Title: Ultimate ownership, investor protection and firm valuation: evidence for Asian countries non-financial firms

Authors: Hela Ben Hamida, Chokri Mamoghli

Addresses: High Institute of Management of Tunis, University of Tunis, 41 rue de la Liberte Bardo, Tunis Cedex, C.P. 2000, Tunisia. ' High Institute of Management of Tunis, University of Tunis, 41 rue de la Liberte Bardo, Tunis Cedex, C.P. 2000, Tunisia

Abstract: In this paper we investigate the causal relationship between ultimate shareholder|s cash-flow rights and firm valuation performance for some Asian countries. More precisely, we test the incentive effect hypothesis. Using data for 1,740 publicly listed non-financial firms from eight Asian countries for 1996, we find that firm value increases with cash-flow rights of the ultimate shareholder. This result is consistent with previous empirical studies. Also, we show that common law environment offers better protection for minority shareholders. Moreover, the positive effect of ultimate shareholder cash-flow rights is stronger in civil law countries.

Keywords: corporate governance; ultimate shareholder; cash flow rights; investor protection; firm valuation; non-financial firms; Asia; common law; minority shareholders; civil law.

DOI: 10.1504/AAJFA.2009.024298

Afro-Asian Journal of Finance and Accounting, 2009 Vol.1 No.3, pp.199 - 214

Published online: 31 Mar 2009 *

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