We describe different procedures to deal with measurement error in linear models, and assess their performance in finite samples using Monte Carlo simulations, and data on corporate investment. We consider the standard instrumental variables approach proposed by Griliches and Hausman (1986) as extended by Biorn (2000) [OLS-IV], the Arellano and Bond (1991) instrumental variable estimator, and t...

This paper explores the hypothesis that the rise in intangible capital is a fundamental driver of the secular trend in US corporate cash holdings over the last decades. Using a new measure, we show that intangible capital is the most important firm-level determinant of corporate cash holdings. Our measure accounts for almost as much of the secular increase in cash since the 1980s as all other d...

This paper examines the extent to which investment financing and market-timing explanations motivate public equity offers, using a sample of 17,226 initial public offerings and 13,142 seasoned equity offerings from 38 countries between 1990 and 2003. We provide estimates of the changes in a number of accounting variables for each dollar raised in an equity offer, and for each dollar of internal...

Business groups organized by pyramids enable the ultimate shareholders to control a portfolio of firms with less cash requirement. Further, corporate pyramid induces an internal capital market and makes capital transfer more convenient within the pyramid. In China, the state and business groups control a large number of listed firms through pyramidal ownership structure. What role does the corp...

Evaluating an industrial opportunity often means to engage in financial modelling which results in estimation of a large amount of economic and accounting data, which are then gathered in an economically rational framework: the pro forma financial statements. While the standard net present value (NPV) condenses all the available pieces of information into a single metric, we make full use of th...

A common method of valuing the equity in leveraged transactions is the flows-toequity method whereby the free cash flow available to equity holders is discounted at the cost of equity. This method uses a standard definition of equity free cash flow, but the cost of equity varies over time as leverage varies. Various formulas can be used to calculate the time-varying cost of equity, most of whic...

We outline a simple model in which optimizing firms choose corporate investment, external financing, and cash holding decisions simultaneously. The model generates predictions for the responsiveness of the above three corporate financial decisions to cash flow shocks and firm misvaluation, as well as new predictions for the crosseffects of misvaluation on the cash flow sensitivities of these co...

This paper analyzes dividend remittances by a large panel of foreign affiliates of U.S. multinational firms. The dividend policies of foreign affiliates, which convey no signals to public capital markets, nevertheless resemble those used by publicly held companies in paying dividends to diffuse common shareholders. Robustness checks verify that dividend policies of foreign affiliates are little...

Singapore Airlines (SIA) is a member of Star Alliance. SIA’s passenger route network is covering 35 countries in 65 destinations. The company and its subsidiaries have 98 destinations which are covering Asia, Europe, North America, Middle East, southwest Pacific and Africa. This case study addresses the key strategic issues through a set of analysis tools to evaluate the strategic management pe...

Three factors significantly influence profit repatriations by U.S. multinational firms: tax considerations, domestic financing and investment needs, and agency problems inside firms. Dividend repatriations are surprisingly persistent and resemble dividend payments to external shareholders. Tax considerations are influential but not decisive. Affiliates whose organizational forms carry differing...