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Conflict between Controlling Family Owners and Minority Shareholders: Much Ado about Nothing?

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  • Geoffrey Martin
  • Luis R. Gómez–Mejía
  • Pascual Berrone
  • Marianna Makri

Abstract

We examine the unique nature of conflict between controlling family owners and minority shareholders (principal–principal conflict) in publicly traded family controlled firms through examining shareholder proposals. Implicit in prior governance and family business research has been that nonfamily shareholders are likely to be in conflict with the dominant family owners. In general, we find that much of this fear may be unwarranted except under specific circumstances. Our findings elucidate sources of heterogeneity in family firm principal–principal conflict and add greater nuance to our understanding of this type of agency problem within family firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Geoffrey Martin & Luis R. Gómez–Mejía & Pascual Berrone & Marianna Makri, 2017. "Conflict between Controlling Family Owners and Minority Shareholders: Much Ado about Nothing?," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 41(6), pages 999-1027, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:entthe:v:41:y:2017:i:6:p:999-1027
    DOI: 10.1111/etap.12236
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    5. Tomasz Ingram & Katarzyna Bratnicka-Mysliwiec, 2021. "Organizational Resilience and Family Firm Performance: The Role of Socioemotional Wealth," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(3), pages 523-540.
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    8. Inmaculada Aguiar-Diaz & María Victoria Ruiz-Mallorquí & Lourdes Trujillo, 2020. "Ownership structure and financial performance of Spanish port service companies," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 22(4), pages 674-698, December.
    9. Rossella Leopizzi & Simone Pizzi & Fabrizio D'Addario, 2021. "The Relationship among Family Business, Corporate Governance, and Firm Performance: An Empirical Assessment in the Tourism Sector," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-12, January.
    10. Paul Sanchez & Robert J. Pidduck & Duygu Phillips & Joshua J. Daspit & Daniel T. Holt, 2024. "From modesty to market: shareholder reactions to humility rhetoric in family and nonfamily firms under media scrutiny," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 63(2), pages 755-780, August.
    11. Michael E. Cummings & Hans Rawhouser & Silvio Vismara & Erin L. Hamilton, 2020. "An equity crowdfunding research agenda: evidence from stakeholder participation in the rulemaking process," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 54(4), pages 907-932, April.
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