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Control Dilution And Distribution Of Ownership

Author

Listed:
  • Bennedsen, Morten

    (Department of Economics, Copenhagen Business School)

  • Fosgerau, Mogens

    (Center for Economics and Business Research)

  • Wolfenzon, Daniel

    (Michigan Business School)

Abstract

We investigate the patterns of ultimate distribution of ownership in a sample of small closely held corporations. Motivated by recent corporate governance theories we define control dilution as the absenc of a single dominating shareholder. Most firms have one or two ultimate owners implying that control is very concentrated. However, we find strong evidence for control dilution in firms with multiple owners and we proceed to analyze three potential explanations: a general strategic motive, a coalition formation argument and the presence of family ownership. We find the strongest evidence for a general strategic motive and we clearly reject that the observed control dilution is due to family ownership. Finally, we show that the probability of control dilution increases with manager ownership and number of owners, but decreases with the age of the firm and with the presence of family ownership.

Suggested Citation

  • Bennedsen, Morten & Fosgerau, Mogens & Wolfenzon, Daniel, 2000. "Control Dilution And Distribution Of Ownership," Working Papers 16-2000, Copenhagen Business School, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:cbsnow:2000_016
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Elisabeth Mueller & Alexandra Spitz‐Oener, 2006. "Managerial Ownership and Company Performance in German Small and Medium‐Sized Private Enterprises," German Economic Review, Verein für Socialpolitik, vol. 7(2), pages 233-247, May.
    2. Mueller, Elisabeth & Spitz, Alexandra, 2001. "Managerial ownership and firm performance in German small and medium-sized enterprises," ZEW Discussion Papers 01-72, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    3. Elisabeth Mueller & Alexandra Spitz‐Oener, 2006. "Managerial Ownership and Company Performance in German Small and Medium‐Sized Private Enterprises," German Economic Review, Verein für Socialpolitik, vol. 7(2), pages 233-247, May.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Ownership Distribution; Control Allocation; Closely Held Corporations;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance

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