where NA is net assets defined as total assets minus cash and L corresponds to cash holdings. The coefficient on cash holdings measures the value of holding a dollar of cash. If the increase in cash holdings is a by-product of agency problems, the value of cash will fall over time. Dittmar and Mahrt-Smith (2007) estimate a regression similar to equation (2) for U.S. firms, and Pinkowitz, Stulz, and Williamson (2006) utilize a comparable specification for international firms using 1-year leads and lags.