IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i20p9120-d1771476.html

Influence of Ownership Structure on the Debt Level and Efficiency of Electricity Companies

Author

Listed:
  • Márcio Marcelo Gross

    (Graduate Program in Production Engineering, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria 97105-900, Brazil)

  • Adriano Mendonça Souza

    (Statistics Department, Federal University of Santa Maria, Roraima Avenue, Santa Maria 97105-900, Brazil)

Abstract

Corporate ownership structure has been extensively studied as a complementary indicator of corporate performance; however, there is a lack of research on specific sectors. This research aims to understand the effects of ownership structure on debt levels and the efficiency of companies in the electricity sector. The efficiency of electricity companies can help reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The analysis covers 7777 observations of 38 companies from 1996 to 2023, including all publicly traded electricity companies on the Brazilian stock exchange (B3). The method is based on a panel data regression model with statistical tests to support the results. The results were robust and significant. Regarding efficiency, ownership structure revealed a negative relationship (−0.107); however, as company capital becomes more dispersed, it ceases to influence company efficiency. In terms of debt levels, the relationship was positive (0.095) and, despite the dispersion of capital among the five largest common shareholders (0.103), continues to exert influence. This research contributes to the scientific literature by confirming relationships and providing evidence between new and previously unexplored variables specific to the electricity sector. It is expected to create a benchmark for future analyses, highlighting the importance of ownership structure in the performance of electricity sector companies, which can contribute to improving the management of these companies, making them more competitive and sustainable.

