Debt Maturity Structure, Firm Value and Underinvestment Incentive - The Case of Pakistan

Abstract

This study examines the potential interaction of a firm’s financing and investment decisions. It studies broadly how firms manage underinvestment and liquidity risks. To estimate the effects of these decisions, the study has incorporated four simultaneous equations using the partial dynamic adjustment model. Panel data of non-financial Pakistani firms have been used in this study. The findings of this study demonstrate that Pakistani high growth firms depend on high-leverage strategies and give greater importance to underinvestment risk rather than liquidity risk. Furthermore, growing Pakistani firms are not adopting low-leverage strategies ex ante to participate in future growth opportunities ex post. This study also examines whether or not Pakistani firms are paying special attention to the mixing of debt maturity that affects the firm’s investment decisions and its value.