Components of a combined approach to the strategic planning of shipping companies’ entry into the capital market

Abstract

The shipping industry is characterized by high capital intensity, cyclicality, dependence on macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions, and the increasing influence of new environmental requirements. Global economic transformation processes make it vital for shipping companies to develop well-grounded strategies allowing them to enter capital markets and to attract the financial resources required for operational and strategic development. Entering capital markets is a complex and costly process. It requires an in-depth assessment of a company’s financial condition and makes it necessary to adapt corporate reporting and organizational structures to international regulatory standards. At the same time, contemporary challenges demand a combined approach to strategic planning, which integrates traditional methods (the method of financial analysis, marketing and risk-oriented methods) with modern sustainability practices, stakeholder engagement, and principles of sustainable finance. The purpose of this study is to develop a combined approach to the strategic planning of shipping companies’ entry into the capital market and to define its key components. The objectives of the study include: identifying the need of forming a combined strategic planning approach; characterizing the components of the proposed approach; and outlining the stages of planning for shipping companies’ entry into capital markets. The research employs several methodological tools: analysis and synthesis (to examine the factors driving shipping companies to enter capital markets; to generalize the existing strategic planning approaches); systems analysis and structuring (to define the components of the combined approach); causal analysis (to determine the impact of capital market entry on companies); algorithmic methods (to systematize the stages of strategic planning for capital market entry); and graphical methods (to visualize the classification of components of the combined approach). The study substantiates the practical importance of strategic planning and proposes integrating the classic and the contemporary approaches into a unified combined framework for planning the entry of shipping companies into capital markets. The components of the combined approach have been characterized, and the planning stages have been better structured by specifying the operational stages and tactical measures for their practical implementation. The advantages and limitations of the proposed combined approach have been identified. Developing a combined approach to strategic planning for shipping companies’ entry into capital markets will enhance operational efficiency and profitability, ensure compliance with sustainable development principles, strengthen corporate transparency and investor trust. Thus, it will jointly contribute to lowering the cost of capital and increasing the company capitalization. Future research should include an analysis of the effectiveness indicators of shipping companies entering capital markets and systematize the challenges and barriers that hinder their access to these markets.