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Do institutional investors monitor management? Evidence from the relationship between institutional ownership and capital structure

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  • Chung, Chune Young
  • Wang, Kainan

Abstract

We examine the dynamic relations between institutional ownership and a firm's capital structure. We find that a firm's leverage decreases when institutional ownership increases. This result implies that a firm reduces its debt level as institutional investors substitute for the monitoring role of debt. More importantly, we find that a firm's suboptimal leverage decreases when the institutional ownership increases, and institutional ownership decreases when a firm's suboptimal leverage increases. This finding shows that institutions not only effectively monitor a firm's capital structure but they also passively sell their shares when dissatisfied with it. In addition, we find that the monitoring evidence on a firm's leverage and suboptimal leverage are more pronounced when the institutional investors are less likely to have business relationships with a firm or the information asymmetry is high in the market.

Suggested Citation

  • Chung, Chune Young & Wang, Kainan, 2014. "Do institutional investors monitor management? Evidence from the relationship between institutional ownership and capital structure," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 203-233.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecofin:v:30:y:2014:i:c:p:203-233
    DOI: 10.1016/j.najef.2014.10.001
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    9. Chune Young Chung & Chang Liu & Kainan Wang & Blerina Bela Zykaj, 2015. "Institutional Monitoring: Evidence from the F-Score," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(7-8), pages 885-914, September.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Corporate governance; Institutional monitoring; Heterogeneous institutions; Capital structure; Suboptimal leverage;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G20 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - General
    • G33 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Bankruptcy; Liquidation
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance

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