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Large shareholder diversification, corporate risk taking, and the benefits of changing to differential voting rights

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  • Bauguess, Scott W.
  • Slovin, Myron B.
  • Sushka, Marie E.

Abstract

We show how the change to differential voting rights allows dominant shareholders to retain control even after selling substantial economic ownership in the firm and diversifying their wealth. This unbundling of cash flow and control rights leads to more dispersed economic ownership and a closer alignment of dominant and dispersed shareholder interests. When insiders sell sizeable amounts of their economic interests, firms increase capital expenditures, strengthen corporate focus, divest non-core operations, and generate superior industry-adjusted performance. The change to differential voting rights both fosters corporate control activity and creates higher takeover premiums that are paid equally to all shareholders.

Suggested Citation

  • Bauguess, Scott W. & Slovin, Myron B. & Sushka, Marie E., 2012. "Large shareholder diversification, corporate risk taking, and the benefits of changing to differential voting rights," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 36(4), pages 1244-1253.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:36:y:2012:i:4:p:1244-1253
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2011.11.009
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    2. Vural-Yavaş, Çiğdem, 2020. "Corporate risk-taking in developed countries: The influence of economic policy uncertainty and macroeconomic conditions," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    3. Lauterbach, Beni & Pajuste, Anete, 2015. "The long-term valuation effects of voluntary dual class share unifications," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 171-185.
    4. Humphery-Jenner, Mark & Powell, Ronan & Zhang, Emma Jincheng, 2019. "Practice makes progress: Evidence from divestitures," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 1-19.
    5. Li, Xiaodan & Jiao, Yang & Yu, Min-Teh & Zhao, Yang, 2019. "Founders and the decision of Chinese dual-class IPOs in the U.S," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    6. Ghosh, Chinmoy & Hilliard, James & Petrova, Milena & Phani, B.V., 2016. "Economic consequences of deregulation: Evidence from the removal of voting cap in Indian banks," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 72(S), pages 19-38.
    7. Chen, Shen & Chen, Yuran & Zhang, Di & Wang, Jinmei, 2023. "Can minority investor activism promote corporate risk-taking? Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    8. Imhof, Michael J. & Seavey, Scott E., 2014. "Corporate risk-taking, firm value and high levels of managerial earnings forecasts," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 30(2), pages 328-337.
    9. Palas, Rimona & Solomon, Dov & Gafni, Dalit & Baum, Ido, 2023. "Does wedge size matter? Financial reporting quality and effective regulation of dual-class firms," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    10. García-Sánchez, Isabel-María & Aibar-Guzmán, Cristina & Aibar-Guzmán, Beatriz, 2020. "The effect of institutional ownership and ownership dispersion on eco-innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    11. Howard Bodenhorn, 2014. "Voting Rights, Shareholdings, and Leverage at Nineteenth-Century U.S. Banks," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 57(2), pages 431-458.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Differential voting rights; One-share-one-vote; Tag-along rights;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

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

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