Estructura financiera óptima, en la industria de los alimentos, que cotiza en la Bolsa Mexicana de Valores

Abstract

This paper investigates firm-specific variables that affect food industry financial structure, listed on Mexican Stock Exchange in period 2000-2009. For this purpose, we develop an econometric panel data model to identify those variables. This model shows that tangible assets and profitability are main variables considered by industry to make funding decisions. This result is akin to the agency theory, the trade-off and preferences hierarchy, which argue that higher proportion of tangible assets firms are more leveraged, since these assets can act as collateral and minimize interest conflicts between shareholders and creditors, as well as information asymmetry between these agents. While the trade-off theory argues that most profitable companies are more leveraged to take advantage of debt tax advantage and its profitability good track record. This interest reduction conflicts and information asymmetry, as well as debt tax advantage compared to financial distress costs, lead to an optimal financial structure tending to maximize company value. Results provide evidence that the trade-off theory is the main theory explaining industry funding decisions. (English) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]