Internal capital markets and the partial adjustment of leverage

Prior literature provides support both for the existence of target capital structures and internal capital markets (ICM). The issue of whether firms use internal capital markets to reduce deviations from target capital structures, however, has yet to be examined. We provide the first empirical evidence of a link between deviations from target leverage and ICM activity. Based on data that allow us to trace intra-group capital market transactions for property-casualty insurers, our findings provide the first joint evidence that affiliated insurance companies have target leverage ratios and that ICM activity is used to manage deviations from target leverage.

► Internal capital markets (ICMs) provide a means to shift capital between firms. ► We test whether deviations from target capital structure are related to ICM use. ► We find that property-casualty insurance companies have target capital structures. ► We find that deviations from target capital structure relate to ICM activity.