Search Results (183)

(1) Background: Methyl jasmonate-treated D. morbifera adventitious root extract (MeJA-DMARE), enriched with phenolics, has enhanced bioactivities. However, phenolics possess low stability and bioavailability. Substantial evidence indicates that plant extract–phospholipid complex assemblies, known as phytosomes, represent an innovative drug delivery system. (2) Methods: The phytosome complex was created by combining MeJA-DMARE with Soy-L-α-phosphatidylcholine (PC) using three different ratios through two distinct methods (co-solvency method: A1, A2, and A3; thin-layer film method: B1, B2, and B3). (3) Results: Initial evaluation based on UV-Vis, entrapment efficiency (EE%), and loading content (LC%) indicated that B2 exhibited the highest EE% (79.98 ± 1.45) and LC% (69.17 ± 0.14). The phytosome displayed a spherical morphology with a particle size of 210 nm, a notably low polydispersity index of 0.16, and a superior zeta potential value at −25.19 mV. The synthesized phytosome exhibited superior anti-inflammatory activities by inhibiting NO and ROS production (reduced to 8.9% and 55.1% at 250 μg/mL) in RAW cells and adjusting the expression of related inflammatory cytokines; they also slowed lung tumor cell migration (only 2.3% of A549 cells migrated after treatment with phytosomes at 250 μg/mL), promoting ROS generation in A549 cell lines (123.7% compared to control) and stimulating apoptosis of lung cancer-related genes. (4) Conclusions: In conclusion, the MeJA-DMARE phytosome offers stable, economically efficient, and environmentally friendly nanoparticles with superior inflammation and lung tumor inhibition properties. Thus, the MeJA-DMARE phytosome holds promise as an applicable and favorable creation for drug delivery and lung cancer treatment. Full article

In this paper, we study a risk model with stochastic premium income and its impact on solvency risk management. It is assumed that both the premium arrival process and the claim arrival process are modelled by homogeneous Poisson processes, and that the premium amounts are modelled by independent and identically distributed random variables. While this model has been studied in the existing literature and certain explicit results are known under more restrictive assumptions, these results are relatively difficult to apply in practice. In this paper, we investigate the factors that differentiate this model and the classical risk model. After reviewing various known results of this model, we derive a simulation approach for obtaining the probability of ultimate ruin based on importance sampling, which does not require specific distributions for the premium and the claim. We demonstrate this approach first with examples where the distribution of the sampling random variable can be identified. We then provide additional examples where we use the fast Fourier transform to obtain an approximation of the sampling random variable. The simulated results are compared with the known results for the probability of ruin. Using the simulation approach, we apply this model to a real-life auto-insurance data set. Differences with the classical model are then discussed. Finally, we comment on the suitability and impact of using this model in the context of solvency risk management. Full article

This paper proposes an explicable early warning machine learning model for predicting financial distress, which generalizes across listed Nordic corporations. We develop a novel dataset, covering the period from Q1 2001 to Q2 2022, in which we combine idiosyncratic quarterly financial statement data, information from financial markets, and indicators of macroeconomic trends. The preferred LightGBM model, whose features are selected by applying explainable artificial intelligence, outperforms the benchmark models by a notable margin across evaluation metrics. We find that features related to liquidity, solvency, and size are highly important indicators of financial health and thus crucial variables for forecasting financial distress. Furthermore, we show that explicitly accounting for seasonality, in combination with entity, market, and macro information, improves model performance. Full article

We examine worldwide Property and Casualty and Life and Health insurance companies from 2004 until 2023, implementing panel regression models and mediation analyses to show that insurers raise their reserves when they face increasing costs for their potential environmental damages, ultimately reducing their profitability and underwriting capacity. Our findings extend to the insurance sector the previous evidence on banks, demonstrating that environmental damages could affect profits and solvency of financial intermediaries. These insights are important especially for insurance managers and regulators. Full article

