Does the firm information environment influence financing decisions? A test using disclosure regulation

Susan Albring, Monica Banyi, Dan Dhaliwal, Raynolde Pereira

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Extant theory claims a firm's information environment impacts the choice between debt and equity financing. However, empirical evidence supporting this contention is limited. We evaluate this relation within the context of Regulation Fair Disclosure (Reg FD), which prohibited the use of selective disclosure. We find that firms with high proprietary costs of public disclosure are more likely to resort to debt financing following the passage of Reg FD. This relation is not sensitive to whether a firm has relied on selective disclosure in the pre-Reg FD regime. We also evaluate changes in firm disclosure policy and find that firms that adopted an expansive public disclosure policy are more likely to turn to equity financing. Overall, our evidence is consistent with the pecking order theory: firms with deteriorated firm information environments increase their use of less information-sensitive debt, whereas firms with improved information environments favor the use of equity financing.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)456-478
Number of pages23
JournalManagement Science
Volume62
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2016

Keywords

  • Capital structure
  • Disclosure
  • Financing decisions
  • Information environment
  • Reg FD

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Strategy and Management
  • Management Science and Operations Research

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