The Determinants of Corporate Cash Holdings: Evidence from Japan

In this paper, we examine the determinants of cash holdings using dataset of Japanese firms by using a panel of 1441 firms from 2004 through 2013. Our analysis reveals that firms with higher cash holdings are smaller in size, with lower capital expenditure and hold less net working capital. In addit...

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Main Author: Ong, Hui Min
Format: Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)
Language:English
Published: 2014
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/27367/
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author Ong, Hui Min
author_facet Ong, Hui Min
author_sort Ong, Hui Min
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description In this paper, we examine the determinants of cash holdings using dataset of Japanese firms by using a panel of 1441 firms from 2004 through 2013. Our analysis reveals that firms with higher cash holdings are smaller in size, with lower capital expenditure and hold less net working capital. In addition, we find that firms with larger cash reserves in our sample experience greater cash flow volatility and have better growth opportunities (proxy using market-to-book value ratio). Our results indicate firms in Japan hold cash for precautionary motive. This suggests firms in Japan hold cash for security purpose in the event of adverse events or shocks. When we include bank debt alongside other firm characteristics, we find that firms with more bank debt tend to hold lower cash holdings over our study period. The close bank-firm relationship is further examined by the ownership concentration of banks in ownership structure. Our results suggest that a firm’s reliance on bank debt, as the most important financing source, is declining over time. As a result, we suggest monopoly power of Japanese banks has weakened. Finally, we examine the relationship between cash holdings and ownership characteristics while controlling for other firm characteristics. We find that lower cash holdings are observed in firms that are considered to be dominated foreign ownership where higher cash holdings are observed in firms which ownership by corporation is more concentrated. As such, we do not find strong evidence that support argument of agency conflicts due to large cash reserves.
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spelling nottingham-273672017-10-19T13:58:14Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/27367/ The Determinants of Corporate Cash Holdings: Evidence from Japan Ong, Hui Min In this paper, we examine the determinants of cash holdings using dataset of Japanese firms by using a panel of 1441 firms from 2004 through 2013. Our analysis reveals that firms with higher cash holdings are smaller in size, with lower capital expenditure and hold less net working capital. In addition, we find that firms with larger cash reserves in our sample experience greater cash flow volatility and have better growth opportunities (proxy using market-to-book value ratio). Our results indicate firms in Japan hold cash for precautionary motive. This suggests firms in Japan hold cash for security purpose in the event of adverse events or shocks. When we include bank debt alongside other firm characteristics, we find that firms with more bank debt tend to hold lower cash holdings over our study period. The close bank-firm relationship is further examined by the ownership concentration of banks in ownership structure. Our results suggest that a firm’s reliance on bank debt, as the most important financing source, is declining over time. As a result, we suggest monopoly power of Japanese banks has weakened. Finally, we examine the relationship between cash holdings and ownership characteristics while controlling for other firm characteristics. We find that lower cash holdings are observed in firms that are considered to be dominated foreign ownership where higher cash holdings are observed in firms which ownership by corporation is more concentrated. As such, we do not find strong evidence that support argument of agency conflicts due to large cash reserves. 2014-09-17 Dissertation (University of Nottingham only) NonPeerReviewed application/pdf en https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/27367/1/Dissertation_for_MSc_Finance_and_Investment_HM.pdf Ong, Hui Min (2014) The Determinants of Corporate Cash Holdings: Evidence from Japan. [Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)] (Unpublished)
spellingShingle Ong, Hui Min
The Determinants of Corporate Cash Holdings: Evidence from Japan
title The Determinants of Corporate Cash Holdings: Evidence from Japan
title_full The Determinants of Corporate Cash Holdings: Evidence from Japan
title_fullStr The Determinants of Corporate Cash Holdings: Evidence from Japan
title_full_unstemmed The Determinants of Corporate Cash Holdings: Evidence from Japan
title_short The Determinants of Corporate Cash Holdings: Evidence from Japan
title_sort determinants of corporate cash holdings: evidence from japan
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/27367/