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Public Debate and Stock Prices: Evidence from the Voting Premium

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  • Giannetti, Mariassunta
  • Braggion, Fabio

Abstract

An intense debate on the use of limited-voting shares developed in the UK during the 1950s. Using a unique hand-collected dataset, we show that negative news coverage of limited-voting shares is associated with an increase in the relative price of voting and limited-voting shares (the voting premium), even if no new material information has been revealed. The effects are stronger for firms that are difficult to arbitrage. Furthermore, a higher voting premium and negative news for dual class firms are followed by lower returns for voting shares than for limited-voting shares suggesting a reversion to fundamentals. Taken together, our results indicate that during this period investors? views may have limited firms? ability to use limited-voting shares and have broader implications on the effects of investors? views for stock prices and corporate governance.

Suggested Citation

  • Giannetti, Mariassunta & Braggion, Fabio, 2013. "Public Debate and Stock Prices: Evidence from the Voting Premium," CEPR Discussion Papers 9619, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
  • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:9619
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Category; Public opinion; Corporate governance; Dual class shares;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G02 - Financial Economics - - General - - - Behavioral Finance: Underlying Principles
    • G1 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets
    • G3 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance

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