Corporate Capital Structure and the Characteristics of Suppliers and Customers

62 Pages Posted: 24 Jan 2006

See all articles by Jayant R. Kale

Jayant R. Kale

Georgia State University

Husayn K. Shahrur

Bentley University - Department of Finance

Abstract

We investigate the link between a firm's leverage and the characteristics of its suppliers and customers. First, we test the hypothesis that firms use decreased leverage as a commitment mechanism to induce suppliers/customers to undertake relationship-specific investments. We find that the firm's leverage is negatively related to the R&D expense intensity in its supplier and customer industries, and the R&D intensity of its key suppliers and customers. We also find lower debt levels for firms operating in industries where strategic alliances and joint ventures with firms in supplier and customer industries are more prevalent. Further, our results suggest that the firm's leverage and the R&D investments of its key suppliers and customers are simultaneously determined. Finally, consistent with the use of debt as a bargaining tool, we find a positive relation between firm debt level and the degree of concentration in supplier/customer industries.

Keywords: Capital structure, Relationship-specific Investments, Seller power, Buyer power

JEL Classification: G32, G33, D43, L13, L2

Suggested Citation

Kale, Jayant Raghunath and Shahrur, Husayn K., Corporate Capital Structure and the Characteristics of Suppliers and Customers. Journal of Financial Economics, Vol. 83, pp. 321-365, 2007, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=876976

Jayant Raghunath Kale

Georgia State University ( email )

Robinson College of Business
University Plaza
Atlanta, GA 30303-3083
United States
404-413-7345 (Phone)
404-413-7312 (Fax)

Husayn K. Shahrur (Contact Author)

Bentley University - Department of Finance ( email )

175 Forest Street
Waltham, MA 02154
United States

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