Do Family-Controlled Malaysian Firms Create Wealth for Investors in the Context of Corporate Acquisitions?

Evidence has proved that family-controlled firms are prevalent in Malaysia and do exert considerable economic power in the country. Two possible scenarios emerge when ownership of firms become concentrated in the hands of only a few shareholders or a group of related shareholders. Firstly, the inter...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ling, L., Evans, John, Shaikh, J., Sadique, Md Shibkey
Format: Journal Article
Published: 2014
Online Access:http://www.mfa.com.my/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/P1-26-Capital-Markets-Vol-22.pdf
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/14795
_version_ 1848748718562476032
author Ling, L.
Evans, John
Shaikh, J.
Sadique, Md Shibkey
author_facet Ling, L.
Evans, John
Shaikh, J.
Sadique, Md Shibkey
author_sort Ling, L.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Evidence has proved that family-controlled firms are prevalent in Malaysia and do exert considerable economic power in the country. Two possible scenarios emerge when ownership of firms become concentrated in the hands of only a few shareholders or a group of related shareholders. Firstly, the interests of related shareholders could be aligned with other non-family shareholders (Agency Problem I). Conversely, there is a possibility that related shareholders could treat themselves preferentially over the minority shareholders (Agency Problem II). Given that the ownership structures of the majority of Malaysian publically listed firms are characterised by concentrated shareholdings, protection of the interests of minority shareholders becomes critical. However, beyond anecdotal evidence, there is little empirical evidence on the relevance of minority expropriation activities to Malaysian family-controlled firms and firm value. This study investigates the corporate acquisition activities of family-controlled Malaysian firms. Corporate acquisitions are amongst the high profile corporate investment mechanisms that provide a direct meas­ure for possible expropriation of shareholder funds or value-enhancing activities. This study used classical event study methodology to examine the wealth created by corpo­rate acquisition activities of family-controlled Malaysian firms. The findings of this study found that whilst family ownership improved firm value, it could be destructive if power is entrenched by a few. The implications, especially for Malaysian policy makers, include determination of additional corporate governance framework and governmental effort to hinder concentrated family ownership in family-controlled firms. As highlighted by OECD (The Star, 2013), poor enforcement of corporate governance compliance requirements re­mains an issue for Malaysia.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T07:09:30Z
format Journal Article
id curtin-20.500.11937-14795
institution Curtin University Malaysia
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-14T07:09:30Z
publishDate 2014
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling curtin-20.500.11937-147952017-01-30T11:46:00Z Do Family-Controlled Malaysian Firms Create Wealth for Investors in the Context of Corporate Acquisitions? Ling, L. Evans, John Shaikh, J. Sadique, Md Shibkey Evidence has proved that family-controlled firms are prevalent in Malaysia and do exert considerable economic power in the country. Two possible scenarios emerge when ownership of firms become concentrated in the hands of only a few shareholders or a group of related shareholders. Firstly, the interests of related shareholders could be aligned with other non-family shareholders (Agency Problem I). Conversely, there is a possibility that related shareholders could treat themselves preferentially over the minority shareholders (Agency Problem II). Given that the ownership structures of the majority of Malaysian publically listed firms are characterised by concentrated shareholdings, protection of the interests of minority shareholders becomes critical. However, beyond anecdotal evidence, there is little empirical evidence on the relevance of minority expropriation activities to Malaysian family-controlled firms and firm value. This study investigates the corporate acquisition activities of family-controlled Malaysian firms. Corporate acquisitions are amongst the high profile corporate investment mechanisms that provide a direct meas­ure for possible expropriation of shareholder funds or value-enhancing activities. This study used classical event study methodology to examine the wealth created by corpo­rate acquisition activities of family-controlled Malaysian firms. The findings of this study found that whilst family ownership improved firm value, it could be destructive if power is entrenched by a few. The implications, especially for Malaysian policy makers, include determination of additional corporate governance framework and governmental effort to hinder concentrated family ownership in family-controlled firms. As highlighted by OECD (The Star, 2013), poor enforcement of corporate governance compliance requirements re­mains an issue for Malaysia. 2014 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/14795 http://www.mfa.com.my/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/P1-26-Capital-Markets-Vol-22.pdf restricted
spellingShingle Ling, L.
Evans, John
Shaikh, J.
Sadique, Md Shibkey
Do Family-Controlled Malaysian Firms Create Wealth for Investors in the Context of Corporate Acquisitions?
title Do Family-Controlled Malaysian Firms Create Wealth for Investors in the Context of Corporate Acquisitions?
title_full Do Family-Controlled Malaysian Firms Create Wealth for Investors in the Context of Corporate Acquisitions?
title_fullStr Do Family-Controlled Malaysian Firms Create Wealth for Investors in the Context of Corporate Acquisitions?
title_full_unstemmed Do Family-Controlled Malaysian Firms Create Wealth for Investors in the Context of Corporate Acquisitions?
title_short Do Family-Controlled Malaysian Firms Create Wealth for Investors in the Context of Corporate Acquisitions?
title_sort do family-controlled malaysian firms create wealth for investors in the context of corporate acquisitions?
url http://www.mfa.com.my/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/P1-26-Capital-Markets-Vol-22.pdf
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/14795