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Do Corporate Governance Motives Drive Hedge Fund and Private Equity Fund Activities?

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  • Ann†Kristin Achleitner
  • André Betzer
  • Jasmin Gider

Abstract

We document empirical evidence that both hedge fund (HF) and private equity fund (PE) investments are driven by corporate governance improvements, but address different types of agency conflicts. Whereas HFs focus on firms without a controlling shareholder, in particular family shareholders, PEs invest in firms with low managerial ownership. Both appear to address free cash flow problems differently. Aiming at increasing dividends, HFs tend to use commitment devices that can be implemented over a short horizon. PEs are inclined to longer†term strategies: they target firms that are particularly well suited for leverage increases because of low expected financial distress costs.

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  • Ann†Kristin Achleitner & André Betzer & Jasmin Gider, 2010. "Do Corporate Governance Motives Drive Hedge Fund and Private Equity Fund Activities?," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 16(5), pages 805-828, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:eufman:v:16:y:2010:i:5:p:805-828
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-036X.2010.00557.x
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    3. Shelly Srivastava & Supriyo Roy, 2023. "Impact of Equity Investment Intention Towards Behaviour: An Empirical Analysis," Vision, , vol. 27(3), pages 329-346, June.
    4. Bessler, Wolfgang & Vendrasco, Marco, 2022. "Corporate control and shareholder activism in Germany: An empirical analysis of hedge fund strategies," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    5. Olaf M. Rottke & Felix K. Thiele, 2018. "Do family investors differ from other investors? Similarity, experience, and professionalism in the light of family investee firm challenges," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 88(2), pages 139-166, February.
    6. Dasgupta, Amil & Fos, Vyacheslav & Sautner, Zacharias, 2021. "Institutional investors and corporate governance," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 112114, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    7. Peter Weber & Heinz Zimmermann, 2013. "Hedge Fund Activism and Information Disclosure: the Case of Germany," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 19(5), pages 1017-1050, November.
    8. Sebastian Ernst & Christian Koziol & Denis Schweizer, 2013. "Are Private Equity Investors Boon or Bane for an Economy?–A Theoretical Analysis," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 19(1), pages 180-207, January.
    9. Barbara Voußem & Utz Schäffer & Denis Schweizer, 2015. "Top management turnover under the influence of activist investors," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 19(3), pages 709-739, August.
    10. Vladimiro Marini & Massimo Caratelli & Gian Paolo Stella & Ilaria Barbaraci, 2022. "Is corporate governance of private equity targets more effective for risk mitigation?," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 26(3), pages 781-811, September.
    11. Mark Mietzner & Denis Schweizer, 2014. "Hedge funds versus private equity funds as shareholder activists in Germany — differences in value creation," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 38(2), pages 181-208, April.
    12. Bessler, Wolfgang & Vendrasco, Marco, 2022. "Why do companies become hedge fund targets? Evidence from shareholder activism in Germany," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 47(PB).
    13. Kaserer, Christoph, 2011. "Mehr Aktionärsrechte und weniger Interessenskonflikte für eine verbesserte Corporate Governance," Die Unternehmung - Swiss Journal of Business Research and Practice, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 65(4), pages 320-327.

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