Suggested Citation

  • Márcio Marcelo Gross & Adriano Mendonça Souza, 2025. "Influence of Ownership Structure on the Debt Level and Efficiency of Electricity Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-14, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:20:p:9120-:d:1771476
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/20/9120/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/20/9120/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Michael L. Lemmon & Karl V. Lins, 2003. "Ownership Structure, Corporate Governance, and Firm Value: Evidence from the East Asian Financial Crisis," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 58(4), pages 1445-1468, August.
    2. José Azar & Xavier Vives, 2021. "Reply to: Comments on “General Equilibrium Oligopoly and Ownership Structure”," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 89(3), pages 1061-1063, May.
    3. Holderness, Clifford G. & Sheehan, Dennis P., 1988. "The role of majority shareholders in publicly held corporations : An exploratory analysis," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 20(1-2), pages 317-346, January.
    4. Rafael La Porta & Florencio Lopez‐De‐Silanes & Andrei Shleifer, 1999. "Corporate Ownership Around the World," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 54(2), pages 471-517, April.
    5. Demsetz, Harold & Lehn, Kenneth, 1985. "The Structure of Corporate Ownership: Causes and Consequences," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 93(6), pages 1155-1177, December.
    6. Danny Miller & Isabelle Le Breton‐Miller & Richard H. Lester, 2010. "Family ownership and acquisition behavior in publicly‐traded companies," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(2), pages 201-223, February.
    7. Choi, In, 2001. "Unit root tests for panel data," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 20(2), pages 249-272, April.
    8. Alberto de Miguel & Julio Pindado & Chabela de la Torre, 2004. "Ownership structure and firm value: new evidence from Spain," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(12), pages 1199-1207, December.
    9. Jiatao Li, 1994. "Ownership structure and board composition: A multi‐country test of agency theory predictions," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 15(4), pages 359-368, July/Augu.
    10. Rajan, Raghuram G & Zingales, Luigi, 1995. "What Do We Know about Capital Structure? Some Evidence from International Data," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 50(5), pages 1421-1460, December.
    11. Garry D. Bruton & Igor Filatotchev & Salim Chahine & Mike Wright, 2010. "Governance, ownership structure, and performance of IPO firms: the impact of different types of private equity investors and institutional environments," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 491-509, May.
    12. Harris, Milton & Raviv, Artur, 1988. "Corporate governance : Voting rights and majority rules," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 20(1-2), pages 203-235, January.
    13. Igor Filatotchev & Rostislav Kapelyushnikov & Natalya Dyomina & Sergey Aukutsionek, 2001. "The effects of ownership concentration on investment and performance in privatized firms in Russia," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 22(6), pages 299-313.
    14. José Azar & Xavier Vives, 2021. "General Equilibrium Oligopoly and Ownership Structure," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 89(3), pages 999-1048, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zeineb Barka & Taher Hamza, 2020. "The effect of large controlling shareholders on equity prices in France: monitoring or entrenchment?," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 24(3), pages 769-798, September.
    2. Luc Laeven & Ross Levine, 2008. "Complex Ownership Structures and Corporate Valuations," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 21(2), pages 579-604, April.
    3. Goergen, Marc & Manjon, Miguel C. & Renneboog, Luc, 2008. "Recent developments in German corporate governance," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 175-193, September.
    4. Anderson, Ronald W. & Hamadi, Malika, 2009. "Large powerful shareholders and cash holding," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 24422, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    5. Mike Peng & Yi Jiang, 2006. "Family Ownership And Control In Large Firms: The Good, The Bad, The Irrelevant ??? And Why," William Davidson Institute Working Papers Series wp840, William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan.
    6. ElBannan, Mona A., 2017. "Stock market liquidity, family ownership, and capital structure choices in an emerging country," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 201-231.
    7. de La Bruslerie, Hubert & Latrous, Imen, 2012. "Ownership structure and debt leverage: Empirical test of a trade-off hypothesis on French firms," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 22(4), pages 111-130.
    8. Kate Bishop & Igor Filatotchev & Tomasz Mickiewicz, 2002. "Endogenous ownership structure: factors affecting the post-privatisation equity in largest Hungarian firms," UCL SSEES Economics and Business working paper series 5, UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES).
    9. Amin, Qazi Awais & Liu, Jia, 2020. "Shareholders' control rights, family ownership and the firm's leverage decisions," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    10. Weiß, Christian, 2010. "The Ownership Concentration of Firms: Three Essays on the Determinants and Effects," EconStor Theses, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, number 30247, March.
    11. Sacristán-Navarro, María & Gómez-Ansón, Silvia & Cabeza-García, Laura, 2011. "Large shareholders' combinations in family firms: Prevalence and performance effects," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 2(2), pages 101-112, June.
    12. Julien Le Maux & Claude Francoeur, 2014. "Block Premia, Litigation Risk, and Shareholder Protection," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 20(4), pages 756-769, September.
    13. Khosa,Amrinder & Ahmed,Kamran & Henry,Darren, 2019. "Ownership Structure, Related Party Transactions, and Firm Valuation," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781108492195.
    14. Zorica Kalezić, 2015. "Ownership Concentration and Firm Performance in Transition Economies: Evidence from Montenegro," Journal of Central Banking Theory and Practice, Central bank of Montenegro, vol. 4(3), pages 5-64.
    15. Arena, Matteo P. & Dewally, Michaël & Jain, Bharat A. & Shao, Yingying, 2022. "Family firms' cross-border mergers and acquisitions," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    16. 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.
    17. Zhou, Haoyong & He, Fan & Wang, Yangbo, 2017. "Did family firms perform better during the financial crisis? New insights from the S&P 500 firms," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 88-103.
    18. Alexander Dyck & Luigi Zingales, 2002. "Private Benefits of Control: An International Comparison," NBER Working Papers 8711, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    19. Shleifer, Andrei & Vishny, Robert W, 1997. "A Survey of Corporate Governance," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 52(2), pages 737-783, June.
    20. Igor Filatotchev & Tomasz Mickiewicz, 2001. "Ownership Concentration, 'Private Benefits of Control' and Debt Financing," UCL SSEES Economics and Business working paper series 4, UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:20:p:9120-:d:1771476. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager The email address of this maintainer does not seem to be valid anymore. Please ask MDPI Indexing Manager to update the entry or send us the correct address (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.