Related Diversification, Agency Costs, and Shareholder Value

Henrik Cronqvist, Peter Högfeldt () and Mattias Nilsson ()
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Peter Högfeldt: Dept. of Finance, Stockholm School of Economics, Postal: P.O. Box 6501, S-113 83 Stockholm, Sweden
Mattias Nilsson: Dept. of Finance, Stockholm School of Economics, Postal: P.O. Box 6501, S-113 83 Stockholm, Sweden

No 219, SSE/EFI Working Paper Series in Economics and Finance from Stockholm School of Economics

Abstract: Using data from real estate corporations, we report that related diversification over different property types is associated with a discount while geographical diversification has no significant effect on shareholder value. Related diversification in order to exploit potential synergistic gains does not improve operating performance as measured by return on assets (ROA). Applying an ex ante measure, which discriminates between focusing and non-focusing corporate strategies, we find that corporations expected to pursue non-focusing (diversifying or unclear) strategies are valued at a 20% discount, and are controlled by large private owners. This ex ante diversification discount is a measure of agency costs associated with highly concentrated private ownership. Expected corporate strategy is a previously neglected but more fundamental determinant of shareholder value than contemporaneous focus per se.

Keywords: Related diversification; agency costs; peso effect; shareholder value. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G30 G31 G32 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 45 pages
Date: 1998-01-29
Note: This working paper is replaced by no. 294
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hhs:hastef:0219

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