Zunarni Binti Kosim

The study of firm value and financial risks became more important after the global financial crisis of 2007–2008, as the required risk was mismanaged, resulting in a deterioration in firm value. It is important to study the relationship between financial risks and firm value. This study aims to examine the moderating effect of capital adequacy on the relationship between financial risks and the firm value of listed banks in Pakistan. This study is based on half-yearly secondary data of 560 sample observations from 2009 to 2021. Multiple regression and panel data estimation techniques were employed for the analysis. The study used firm value as a dependent variable, proxied by Tobin’s Q, along with five independent variables and one moderating variable. The results of this study indicate that a higher capital adequacy ratio (CAR) increases firm value and has a moderating effect on financial risks and firm value. Nonperforming loans, net interest margin, and cost income ratio are found to have a significant negative relationship with firm value. The study concludes that the stock prices of listed banks in Pakistan are declining persistently, which causes the stock’s worth to shift from being inflated to being undervalued.

The global financial crisis increased corporate world uncertainties. Therefore, to meet these challenges, firms take a more proactive approach to tackling various corporate governance and firm value initiatives and policies. This study aims to explore the moderating effect of capital adequacy on the relationship between board characteristics and the firm value of listed banks in Pakistan. To obtain a more robust empirical model and results, this study incorporates moderator and control variables. This study is based on half-yearly secondary data of 560 sample observations from 2009 to 2021. Multiple regression and panel data estimation techniques were employed for the analysis. The study used firm value as a dependent variable, proxied by Tobin’s Q, along with five independent variables, one moderating variable, and two control variables. The results of this study indicate that a higher capital adequacy ratio (CAR) increases firm value and has a moderating effect on board characteristics and firm value. Low proportions of women and independent directors on board affect firm value. The presence of risk management and audit committees in listed Pakistani banks, on the other hand, increases firm value. The banks in Pakistan have no problem with CEO duality. The study also found that bank size has a positive relationship with firm value, while bank age has a negative relationship with firm value.