This paper examines the impact of ten microeconomic factors on hotel business success. This research encompassed a sample of 115 small, family-operated hotels situated in rural regions of the Western Balkan countries (WBC). This research was based on the assumption that factors such as the size of the hotel, age, solvency, liquidity, labour productivity, capital productivity, CSR, and reduction of CO₂ emissions exhibit a positive influence on business success, whereas leverage, indebtedness, and energy consumption have a negative effect on the business success of hotels. The findings revealed that business success from the previous period, size, liquidity, and CSR exhibit a positive influence on business success, whereas leverage, capital productivity, and indebtedness demonstrate a negative effect. Conversely, the age of the hotel and labour productivity were not found to significantly influence business success, as did energy consumption. In the context of sustainable development, a positive CSR impact means that tourists value this behaviour of the hotel, while a lack of a statistically significant impact of energy consumption implies either that hotels do not implement efficient measures of energy efficiency or that energy efficiency may not be a crucial factor in attracting guests or influencing their loyalty. The findings also show that labour productivity expressed conventionally does not have a statistically significant impact on hotel business success. However, when expressed in a way that respects the concept of sustainable development and CSR, workforce productivity is a significant factor in hotel business success. Due to the problem of multicollinearity, the influence of CO₂ emissions was not examined. The findings suggest the following two groups of key measures: 1. Policymakers must work on ensuring more favourable conditions under which hotels can borrow, as well as on ensuring adequate infrastructure; 2. They must work on improving the strategy for maintaining liquidity to avoid the high costs of short-term loans and increasing size in order to further utilise economies of scale. These two microeconomic factors have the greatest impact on the business success of hotels. Full article

Purpose. The purpose of this research is to propose a tool for designing a microcredit risk pricing strategy for borrowers of microfinance institutions (MFIs). Design/methodology/approach. Considering the specific characteristics of microcredit borrowers, we first estimate and measure microcredit risk through the default probability, applying a parametric technique such as logistic regression and a non-parametric technique based on an artificial neural network, looking for the model with the highest predictive power. Secondly, based on the Basel III internal ratings-based (IRB) approach, we use the credit risk measurement for each borrower to design a pricing model that sets microcredit interest rates according to default risk. Findings. The paper demonstrates that the probability of default for each borrower is more accurately adjusted using the artificial neural network. Furthermore, our results suggest that, given a profitability target for the MFI, the microcredit interest rate for clients with a lower level of credit risk should be lower than a standard, fixed rate to achieve the profitability target. Practical implications. This tool allows us, on the one hand, to measure and assess credit risk and minimize default losses in MFIs and, secondly, to promote their competitiveness by reducing interest rates, capital requirements, and credit losses, favoring the financial self-sustainability of these institutions. Social implications. Our findings have the potential to make microfinance institutions fairer and more equitable in their lending practices by providing microcredit with risk-adjusted pricing. Furthermore, our findings can contribute to the design of government policies aimed at promoting the financial and social inclusion of vulnerable people. Originality. The personal characteristics of microcredit clients, mainly reputation and moral solvency, are crucial to the default behavior of microfinance borrowers. These factors should have an impact on the pricing of microcredit. Full article

This study compares the analysis of the financial statements of the brewing sector in Italy and Spain due to its growth in both Mediterranean countries and its relationship with other sectors of activity of great importance in these countries. The web transparency of the sustainability indicators of the brewing sector in both countries is also analyzed, following the new regulatory framework, EU Directive 2022/2426, on sustainability information, in order to analyze, in an integrated way, the financial and sustainability information which they report for a sustainable development of the sector, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and the European Green Deal. The methodology used involved compositional data, which are reliable at an accounting and statistical level; such data allow us to value the financial health of the sector and its relationship with the web exploration of the communication of its environmental, social, and corporate governance indicators. The results indicate a solvency of the sector in the short term, with poor margins, especially in the pandemic, which recovered in 2021 due to the sector’s resilience. On the other hand, there is a clear need to study the costs and margins of the sector in depth to improve the quality of the beers and to project the sector. The web analysis reveals acceptable transparency at the environmental level and poor transparency at the social and corporate governance level, with differences between the two countries and the population under study. Full article

