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Ownership Dynamics after Partial Privatization: Evidence from China

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  • Nancy Huyghebaert
  • Qi Quan

Abstract

This paper studies ownership dynamics in 221 Chinese state-owned enterprises that were partially privatized via the Shanghai Stock Exchange. We build probit models to investigate the further decline in government ownership after listing. We differentiate between share issuance, where state ownership is diluted as a result of rights issues and seasoned equity offerings, and government divestment. We find evidence that share issuance results in the dilution of state ownership in the highly profitable and leveraged firms that rely more on subsidies, while assets growth has a negative effect. The issuance decision is timed to occur when stock market conditions are favorable. Chinese authorities tend to sell part of their shares in the smaller and unprofitable firms reporting higher sales growth. Variables capturing the size of managerial incentive problems do not play an incremental role after controlling for firm performance. Finally, the divestment decision is not affected by windows of opportunity.

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  • Nancy Huyghebaert & Qi Quan, 2011. "Ownership Dynamics after Partial Privatization: Evidence from China," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 54(2), pages 389-429.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jlawec:doi:10.1086/655163
    DOI: 10.1086/655163
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    Cited by:

    1. Huyghebaert, Nancy & Quan, Qi & Sun, Lijian, 2014. "Financing decisions after partial privatization in China: Can a stock market quotation really provide discipline?," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 27-46.
    2. Wang, Lihong, 2015. "Protection or expropriation: Politically connected independent directors in China," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 92-106.
    3. Li, Ke & Lu, Lei & Mittoo, Usha R. & Zhang, Zhou, 2015. "Board independence, ownership concentration and corporate performance—Chinese evidence," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 162-175.
    4. Boardman, Anthony E. & Vining, Aidan R. & Weimer, David L., 2016. "The long-run effects of privatization on productivity: Evidence from Canada," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 38(6), pages 1001-1017.
    5. Liu, Jinyu & Wang, Zhengwei & Zhu, Wuxiang, 2021. "Does privatization reform alleviate ownership discrimination? Evidence from the Split-share structure reform in China," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    6. Rihab Kriaa & Taher Hamza, 2021. "Control dilution of an initial owner post-IPO: the impact of characteristics of ownership structure," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 1(3), pages 1-35, March.
    7. Pi, Jiancai & Zhang, Pengqing, 2018. "Privatization and wage inequality in developing countries," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 594-603.
    8. Firth, Michael & Gong, Stephen X. & Shan, Liwei, 2013. "Cost of government and firm value," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 21(C), pages 136-152.
    9. Kun Jiang & Susheng Wang, 2016. "Staged Privatization: Transforming State-Owned Enterprises into Market-Based Firms," Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics (JITE), Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, vol. 172(4), pages 694-726, December.

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