Impact of Firm Specific Factors on Capital Structure Decision: An Empirical Study of Bangladeshi Companies

Abstract

This study attempts to explore the impact of firm specific factors on capital structure decision for a sample of 39-firm listed on Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) during 2003-2007. To achieve the objectives, this study tests a null hypothesis that none of the firm’s specific factors namely profitability, tangibility, non-debt tax shield, growth opportunitiy, liquidity, earnings volatility, size, dividend payment, managerial ownership, and industry classification has significant impact on leverage using estimate of fixed effect model under Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression. Checking multicollinearity and estimating regression analysis through Pearson correlation and autoregressive model respectively this study found that profitability, tangibility, liquidity, and managerial ownership have significant and negative impact on leverage. Positive and significant impact of growth opportunity and non-debt tax shield on leverage has been found in this study. On the other hand size, earnings volatility, and dividend payment were not found to be significant explanatory variables of leverage. Results also reveal that total debt to total assets ratios are significantly different across Bangladeshi industries.