This study explores the evolution of price-to-book (P/B) ratios among European banks from 2005 to 2020, a period where most banks in different countries had a P/B ratio below 1. By dissecting banks’ accounting equity into investor contributions and earnings-derived components, this research aims to evaluate how each component of equity affects these ratios and investigates whether their dynamics shifted during the period. We address a gap in prior research that has not extensively examined how individual equity components affect the overall P/B ratio. This aspect is crucial, especially in scenarios where the increase of specific components compensates for declines in others, thereby stabilizing total equity values. Our methodology involves regression analyses using a panel data model with random effects. The findings reveal that earnings-related equity components significantly influence P/B ratios. In contrast, investor contributions, which strengthen the solvency of the entity, appear to have a minimal impact. Additionally, our analysis highlights a significant quadratic relationship between the P/B ratios and both the profit or loss reported on Income Statements and distributed dividends. Full article

As enterprises face increasing competitive pressures, financial crises can significantly impact on their capital operations, potentially leading to operational difficulties and, ultimately, market exclusion. Consequently, many enterprises have begun to utilize financial early-warning systems to guide and control risks. Currently, there is neither a universal nor comprehensive enterprise financial risk management model in China, nor a unified classification standard for enterprise financial risk management levels. This article takes financial data on A-share listed companies in 2020 as the data sample, including those with special treatment (represented by ST) or non-ST status. We establish an independent indicator system within the framework of profitability, solvency, operational capability, development potential, shareholders’ retained earnings, cash flow, and asset growth. The model is constructed employing the factor–logistic fusion algorithm. The factor part addresses the issue of collinearity among risk indicators, and the logistic part presents the results in probabilistic form, enhancing the interpretability of the model. The prediction accuracy of this model exceeds 89%. Finally, by applying the principles of interval estimation theory to statistical hypothesis testing, we categorize the risk levels into Grade A, representing significant risk; Grade B, representing moderate risk; Grade C, representing minor risk; and Grade D, representing no risk. This article aims to provide a comprehensive definition of a universal financial risk management early-warning model applicable to all enterprises in China. Full article

In recent decades, the importance of transport and logistics companies has increased considerably, especially for Lithuania, where this sector is on the rise and creating benefits for various users. Therefore, this study aims to analyse the economic–financial situation of transport and logistics companies operating in Lithuania, focusing mainly on their financial risk, probability of bankruptcy, and level of solvency. To achieve these results, 416 companies were analysed based on their data from 2022. The employed methodology included descriptive analysis, quartile ratio analysis, the use of Altman’s Z-score model to predict bankruptcy, and, finally, logistic regression analysis to answer the hypotheses. The results show that the companies analysed in this study were highly profitable, with a high level of solvency and liquidity that did not compromise their continuity in the market. These results were confirmed by the Z-score analysis. In addition, it was observed that the age and size of the companies did not affect their survival on the market. This study presents results that are of great interest for the academic literature, as well as for the management of logistics companies. The originality of the study lies in its relevance and timeliness, presenting robust results for different stakeholders, such as policymakers or new entrepreneurs, among others. Full article

Proportionality, pivotal to EU regulations and Solvency II, tailors rules to insurers’ size and complexity. Inconsistent application by supervisory authorities (NSAs) necessitates clarity to prevent undue costs. This study examines the issue via a review of the literature and industry discussions, emphasizing Solvency II’s introduction of proportionality and the varied interpretations it evokes. Transparent communication is crucial, and regulatory evolution must align with market dynamics, with the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) fostering convergence. Assessing proportionality mandates a comprehensive evaluation of an insurer’s nature, scale, and complexity. Regulatory distinctions between first-party and third-party risks could enhance market efficiency. Ultimately, a holistic, market-oriented approach is essential for proportionate regulation in the insurance sector, requiring concerted efforts to elucidate frameworks, foster transparency, and align regulatory evolution with market dynamics. Full article

