Includes bibliographical references (leaves 90-96). / An essential part of an economy of developing and less developed nations lies in the establishment of a set of financial markets. In these financial markets companies are able to determine their capital structure by making rational decisions on whether to look internally or externally for financing. The study analysed the capital structures with a view of determining the extent of the applicability of capital structure theories to listed companies that are operating under a hyper inflation. The aim of the study was to verify the theoretical findings and predictions about determinants of capital structure. There is extensive literature on capital structure theories and their validity, Miller and Modigliani (1958), Ross (1977), Myers (1984 and 1977), Myers and Majluf (1984), and others, which have focused on why firms opt for certain capital structures. These studies have been conducted in stable macro economic environments of developed, developing, and least developed countries. There has been no in-depth study on the choices of capital structure that has been done in an unstable economy that is characterised by hyper inflation, such as Zimbabwe. As a step to understanding the rational and choices of capital structure in a hyperinflationary environment, a sample of eight companies listed on Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, which has a total of seventy five listed companies, was selected. Size, tangibility, profitability, and non-tax debt shield were the determinants of capital structure that were used. Debt to equity ratio was also used to analyse the companies, sectors they fall in and an overall analysis. The objective of the research was to test the validity and applicability of the conventional capital structure theories in the Zimbabwean environment between 1998 and 2006. In the literature review, the research presents an overview of four main capital structure theories namely; trade-off, signalling, pecking order and agency theory. The research critically examined capital structures of eight listed companies in Zimbabwe that have been operating under hyper inflation. The comparison of capital structures of companies in different sectors was done to determine if there was any link between the choice of a particular capital structure mix and the sector the company was operating in. The impact of interest rates was also taken into account in the research to determine the effect under the same environment. Zimbabwe has experienced very high levels of inflation from 2000 with recent official statistics indicating inflation to be 100,580.2% as of end of January 2008. This figure is widely perceived as understated as the basket of good used in the calculation is based on government controlled prices. According to the IMF the real inflation figure taking into account the "black market" prices is estimated at 150,000%. This presentation will not delve into the debate of the definition of hyperinflation but the evidence points out a hyperinflationary environment by all accounts. To conduct the research, inflation adjusted financial reports dating from 1998 to 2006 of eight listed companies on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange were analysed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uct/oai:localhost:11427/11921 |
| Date | January 2009 |
| Creators | Chiwandamira, D P |
| Contributors | Chivaka, Richard |
| Publisher | University of Cape Town, Faculty of Commerce, Department of Finance and Tax |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Master Thesis, Masters, MCom |
| Format | application/pdf |
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