Semester Award Granted
Spring 2025
Submission Date
May 2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]
Mark Kohlbeck
Abstract
The Tax Cuts & Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) limited the amount of interest expense that firms can deduct while at the same time, interest rates in the U.S. were relatively low. I examine the differences in leverage between private companies that issue public debt (POPDs) and firms that issue equity that is publicly traded. I find that POPDs have higher leverage than public equity firms. I further examine whether the interest limitation provisions of TCJA cause firms to reduce their debt post TCJA. I find that both POPDs and public equity firms that have limitations on interest deduction reduce their debt post TCJA. Finally, I examine whether low interest rates or tax benefits associated with the interest are more important to POPDs. I find that POPDs that enjoy lower interest rates have higher leverage compared to POPDs that merely derive a tax benefit from the interest deduction. Overall, my findings document that the objectives of TJCA are being met, but there are significant differences between POPDs and public equity firms in terms of their leverage.
Recommended Citation
Bissoondial, Hardeo, "PRIVATELY OWNED FIRMS WITH PUBLIC DEBT: ARE LOWER BORROWING COSTS MORE IMPORTANT THAN TAX DEDUCTIONS?" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 90.
https://digitalcommons.fau.edu/etd_general/90