IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jjrfmx/v17y2024i10p438-d1489130.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Exploring the Usefulness of Real Options Theory for Foreign Affiliate Divestments: Real Abandonment Options’ Applications

Author

Listed:
  • Andrejs Čirjevskis

    (Faculty of Business and Economics, RISEBA University of Applied Sciences, Meza Street 3, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia)

Abstract

Scholars propose that future research on real options theory should shift attention away from option buying during the first investment stage and toward option execution after investment. Researchers maintain that it would be interesting to explore the circumstances under which investors decide to withdraw their investments, thereby exercising the option to abandon their investments. The present research seeks to fill the gap in the literature and investigate the applicability of real options theory when an organization enhances sustainability policies while focusing on disciplined capital allocation through exit strategies. With case study data on Natura &Co’s divestment strategy for the Body Shop in November 2023, a real options analysis revealed the method’s practical advantages and disadvantages. This paper investigates real options theory in the context of the divestments of foreign affiliates, providing unique viewpoints and enhancing the theory beyond previous knowledge while also increasing our understanding of the divestiture phenomenon. This study concludes with a review of this paper’s theoretical contributions to real options theory, the managerial and practical/social implications of real options applications in general, and the valuation methods of abandonment options in particular, shedding light on the potential of future research.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrejs Čirjevskis, 2024. "Exploring the Usefulness of Real Options Theory for Foreign Affiliate Divestments: Real Abandonment Options’ Applications," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-17, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jjrfmx:v:17:y:2024:i:10:p:438-:d:1489130
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1911-8074/17/10/438/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1911-8074/17/10/438/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. René Belderbos & Jianglei Zou, 2009. "Real options and foreign affiliate divestments: A portfolio perspective," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 40(4), pages 600-620, May.
    2. Avinash K. Dixit & Robert S. Pindyck, 1994. "Investment under Uncertainty," Economics Books, Princeton University Press, edition 1, number 5474.
    3. Nicoleta Vintila, 2007. "Real Options in Capital Budgeting. Pricing the Option to Delay and the Option to Abandon a Project," Theoretical and Applied Economics, Asociatia Generala a Economistilor din Romania / Editura Economica, vol. 7(7(512)), pages 47-58, July.
    4. Pietra Rivoli & Eugene Salorio, 1996. "Foreign Direct Investment and Investment under Uncertainty," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 27(2), pages 335-357, June.
    5. Tony W. Tong & Yong Li, 2011. "Real Options and Investment Mode: Evidence from Corporate Venture Capital and Acquisition," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 22(3), pages 659-674, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wooster, Rossitza B. & Blanco, Luisa & Sawyer, W. Charles, 2016. "Equity commitment under uncertainty: A hierarchical model of real option entry mode choices," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 25(1), pages 382-394.
    2. Andries, Petra & Hünermund, Paul, 2020. "Firm-level effects of staged investments in innovation: The moderating role of resource availability," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(7).
    3. Han Smit & Enrico Pennings & Sjoerd Bekkum, 2017. "Real options and institutions," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 48(5), pages 620-644, July.
    4. Tailan Chi & Jing Li & Lenos G Trigeorgis & Andrianos E Tsekrekos, 2019. "Real options theory in international business," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(4), pages 525-553, June.
    5. Chris Changwha Chung & Seung-Hyun Lee & Jeoung-Yul Lee, 2013. "Dual-Option Subsidiaries and Exit Decisions During Times of Economic Crisis," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 53(4), pages 555-577, August.
    6. Jan Hendrik, Fisch, 2011. "Real call options to enlarge foreign subsidiaries - The moderating effect of irreversibility on the influence of economic volatility and political instability on subsequent FDI," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 46(4), pages 517-526, October.
    7. Song, Sangcheol, 2024. "Divesting or keeping overseas subsidiary production under rising production costs and uncertain market demands in host countries," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(5).
    8. Vettas, Nikolaos & Kotseva, Rossitsa, 2005. "Foreign Direct Investment and Exports Dynamics with Demand Learning," CEPR Discussion Papers 5262, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    9. Sleuwaegen, Leo & Pennings, Enrico, 2000. "The Choice and Timing of Foreign Market Entry under Uncertainty," CEPR Discussion Papers 2470, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    10. Katheryn Russ, 2012. "Exchange rate volatility and first-time entry by multinational firms," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 148(2), pages 269-295, June.
    11. Sangcheol Song, 2013. "FDI Structure, Investment Specificity, and Multinationality Value under Host Market Uncertainty," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 53(6), pages 795-817, December.
    12. Mankan M. Koné & Carl Gaigné & Lota Tamini, 2017. "Duopolistic Competition and Optimal Switching Time from Export to FDI in Uncertainty," CIRANO Working Papers 2017s-23, CIRANO.
    13. Matthias Busse & Carsten Hefeker & Signe Nelgen, 2013. "Foreign Direct Investment and Exchange Rate Regimes," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 33(1), pages 843-858.
    14. Danchi Tan & Weichieh Su & Joseph T. Mahoney & Yasemin Kor, 2020. "A review of research on the growth of multinational enterprises: A Penrosean lens," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(4), pages 498-537, June.
    15. Ipsmiller, Edith & Brouthers, Keith D. & Dikova, Desislava, 2021. "Which export channels provide real options to SMEs?," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 56(6).
    16. Li Dai & Lorraine Eden & Paul W. Beamish, 2023. "The timing and mode of foreign exit from conflict zones: A behavioral perspective," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 54(6), pages 1090-1104, August.
    17. Sangcheol Song & Jeoung Yul Lee, 2017. "Relationship with Headquarters and Divestments of Foreign Subsidiaries: The Hysteresis Perspective," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 57(4), pages 545-570, August.
    18. Song, Sangcheol & Lee, Seung-Hyun & Makhija, Mona, 2015. "Operational hedging in foreign direct investments under volatile and divergent exchange rates across countries," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 50(3), pages 548-557.
    19. Sels, A.T.H., 2006. "Foreign direct investment as an entry mode. An application in emerging economies," Other publications TiSEM 583ca9b5-1691-425d-8f77-0, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    20. Hsieh, Hui-Ching & Boarelli, Sofia & Vu, Thi Huyen Chi, 2019. "The effects of economic policy uncertainty on outward foreign direct investment," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 377-392.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jjrfmx:v:17:y:2024:i:10:p:438-:d:1489130. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.