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The ownership structure of repurchasing firms

Author

Listed:
  • Johannes A. Skjeltorp

    (Norges Bank)

  • Bernt Arne Ødegaard

    (Norwegian School of Management (BI))

Abstract

This paper provides an examination of the ownership structure in Norwegian firms that announced repurchase plans during the period 1999 through 2001, as well as for groups of these firms conditional on whether they actually executed repurchases or not. By using detailed information on various ownership variables that can be related to corporate governance mechanisms, the paper also examines whether the propensity for firms to announce a repurchase program depends on the ownership composition. Some interesting patterns are found which are consistent with models where firms with potentially the highest agency problems use repurchases to mitigate agency costs. However, a high insider ownership in these firms may also suggest that asymmetric information, shareholder expropriation and entrenchment may also be motivations for why firms repurchase shares.

Suggested Citation

  • Johannes A. Skjeltorp & Bernt Arne Ødegaard, 2004. "The ownership structure of repurchasing firms," Working Paper 2004/7, Norges Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:bno:worpap:2004_07
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Rim El Houcine, 2013. "Ownership Structure And Stock Repurchase Policy: Evidence From France," Accounting & Taxation, The Institute for Business and Finance Research, vol. 5(2), pages 45-54.
    2. Min Teng & Toyohiko Hachiya, 2013. "Agency Problems and Stock Repurchases: Evidence from Japan," Review of Pacific Basin Financial Markets and Policies (RPBFMP), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 16(03), pages 1-30.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Stock repurchases; ownership structure; corporate governance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G10 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G35 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Payout Policy

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