Accepted_Version_JCFCorrectFormat_V3.pdf (341.18 kB)
Download fileCash holding and control-oriented finance
journal contribution
posted on 2016-11-17, 11:40 authored by R. W. Anderson, Malika HamadiWe critically reassess the notion that high liquid asset holding by firms faced with weak investor protection is evidence of managerial rent extraction. We show that firms facing agency problems may establish tight controls over management through concentrated ownership. Using data on Belgian listed firms between 1991 and 2006, we find a strong positive association between ownership concentration and cash holding. This indicates a precautionary motive on the part of the controlling shareholders who highly value control. We also find that firm market valuation is positively affected by the amount of cash held by firms. On the other hand, managerial ownership has no impact. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that firms' owners are pursuing a rational strategy to mitigate agency costs in the face of weak investor protections.
History
Citation
Journal of Corporate Finance 41 (2016) 410–425Author affiliation
/Organisation/COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, ARTS AND HUMANITIES/School of ManagementVersion
- AM (Accepted Manuscript)