Investigating the role of firm life cycle on financial distress: evidence from Borsa İstanbul

Abstract

This paper aims to examine whether acting non-compatible with life cycle has impact on firm’s financial distress. Considering every life stage requires unique priorities, firms should consider their life phases when determining their strategical decisions. We handle the causes of financial distress from a broad and strategical perspective on corporate finance ground. In this regard, we seek the relationships of investment, finance, and dividend policies with financial distress, considering firm life cycles. We applied panel data analysis examining 154 Borsa Istanbul (BIST) firms in manufacturing sector using their last seven-year data. We find that the ratio of investment to equity is positively correlated with financial distress for growth and decline firms at different levels. Additionally, we find that leverage increases financial vulnerability in all life cycles, however, the impact of leverage is larger for growth firms and decline firms. These findings are significant to navigate managers in the right direction.