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French connections: interlocking directorates and ownership network in an insider governance system

Author

Listed:
  • Tristan Auvray

    (CEPN - Centre d'Economie de l'Université Paris Nord - UP13 - Université Paris 13 - USPC - Université Sorbonne Paris Cité - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Olivier Brossard

    (LEREPS - Laboratoire d'Etude et de Recherche sur l'Economie, les Politiques et les Systèmes Sociaux - UT Capitole - Université Toulouse Capitole - UT - Université de Toulouse - UT2J - Université Toulouse - Jean Jaurès - UT - Université de Toulouse - Institut d'Études Politiques [IEP] - Toulouse - ENSFEA - École Nationale Supérieure de Formation de l'Enseignement Agricole de Toulouse-Auzeville)

Abstract

We show that single and multiple overlapping directorships of large French listed corporations are highly explained by their ownership connections. Both large and small stakes, from 1% to 20% of cash-flow rights or voting rights, have high explanatory power. We provide evidence also of the existence of a positive relationship between the size of a shareholding and the strength of the correlation between ownership ties and overlapping directorates. Finally, we demonstrate that causality goes from ownership to interlocking directorates, for both unilateral stakes and cross- shareholdings.

Suggested Citation

  • Tristan Auvray & Olivier Brossard, 2016. "French connections: interlocking directorates and ownership network in an insider governance system," Post-Print hal-01372455, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01372455
    DOI: 10.4000/rei.6377
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-01372455
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