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Shareholder Activism through Proxy Proposals : The European Perspective

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  • Cziraki, P.

    (Tilburg University, Center For Economic Research)

  • Renneboog, L.D.R.

    (Tilburg University, Center For Economic Research)

  • Szilagyi, P.G.

    (Tilburg University, Center For Economic Research)

Abstract

This paper is the first to investigate the corporate governance role of shareholder†initiated proxy proposals in European firms. Proposal submissions in Europe remain infrequent compared to the USA, especially in Continental Europe. In the UK proposals typically relate to a proxy contest seeking board changes, while in Continental Europe they are more focused on specific governance issues. There is some evidence that proposal sponsors are valuable monitors, because the target firms tend to underperform and have low leverage. Sponsors also consider the ownership structure of the firm, because proposal probability increases in the target's ownership concentration and the equity stake of institutional investors. While proposals enjoy limited voting success across Europe, they are relatively more successful in the UK. The outcomes are strongest for proposals targeting the board but are also affected by the target characteristics including the CEO's pay†performance sensitivity. Proposals are met with a significant negative abnormal return of −1.23%, when they are voted upon at general meetings. The low voting support gathered by proposals and the strongly adverse market reaction suggest that shareholders of European companies use proposals as an emergency brake rather than a steering wheel.
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Suggested Citation

  • Cziraki, P. & Renneboog, L.D.R. & Szilagyi, P.G., 2009. "Shareholder Activism through Proxy Proposals : The European Perspective," Discussion Paper 2009-44, Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:tiu:tiucen:5289a4ed-dc7e-4f15-8305-763f2114b194
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    2. Renneboog, Luc & Szilagyi, Peter G., 2011. "The role of shareholder proposals in corporate governance," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 17(1), pages 167-188, February.
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    4. Marco Becht & Julian Franks & Jeremy Grant & Hannes F. Wagner, 2017. "Returns to Hedge Fund Activism: An International Study," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 30(9), pages 2933-2971.
    5. Peter Cziraki & Luc Renneboog & Peter G. Szilagyi, 2010. "Shareholder Activism through Proxy Proposals: The European Perspective," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 16(5), pages 738-777, November.
    6. Anand, Anita & Dathan, Michele, 2017. "An empirical analysis of advance notice provisions in corporate bylaws: Evidence from Canada," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 41-56.
    7. Dumitru-Nicusor CARAUSU, 2015. "Monitor And Control In Companies: An Agency Theory Approach," Journal of Public Administration, Finance and Law, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, vol. 0(Special i), pages 46-60, September.
    8. James Borthwick & Aelee Jun & Shiguang Ma, 2020. "Changing board behaviour: The role of the ‘Two Strikes’ rule in improving the efficacy of Australian Say‐on‐Pay," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 60(S1), pages 827-876, April.
    9. Vanessa Serret & Sylvie Berthelot, 2013. "Activisme Actionnarial Et Responsabilite Sociale Des Entreprises Au Canada : Analyse Des Resolutions Soumises Par Les Actionnaires Entre 2000 Et 2011," Post-Print hal-01002373, HAL.
    10. Bajzík, Josef & Havranek, Tomas & Irsova, Zuzana & Novak, Jiri, 2023. "Does Shareholder Activism Create Value? A Meta-Analysis," CEPR Discussion Papers 18233, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    11. Simon Rafaqat & Sana Rafaqat & Sahil Rafaqat & Saoul Rafaqat & Dawood Rafaqat, 2023. "Shareholder Activism and Firm Performance: A Review," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 14(4), pages 31-41.
    12. Jean J. Chen & Haitao Zhang, 2014. "The Impact of the Corporate Governance Code on Earnings Management – Evidence from Chinese Listed Companies," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 20(3), pages 596-632, June.
    13. Patrick Velte, 2020. "Determinants and consequences of clawback provisions in management compensation contracts: a structured literature review on empirical evidence," Business Research, Springer;German Academic Association for Business Research, vol. 13(3), pages 1417-1450, November.
    14. Peter Cziraki & Prof. Dr. Luc Renneboog & Peter de Goeij, 2010. "Insider Trading, Option Exercises and Private Benefits of Control," CERS-IE WORKING PAPERS 1006, Institute of Economics, Centre for Economic and Regional Studies.
    15. Barros, Victor & Guedes, Maria João & Santos, Joana & Sarmento, Joaquim Miranda, 2023. "Shareholder activism and firms’ performance," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    16. Chii-Shyan Kuo & Chandra Subramaniam & Xu Wang & Shih-Ti Yu, 2020. "Adoption of performance-vested equity incentives under investor pressure: window dressing or taking the window of opportunity?," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 54(2), pages 565-587, February.
    17. Vincent C. Ma & John S. Liu, 2016. "Exploring the research fronts and main paths of literature: a case study of shareholder activism research," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 109(1), pages 33-52, October.
    18. Ivan Diaz-Rainey & Paul A. Griffin & David H. Lont & Antonio J. Mateo-Márquez & Constancio Zamora-Ramírez, 2024. "Shareholder Activism on Climate Change: Evolution, Determinants, and Consequences," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 193(3), pages 481-510, September.
    19. Erwin Eding & Bert Scholtens, 2017. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Shareholder Proposals," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 24(6), pages 648-660, November.
    20. Ben Arfa, Nouha & Karmani, Majdi & Labaronne, Daniel, 2017. "Antecedents of hedge fund activism in French listed target firms," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 1315-1326.
    21. Feito-Ruiz, Isabel & Renneboog, Luc, 2017. "Takeovers and (excess) CEO compensation," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 156-181.
    22. Ya-Fang Wang & Yen-Fang Kuo, 2020. "Exploring the Family Effect on Innovative Capacity and Earnings Management," International Journal of Business and Economic Sciences Applied Research (IJBESAR), International Hellenic University (IHU), Kavala Campus, Greece (formerly Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Institute of Technology - EMaTTech), vol. 13(2), pages 39-61, September.
    23. Bajzik, Josef, 2023. "Is the role of shareholder activism in corporate governance overestimated?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(PC).
    24. Nicola Cucari, 2019. "Determinants of say on pay vote: a configurational analysis," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 15(3), pages 837-856, September.
    25. Andres Christian & Jacob Martin & Ulrich Lennart, 2019. "Takeover Protection and Firm Value," Review of Law & Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 15(1), pages 1-46, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Shareholder activism; shareholder proposals; corporate governance; sample selection;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

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

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