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The determinants of the voting premium in Italy: The evidence from 1974 to 2003

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  • Caprio, Lorenzo
  • Croci, Ettore

Abstract

We examine the voting premium in Italy in the period 1974 to 2003, when it ranged from 1% to 100%. At firm level, the measure of the price differential between voting and non-voting stocks cannot be fully explained without taking into account the effect of the largest shareholder's identity. Family-controlled firms have higher voting premiums, especially when the family owns a large stake in the company's voting equity and the founder is the firm's CEO and/or Chairman. We explain this result by showing that families attach greater importance to control and are more prone than other types of controlling shareholders to expropriate the non-voting class of shareholders.

Suggested Citation

  • Caprio, Lorenzo & Croci, Ettore, 2008. "The determinants of the voting premium in Italy: The evidence from 1974 to 2003," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 32(11), pages 2433-2443, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:32:y:2008:i:11:p:2433-2443
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    Cited by:

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    2. Victor DRAGOTA & Carmen LIPARA & Radu CIOBANU, 2013. "Agency Problems and Synergistic Effects in Romania: The Determinants of the Control Premium," Czech Journal of Economics and Finance (Finance a uver), Charles University Prague, Faculty of Social Sciences, vol. 63(2), pages 197-219, May.
    3. Fernandes, Marcelo & Frango de Souza, Vitor, 2014. "Voting Premium in the Brazilian Equity Market," Brazilian Review of Econometrics, Sociedade Brasileira de Econometria - SBE, vol. 34(1), March.
    4. González, Maximiliano & Guzmán, Alexander & Pombo, Carlos & Trujillo, María-Andrea, 2012. "Family firms and financial performance: The cost of growing," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 13(4), pages 626-649.
    5. Antonio Salvi & Emanuele Teti & Anastasia Giakoumelou & Felice Petruzzella, 2021. "Voting Premium in Italy: An Analysis over a 30-Year Period," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 14(1), pages 206-206, July.
    6. Jianjun Zhang & Christopher Marquis & Kunyuan Qiao, 2016. "Do Political Connections Buffer Firms from or Bind Firms to the Government? A Study of Corporate Charitable Donations of Chinese Firms," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 27(5), pages 1307-1324, October.
    7. Bigelli, Marco & Croci, Ettore, 2013. "Dividend privileges and the value of voting rights: Evidence from Italy," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 94-107.
    8. Malenko, Nadya & Levit, Doron & Maug, Ernst, 2021. "The voting premium," CEPR Discussion Papers 15718, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    9. Bajo, Emanuele & Barbi, Massimiliano & Bigelli, Marco & Croci, Ettore, 2020. "Bolstering family control: Evidence from loyalty shares," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).

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