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Firm performance and mutual fund voting

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  • Ng, Lilian
  • Wang, Qinghai
  • Zaiats, Nataliya

Abstract

We employ a new comprehensive proxy voting records database to investigate whether mutual funds consider prior firm performance when they vote on a diverse range of management- and shareholder-sponsored proposals relating to governance, compensation, and director election. We argue that prior firm performance plays a role in the monitoring effort of mutual funds as they fulfill their fiduciary duties. Results show that voting is related to prior firm performance for selected management and shareholder proposals and that it is consistent with Institutional Shareholder Services' recommendations. Mutual funds support management (shareholder) proposals less (more) when prior firm performance has been weak. Furthermore, even when mutual funds deviate from their fund family's voting policies, they attach importance to prior firm performance, and their voting is, to a certain degree, affected by business ties.

Suggested Citation

  • Ng, Lilian & Wang, Qinghai & Zaiats, Nataliya, 2009. "Firm performance and mutual fund voting," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 33(12), pages 2207-2217, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:33:y:2009:i:12:p:2207-2217
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    3. Morgan, Angela & Poulsen, Annette & Wolf, Jack & Yang, Tina, 2011. "Mutual funds as monitors: Evidence from mutual fund voting," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 17(4), pages 914-928, September.
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    5. Bingrun Xu & Wenli Huang & Lu Li & Lei Lu, 2023. "Mutual fund activism and corporate innovation: Evidence from China," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(S2), pages 2755-2779, June.
    6. Ding, Rong & Hou, Wenxuan & Kuo, Jing-Ming & Lee, Edward, 2013. "Fund ownership and stock price informativeness of Chinese listed firms," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 23(3), pages 166-185.
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    8. Tsukioka, Yasutomo, 2020. "The impact of Japan’s stewardship code on shareholder voting," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 148-162.
    9. Masumoto, Kazuhide & Takeda, Fumiko, 2022. "Market reactions to proxy advisory companies’ recommendations in Japan," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    10. Chou, Julia & Ng, Lilian & Wang, Qinghai, 2011. "Are better governed funds better monitors?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 17(5), pages 1254-1271.
    11. Nain, Amrita & Yao, Tong, 2013. "Mutual fund skill and the performance of corporate acquirers," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 110(2), pages 437-456.
    12. Loureiro, Gilberto & Mendonça, Cesar, 2024. "Do large registered investment funds undermine shareholder activism? Evidence from hedge fund proposals," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    13. Miyachi, Hiroaki & Takeda, Fumiko, 2024. "Empirical study on voting results and proxy advisor recommendations in Japan," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    14. Yafeh, Yishay & Hamdani, Assaf, 2010. "Institutional Investors as Minority Shareholders: Do They Matter When Ownership Is Concentrated?," CEPR Discussion Papers 7934, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    15. Foley, Maggie & Cebula, Richard & Houmes, Robert, 2014. "Contesting Corporate Control in the U.S.: The Role of Ownership Structure and the Anti-takeover Measure," MPRA Paper 55428, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    16. Jiao, Yawen, 2010. "Stakeholder welfare and firm value," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 34(10), pages 2549-2561, October.
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    18. Lee, Sanglae, 2015. "Corporate Governance And Firm Performance: Evidence From Institutional Investors And Proxy Voting In Korea," Hitotsubashi Journal of Economics, Hitotsubashi University, vol. 56(1), pages 35-53, June.

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