Working paper
Financial architecture and corporate performance: evidence from Russia
Current article is dedicated to the relationship between effectiveness of usage of intellectual capital and capital structure of firms in Russia in 2005-2007. Current research showed that effectiveness of usage of intellectual capital of firms has a positive influence over the level of financial leverage. The result of the research has showed that the more effective usage of intellectual capital makes a company more attractive for the credit organizations and opens more sources to obtain financing. There were also revealed some specific features of relationship between the effectiveness of utilization of intellectual capital and corporate financial decisions in Russia. The result is consistent with the results from the similar researches from the developed markets.
In this book we study innovations for the middle of the pyramid, focusing on the experience of middle income countries in Latin America. This middle income segment, which is middle by the standards of emerging markets although low by the standards of advanced economies, has grown steadily in the last few decades and has become an attractive segment for firms to serve. These middle income countries in Latin America are a laboratory for understanding this phenomenon because despite being emerging countries, they have a large middle income segment that provide attractive and different opportunities, similarly to other regions like Eastern Europe or the Middle East. Additionally, by focusing on a region that has a common political, social and economic history we are able to draw cross-country conclusions more easily, while at the same time benefit from a variety of experiences and innovations that have appeared in multiple countries.
The book is based on case studies and examples of firms that have created innovations for the middle of the pyramid. The cases are detailed analyses of exemplar firms that have introduce innovations to address some of the most intractable challenges of emerging markets and that have been successful at creating a business proposition of something that was commonly addressed by the government or by non-for-profit organizations. The examples are presented within a general framework that provides detailed statistics of the challenge to help explain how the challenge can nevertheless become a large business opportunity for some entrepreneurial managers.
The book can provide useful and new insights to managers of both emerging economies who want to serve their growing middle classes that until recently were being served in the informal economy, as well as to managers of multinationals from advanced countries who may find that the growing middle classes in emerging economies are a profitable and expanding market segment to serve.
The capacity for transformation and advancement of the world economy itself by a group of countries belonging to the emerging economies has been a topic of intense discussion in world forums. Even as news of the losing shimmer of the emerging economies is being spilled to the world, this is where 80% of the world consumers reside, and, therefore, too important to divert attention from. The theme of the 2014 Annual Conference of the Emerging Marketing Conference Board hosted by Centre for Marketing in Emerging Economies of IIM Lucknow, supported by the Academy of Indian Marketing – Listening to Consumers of Emerging Markets is an eminent testimony to this important fact.
JAGDISH N SHETH, PHD
Emory University Founder, Academy of Indian Marketing
As there is still no substantial research evidence on the mediating effect of innovativeness on market orientation – performance link in emerging economies, our study aims to close this gap. Following existing theory, direct and indirect effects of market orientation on firm performance are being tested. The model includes moderating effect of product innovativeness. The paper aims at adding to existing theory on the role of firm innovativeness in driving firm performance with the focus on product innovation. Product innovation is in center of attention for emerging economies, while Russia is rather loosing positions in producing innovative offerings in comparison to other BRIC economies. The study is based on empirical survey of 204 Russian innovative firms with multiple respondents approach, resulting in 331 qualified respondents. The results confirm existing differences, depending on the level of product innovativeness, as well as illustrate variation in the role of market orientation subdimensions and dimensions of product innovation on firm performance.
The chapter describes the current state of corporate governance in Russia and the dynamics of recent years. Important features of the environment that affect corporate governance include weak legal institutions that lead to high private benefits to control, underdeveloped capital markets, high levels of ownership concentration and significant state involvement in business. In this situation, the main conflict of interest is not between a manager and a large number of dispersed shareholders, but between large and small shareholders, between different large shareholders, and between minority shareholders and managers/board members in state-owned companies. Many of these features are very similar to other emerging markets, but substantially different from conditions faced by firms in developed countries. Despite substantial improvement during the 2000s, the quality of corporate governance in Russia is still much lower than in developed countries, primarily because of the low quality of Russian institutions.
The paper explores theoretical approaches to the company IPO underpricing and analyzes capital structure impact on the underpricing of the Russian issuers.
Despite a clear distinction in law between equity and debt, the results of such a categorization can be misleading. The growth of financial innovation in recent decades necessitates the allocation of control and cash-flow rights in a way that diverges from the classic understanding. Some of the financial instruments issued by companies, so-called hybrid instruments, fall into a grey area between debt and equity, forcing regulators to look beyond the legal form of an instrument to its practical substance. This innovative study, by emphasizing the agency relations and the property law claims embedded in the use of such unconventional instruments, analyses and discusses the governance regulation of hybrids in a way that is primarily functional, departing from more common approaches that focus on tax advantages and internal corporate control. The author assesses the role of hybrid instruments in the modern company, unveiling the costs and benefits of issuing these securities, recognizing and categorizing the different problem fields in which hybrids play an important role, and identifying legal and contracting solutions to governance and finance problems. The full-scale analysis compares the UK law dealing with hybrid instruments with the corresponding law of the most relevant US jurisdictions in relation to company law. The following issues, among many others, are raised:
– decisions under uncertainty when the risks of opportunism of the parties is very high;
− contract incompleteness and ex post conflicts;
− protection of convertible bondholders in mergers and acquisitions and in assets disposal;
− use of convertible bonds to reorganise and restructure a firm;
− timing of the conversion and the issuer’s call option;
− majority-minority conflict in venture capital financing;
− duty of loyalty;
− fiduciary duties to preference shareholders; and
− financial contract design for controlling the board’s power in exit events.
Throughout, the analysis includes discussion, comparison, and evaluation of statutory provisions, existing legal standards, and strategies for protection. It is unlikely that a more thorough or informative account exists of the complex regulatory problems created by hybrid financial instruments and of the different ways in which regulatory regimes have responded to the problems they raise. Because business parties in these jurisdictions have a lot of scope and a strong incentive to contract for their rights, this book will also be of uncommon practical value to corporate counsel and financial regulators as well as to interested academics.
Smoking is a problem, bringing signifi cant social and economic costs to Russiansociety. However, ratifi cation of the World health organization Framework conventionon tobacco control makes it possible to improve Russian legislation accordingto the international standards. So, I describe some measures that should be taken bythe Russian authorities in the nearest future, and I examine their effi ciency. By studyingthe international evidence I analyze the impact of the smoke-free areas, advertisementand sponsorship bans, tax increases, etc. on the prevalence of smoking, cigaretteconsumption and some other indicators. I also investigate the obstacles confrontingthe Russian authorities when they introduce new policy measures and the public attitudetowards these measures. I conclude that there is a number of easy-to-implementanti-smoking activities that need no fi nancial resources but only a political will.
One of the most important indicators of company's success is the increase of its value. The article investigates traditional methods of company's value assessment and the evidence that the application of these methods is incorrect in the new stage of economy. So it is necessary to create a new method of valuation based on the new main sources of company's success that is its intellectual capital.