Does hedge fund activism harm corporate social performance? Evidence from ESG ratings11We have no potential conflicts to disclose. Zhao gratefully acknowledges financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, [Grant No. 72472150]

Jiaying Wei and Shan Zhao

Journal of Corporate Finance, 2025, vol. 94, issue C

Abstract: We reexamine the impact of hedge fund activism on corporate social performance as measured by ESG ratings. Using a high-quality dataset on hedge fund activism, we find that the impact of hedge fund activism on ESG ratings is neither statistically nor economically significant. In our preferred model, relative to control firms, the ESG ratings of target firms increase by 0.033, about 1.6 % of the sample standard deviation, following activist interventions. In addition, we find no evidence that stock market reactions to the announcement of activist interventions are significantly higher for firms with high ESG ratings, inconsistent with the view that hedge fund activism harms corporate social performance to benefit shareholders.

Keywords: Hedge fund activism; Corporate social performance; Corporate social responsibility; ESG ratings (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G23 G32 G34 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:corfin:v:94:y:2025:i:c:s0929119925000690

DOI: 10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2025.102801

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