• The Korean Journal of Financial Management
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.93-118
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• 2005

This paper examines credit spreads in Korea corporate market using one of structural models, the mean reverting leverage ratio model (Collin-Dufresne and Goldstein (2001)). Compared to the actual credit spreads, we show that the credit spreads induced by the model are overpredicted. We also investigate the systematic errors that cause the over-pre-diction of credit spreads using the t-test. We show that the systematic errors are affected by the current leverage ratio and asset volatility.

• The Korean Journal of Financial Management
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.1-32
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• 2008

This study examines the changes and determinants of cash to assets ratios(cash ratios) by analyzing 14,016 Korean manufacturing firms sample for the period of $1999{\sim}2004$. The major findings can be summarized as follows. First, the average cash ratios for Korean manufacturing firms have increased from 4.7 percent of 1999 to 5.2 percent of 2004. In addition, the average cash holdings per firm also have increased from 4.3 billion Won to 8.0 billion Won during the same period. However, the capital expenditures relative to cash ratios or operating cash flow have decreased significantly, confirming the notion that physical investment of Korean manufacturing sector has been shrinking recently. Second, in regression tests with panel data, the coefficients of target adjustment variables show the expected negative signs, but coefficients of the deficit of fund variables show the unexpected positive signs. Thus, the evidence seems to be supportive of static tradeoff model of cash holdings. Third, in regression tests to find the determinants of cash ratios, most of the variables show similar results as the previous studies. However, in terms of adjusted coefficient of determination and F-statistic, the firm-characteristic variables suggested by static trade-off theory have more explanatory power than the variables suggested by pecking order theory.

• The Korean Journal of Financial Management
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.33-78
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• 2008

This paper empirically examines whether firms engage in a dynamic adjustment process toward target capital structure and, whether there is a target capital structure or mean reverting using the partial adjustment model while allowing for costly adjustment. Also we investigate the empirical determinants of optimal target capital structure in long term equilibrium. As a result, our empirical model captures at least several important features of capital structure behavior for Korean listed firms. First, Korean firms pursue target capital structure and also there is mean reverting phenomenon. Second, Non-Chaebol and small firm in adjustment speed is faster than Chaebol and large firm. Third, even capital market restricts the adjustment speed interestingly. Fourth, Korean firms have target behavior according to a degree of observed gap. Fifth, Korean firms close about one-fourth of the gap between their actual and target debt ratios within one year and thence targeting behavior explains far more of the observed changes in capital structure than market timing or pecking order considerations. Sixth, capital market is significant in determining optimal capital structure.

• The Korean Journal of Financial Management
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.109-141
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• 2006

The central factor in the pecking order theory of financial structure is the asymmetric distribution of information between managers and less-informed outside investors. Myers and Majluf (1984) show that this asymmetry leads managers to prefer internal funds to external funds. Funds are raised through equity issues only after the capacity to issue debt has been exhausted. In contrast, according to static tradeoff theory, an optimum financial structure exists by the tradeoff between tax saving by debt and bankruptcy costs. This study examines the recent changes of Korean firms' financial structure and financing behavior and the determinants of financial structure. The sample of firms comes from the period of $1996{\sim}2004$, and the number of firms is 32,003. The major findings are as follows. First, in contrast with previous studies using US firms as sample, Korean firms have been using debt financing as their major financing instrument. Especially, the firms in the fund deficit situation relies much more on $long{\sim}term$ and $short{\sim}term$ debts rather than on equity issues. Second, as is the case with previous studies using US firms sample indicates, the financing deficit variable can not explain perfectly the net debt issue. However, compared with net equity issue variable, net debt issue variable is more closely related to the financing deficit variable. Third, when financing deficit variable is added to the current list of explanatory variables of financial structure determinants model, it has a significant and positive explanatory power. In addition, the coefficients of determinants are much improved. Thus, it is concluded that although pecking order theory is not perfect, it appears to be more useful compared to static tradeoff theory, at least in explaining the recent financing behavior of Korean manufacturing firms.