Earnings quality is crucial to provide investors and lenders with accurate information about the economic health of the firm and to help them make the right decisions. This paper examines whether the pooling of financial resources and internal funds allocation in corporate groups has a positive effect on earnings quality through reduced earnings management practices in affiliated firms. It is hypothesized that the funding benefits of pooling financial resources in corporate groups allow affiliated firms to reduce solvency problems arising from higher leverage, which in turn reduces incentives for earnings management. The study is based on a balanced panel data set of 95 non-financial firms traded on Borsa Istanbul covering the period between 2015 and 2022 (8 years) with a total of 760 observations. Using management’s discretionary accruals as a proxy variable to measure management’s flexibility to engage in earnings management, this study finds that being affiliated to a business group reduces earnings management incentives in group affiliates when firm’s leverage increases. The business group’s support on the debt-leveraged firm alleviates the motivation for earnings management practices. Full article

Financial signaling and stock return synchronicity may not be at crossroads. This paper optimizes the signaling effect of firms’ financial indicators on stock return synchronicity. The ultimate objective is to align firms’ financial signaling and stock return synchronicity, which implies a benefit of hedging against fluctuations in the stock market index. The data cover quarterly periods from June 1992 to March 2022 for the non-financial firms listed in the DJIA30 and NASDAQ100. This paper examines the observed return synchronicity as the dependent variable. The independent variables are classified into six groups namely, Solvency (or Liquidity) ratios, Assets Efficiency ratios, Expense Control ratios, Debt (or Leverage) ratios, Profitability ratios, and Dividend ratios. The analysis is conducted on two different groups. The first group examines the observed firms’ financials that affect observed stock return synchronicity. The second group examines optimal firms’ financials that help optimize stock return synchronicity. The final results show that (a) current stock return synchronicity is affected positively by cash ratio, and negatively by receivables and historical growth of earnings; (b) optimal stock return synchronicity can be elevated using significant financial indicators namely, Inventory/Current Assets, Net Working Capital/Total Assets, Net worth/Fixed Assets, and Sales Annual Growth; (c) agency conflicts between managers and shareholders can be mitigated by the aforementioned financial indicators, which do not include debt financing being the common source of agency conflicts; and (d) dividends are still insignificant to stock return synchronization. Full article

Estimating the expected capital and its variability is a crucial objective for a non-life insurance company, which enables the firm to develop effective management strategies. Many studies have been devoted to this topic, with simulative approaches being especially employed for solving the complexity of the interacting risks, not manageable through closed-form solutions. In this paper, we present a realistic framework based on Solvency II for the definition of next-year capital of a non-life insurer, including reinsurance treaties and counterparty default risk, in a multi-line of business setting. We determine the mean and variance of the stochastic capital considering both quota share and excess-of-loss reinsurance. We show how these closed-form results enable the analysis of many different real-world strategies, granting the insurer the possibility of choosing the optimal policy without the computational resources and time constraints required by simulative approaches. Full article

Fintech companies are relatively young and operate in a rapidly evolving and ever-changing industry, which makes it important to understand how different factors, including shareholder presence in management roles, affect their performance. This study investigates the impact of shareholder presence in director and manager positions on the financial performance of Latvian fintechs. Our investigation centers on essential financial ratios, including Return on Assets, Return on Equity, Profit Margin, Liquidity Ratio, Current Ratio, and Solvency Ratio. Our findings suggest that the presence of shareholders in director and manager roles does not significantly affect the financial performance of fintech companies. Although the statistical analysis did not yield significant results, it is important to consider additional insights garnered from Cliff’s Delta effect sizes. Specifically, despite the lack of statistical significance, practical significance indicates that fintech companies in which directors and managers are shareholders show slightly better performance than other fintech companies. Beyond shedding light on the intricacies of corporate governance in the fintech sector, this research serves as a valuable resource for investors, stakeholders, and fellow researchers seeking to understand the impact of shareholder presence in director and manager roles on the financial performance of fintechs. Full article