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Tunneling and the decision to go private: Evidence from Hong Kong

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  • Du, Julan
  • He, Qing
  • Yuen, San Wing

Abstract

We examine a sample of going-private transactions in the Hong Kong stock market from 1989 to 2008. Privatized firms experienced large negative abnormal returns prior to the announcement of going private transaction, particularly in those firms with weak corporate governance structure and a high level of related party transactions. The likelihood of a firm to go private is high in those poorly governed firms with large free cash flow. Our evidence suggests that controlling shareholders carry out self-dealings that lead to value losses and depressed stock prices. When remaining public is no longer attractive, controlling shareholders take the firm private by paying a relatively low premium to minority shareholders.

Suggested Citation

  • Du, Julan & He, Qing & Yuen, San Wing, 2013. "Tunneling and the decision to go private: Evidence from Hong Kong," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 22(C), pages 50-68.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pacfin:v:22:y:2013:i:c:p:50-68
    DOI: 10.1016/j.pacfin.2012.10.001
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    Cited by:

    1. Abdul Aziz Khan Niazi & Tehmina Fiaz Qazi & Abdul Basit, 2019. "Expounding the Structure of Slyer Ways of Tunneling in Pakistan," Global Regional Review, Humanity Only, vol. 4(2), pages 329-343, June.
    2. He, Qing & Liu, Junyi & Zhang, Ce, 2021. "Exchange rate exposure and its determinants in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    3. Akhtar, Shumi, 2016. "Privatization decisions of Australian firms: An empirical investigation," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 243-255.
    4. Domitilla Magni & Ottorino Morresi & Alberto Pezzi & Domenico Graziano, 2022. "Defining the Relationship Between Firm’s Performance and Delisting: Empirical Evidence of Going Private in Europe," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 13(3), pages 2584-2605, September.
    5. Pattarin Adithipyangkul & H. Y. Hung & T. Y. Leung, 2021. "An Auditor's Perspective of Executive Incentive Pay and Dividend Payouts in Family Firms," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 42(4), pages 697-714, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Tunneling; Going private; Related party transactions; Free cash flow;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance

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