AP-fonder har en koppling till en minskad användning av bankfinansiering och istället en ökad användning av finansiering genom obligationer och certifikat. Vi finner även att en koncentrerat ägande har en koppling till en lägre andel bankfinansiering samtidigt som de generellt sett har en högre skuldsättningsgrad. / Shareholders invest capital with the intention of yielding a return, which is determined by the company's profitability. The real estate industry requires a large amount of capital, and the capital structure therefore has a major impact on the companies’ profitability. Capital structure depend on a number of factors, but one thing that is clear according to previous studies is that ownership structure is connected to financing. In recent years, the capital market has seen drastic changes, with both stricter requirements from the banks, but also new financing options such as bonds and certificates. Therefore, we want to investigate how the ownership structure can be linked to the capital structure in terms of both the development as well as the average allocation.  Our study uses a quantitative approach, where we gather information from the companies' annual reports over a five-year period. We study the ownership structure based on ownership distribution and ownership concentration, and the capital structure is investigated based on leverage ratio and debt distribution. The study contributes with an increased understanding of how the ownership structure is connected to the capital structure. The results can be helpful for management in decision-making when raising capital, in order to act in the owners’ interests. Our findings suggest that private owners as well as ownership from insurance and pension companies as well as the AP-funds is connected to a reduced use of bank financing and instead an increased use of bonds and certificates in order to raise capital. We also find that a concentrated ownership is linked to a lower proportion of bank financing, while generally having a higher leverage ratio.

In this paper the relation between managerial ownership and conservatism is examined. Managerial ownership decreases agency problems caused by the separation of ownership and control. Managerial ownership increases the time horizon of managers and decreases expropriating behaviour. Conservatism is hypothesized to have the same effect on managers due to the asymmetric timeliness of earnings. This suggest that in firms with lower managerial ownership a demand for conservatism arises to substitute for the alignment function of managerial ownership. This paper test this with two approaches. The first replicates the methodology of previous literature. The findings provide no evidence for substitution between managerial ownership and conservatism. Because the estimators of the first methodology are biased a second method is used applying fixed effects. Consistent with the first approach no supporting evidence is found. However, it finds that firms in the sample have conservative accounting. The main implication of this paper is that rewarding managers with shares is not decreasing their conservative behaviour.

Oil is an important part of the Saudi economy. With the volatility of oil prices and the pressing needs of economic growth and development, the Saudi Arabian government has planned to diversify its sources of income. To this end, the majority of effort has focused on developing the non-oil export sectors, particularly in manufacturing. Despite government efforts to enhance the ratio of non-oil export to total exports, it remains weak, amounting to 15 per cent of total exports in 2010 (which compares unfavourably with the average for other Middle East and North Africa countries (MENA) which stood between 30-46 per cent in 2010). This research aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of non-oil exports and their financing in Saudi Arabia. This study uses unique, primary data, collected through a custom designed questionnaire and a unique sample of Saudi exports. There is currently no comparable database for Saudi firms, or for other MENA countries trying to engage in export diversification strategies. This dissertation comprises three main empirical parts which are; ownership structure and operations, finance, and business climate, respectively (chapters 3, 4 and 5). In the first, the econometric analysis shows multiple factors have a significant positive impact on export intensity, including: whether the firm is shareholding, the age of the firm, internationally and locally recognised quality certificate, length of export experience, supplies of domestic origin, independent retail stores, TV or radio advertising, a foreign language website and finally an export marketing plan. Regarding the impact of financial factors on exports at firm level, the econometric analysis showed that younger firms are more likely to be credit-constrained than older firms. Finally, this dissertation provides evidence of the relationship between the business environment, competition and firm’s exports. The main findings show that firm performance, measured as intensity of exports, is boosted by an increase in experience of export and hindered by a high level of labour, competition, custom and trade regulation, and the informal sector.

No description available.

Background: Challenges persist in ensuring access to and optimal use of long-lasting, insecticidal bed nets (LLINs). Factors associated with ownership and use may differ depending on the history of malaria and prevention control efforts in a specific region. Understanding how the cultural and social-environmental context of bed net use may differ between high- and low-risk regions is important when identifying solutions to improve uptake and appropriate use. Methods: Community forums and a household, cross-sectional survey were used to collect information on factors related to bed net ownership and use in western Kenya. Sites with disparate levels of transmission were selected, including an endemic lowland area, Miwani, and a highland epidemic-prone area, Kapkangani. Analysis of ownership was stratified by site. A combined site analysis was conducted to examine factors associated with use of all available bed nets. Logistic regression modelling was used to determine factors associated with ownership and use of owned bed nets. Results: Access to bed nets as the leading barrier to their use was identified in community forums and cross-sectional surveys. While disuse of available bed nets was discussed in the forums, it was a relatively rare occurrence in both sites. Factors associated with ownership varied by site. Education, perceived risk of malaria and knowledge of individuals who had died of malaria were associated with higher bed net ownership in the highlands, while in the lowlands individuals reporting it was easy to get a bed net were more likely to own one. A combined site analysis indicated that not using an available bed net was associated with the attitudes that taking malaria drugs is easier than using a bed net and that use of a bed net will not prevent malaria. In addition, individuals with an unused bed net in the household were more likely to indicate that bed nets are difficult to use, that purchased bed nets are better than freely distributed ones, and that bed nets should only be used during the rainy season. Conclusion: Variations in factors associated with ownership should be acknowledged when constructing messaging and distribution campaigns. Despite reports of bed nets being used for other purposes, those in the home were rarely unused in these communities. Disuse seemed to be related to beliefs that can be addressed through education programmes. As mass distributions continue to take place, additional research is needed to determine if factors associated with LLIN ownership and use change with increasing availability of LLIN.

published_or_final_version / Real Estate and Construction / Master / Master of Science in Real Estate and Construction

published_or_final_version / Real Estate and Construction / Master / Master of Science in Real Estate and Construction