We suppose that the agency conflicts between shareholders and bondholders may affect the level of risk of company’s debt instruments, therefore, increasing the cost of debt of the firm. A number of corporate governance mechanisms are developed to alleviate the conflicts. This paper surveys...

We examine the relationship of selected Board of Directors´ characteristics and firm´s financial performance. Using a sample of large U.S firms in 2005-2009, we find that the degree of insider ownership influences positively fi rm performance, because it reduces agency problems. The age of the...

We examine the relationship of selected Board of Directors´ characteristics and firm´s financial performance. Using a sample of large U.S firms in 2005-2009, we find that the degree of insider ownership influences positively fi rm performance, because it reduces agency problems. The age of the...

This Paper investigates valuation effects of share block transfers and employs agency theory to explain the determinants of block premia. A sample of transactions from Poland is used to measure benefits and costs of ownership concentration. Block premia are found to be substantially lower than...

In this paper, we analyse whether bank owners or bank managers were the driving force behind the risks incurred in the wake of the financial crisis of 2007/2008. We show that owner controlled banks had higher profits in the years before the crisis, and incurred larger losses and were more likely...

The aim of this paper is to analyse the impact of both firm-specific and external factors on the risk taking of European insurance companies. The extent of risk taking is quantified through variations in stock prices and these are explained by firm-specific and external factors that proxy the...

The relationship between dividends and corporate governance in five East Asian countries over the period 1994-2003, comparing the outcome and substitute models, is investigated. Evidence of a pre-crisis negative relationship between dividends and governance indicates that dividends act as a...

This study investigates the impact of government controlling ownership on the cost of debt of Chinese listed corporations. We find that corporations under government control have a lower cost of debt compared to corporations under private control, and that government ownership is most beneficial...

Does country "transparency" affect international portfolio investment? We examine this and related questions using a unique micro dataset on international portfolio holdings. We employ various indices of government and corporate transparency, focusing on the availability and quality of...

This survey provides a synthetic and evaluative survey of issues in corporate financial distress and bankruptcy. This area has moved into a public domain as a result of the recent global financial crisis that witnessed failures of many venerable institutions that got rescued by the government....