Determinants of Financial Distress among the Companies Practise Note 17 Listed in Bursa Malaysia

Abstract

The failure of companies to remain profit incurred gradually over several years. Market value of a company under financial distress will reduce; as suppliers prefer cash basis payment on the delivery terms and this may cause a cancellation of order from the customer since the anticipated items would not be delivered on time. Several factors can lead to the failure of a company and determinants of financial distress are important to the company, bankers, investors, the asset manager and rating agencies. Early signs of financial distress can help the manager to take preventive actions to save the company from falling prey to distress. Any economic agent that has any interest with the company namely shareholders, managers, employees, bankers and clients will be affected with the company's failure. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to determine financial distress among the companies Practice Note 17 (PN17) listed in Bursa Malaysia by using the Altman Z-Score Model as a proxy to financial distress. Panel data from 18 companies listed in PN17, Bursa Malaysia for a period of eight (8) years, from 2009 to 2016 were analysed using Fixed Effects Model. This research used the Financial Statement from specific variables that are not used in Altman Z-Score model as potential determinants financial distress. The findings indicate that leverage and profitability are significant determinants of financial distress.