This study addresses the problem of explaining the emergence and viability of coalitions among shareholder activists. The formation of coalitions for purposes of shareholder activism is generally unexpected from a theoretical perspective. Potential shareholder activists typically rely on the exit mechanism rather than becoming actively involved in the governance of corporations, and they tend to be in a prisoner’s dilemma type of situation, which has a non-co-operative outcome. Moreover, unless co-operation can be expected from others, no individual shareholder will make costly contributions to a coalition. Still, minority shareholder coalitions exist. The purpose of this study is to develop a model that accounts for the emergence and viability of minority shareholder coalitions. Two ideal-typical minority shareholder coalitions are developed: the offensive minority shareholder coalition, and the defensive minority shareholder coalition. These are based primarily on contractual theory (transaction cost economics, agency theory and property rights theory) and take form under the assumption that economic ends alone motivate actors. The offensive minority shareholder coalition emerges to seize an opportunity to increase share price by means of voice; it is led by a coalitional entrepreneur who carries all costs, thereby inducing co-operation from passive shareholders. The defensive minority shareholder coalition emerges to safeguard the members’ investments from risks of expropriation, which arise from increasing costs of using the exit mechanism; it is characterised by widespread active participation, since free riding further increases the risk of being expropriated. The model integrates the ideal types with results from three case studies of minority shareholder coalitions. These case studies show that under certain conditions, coalition members act as if they consider the effects of their actions on their reputation within networks of shareholders; this has implications for a coalition’s emergence and viability. The case studies further show that controlling shareholders, under certain circumstances, will tend to act as if they consider the effects of their actions on their public image as perceived by relevant (present or future) stakeholders; this places a shareholder coalition in a different bargaining position.

[pt] Qual é o efeito de um mercado de controle corporativo mais ativo sobre a estrutura de propriedade das firmas? Nós mostramos que, em economias com severas imperfeições no mercado de crédito, empreendedores ilíquidos elevam seus blocos de controle para que, numa disputa pelo controle, os limitados recursos que dispõem sejam suficientes para derrotar as tentativas de aquisições. À medida que a restrição financeira do empreendedor se afrouxa, a ameaça de aquisições perde força e o tamanho do bloco de controle se reduz. O modelo prevê que o tamanho dos blocos de controle em carveouts deve ser menos sensível ao nível de atividade do mercado de controle do que aquele em aberturas de capital de firmas independentes. / [en] What is the effect of greater activity in the market for corporate control on firms´ ownership structure ? We show that, in economies with malfunctioning credit markets, illiquid entrepreneurs increase their blocks´ size, so that in a context for control, their limited resources suffices to defeat takeover attempts. As entrepreneur´s financial restriction is softened, the threat of takeovers dwindles and the size of the controlling blocks falls. The model predicts that sales of shares in carve-outs should be less sensitive to the level of activity in the market for control than thos in IPOs of independent firms.

The protection of minority shareholders is one of the important topics in company law. The two major oppression of minority shareholders are from the management and the majority shareholders. In this thesis, I seek to study the two oppression and the minority protection under the company law in Hong Kong and China. This thesis discusses: (i) Whether the Hong Kong common law system provides better protection to minority shareholders than is found in the Chinese civil law system? (ii) Whether the high degree of concentrated corporate ownership leads to the poor protection of minority shareholders in Hong Kong and China? (iii) What are the transplantation effects of foreign company laws on the protection of minority shareholders in Hong Kong and China? (iv) Whether the existing legal remedies to minority shareholders in Hong Kong and China are adequate? and (v) What are the problems of minority shareholders protection in Hong Kong and China? A comparative study of corporate governance and the protection of minority shareholders in Hong Kong and China is to identify the similarities and differences in the two systems for the purposes of legal reform. This thesis argues that mere adoption of Hong Kong common law system according to the legal origin theory could not improve corporate governance and minority shareholders protection in China; Chinese corporate governance and minority shareholders protection reform must include both legislative and structural aspects and these aspects are shaped by the initial paths according to the path dependence theory. This thesis argues that the high concentration of corporate ownership does not necessarily lead to poor legal protection of shareholders in Hong Kong, and the weak protection of minority shareholders in China is not due to its civil law origin but its structures relating to the rule of law principle. This thesis examines the theoretical debates between the legal origin theory and the path dependence theory and applies them to Hong Kong and China. This thesis contends that the basic company law has already achieved a high degree of uniformity in Hong Kong and China and the base of divergence between Hong Kong and China is in the structural and institutional differences. This thesis argues that the success of legal transplantation and minority protection in Hong Kong is dependent upon its initial structures which have been locked-in to the current structures. This thesis concludes that the issues of minority shareholders protection in China are in its socialist market economy, state intervening policy, public ownership, relation-based tradition, rule by law culture, corruption practices, dominant role of the CCP and non-independent judiciary; and the Chinese minority protection reform, in a broader sense, involves not only the legislative issue but also the structural issues which relate to the rule of law principle. This thesis proposes that the transplantation of foreign company law will not necessarily improve the protection of minority shareholders and hence the corporate governance in China. This thesis also confirms that direct transplantation of foreign law is not always suitable for countries with less developed structures. These findings are also relevant to other emerging economies and developing countries in understanding the limitations on the use of foreign law to improve corporate governance and the protection of minority shareholders.

This thesis analyses minority shareholder protection in common law and civil law systems. Principally, this is done by examining closely-held corporations created under Canadian, Ukrainian and German laws. It examines minority shareholder protection by critically analyzing voting and related rights, the right to information; withdrawal from the company, expulsion right, the dissolution of a company, derivative action and direct action. The thesis also summarizes problems in the civil law system that cannot be solved in favor of minority shareholders. In addition to the above-mentioned, it provides possible solutions to the problems of minority shareholder protection in the civil law system, that is, methods by which to increase protection for minority shareholders against the majority and/or directors. Specifically, it focuses on cumulative voting, common law director’s duties, derivative action and the oppression remedy. Moreover, this thesis analyzes the possibility of incorporating some institutions into civil law legislation and considers obstacles to implementing them.

Text in Afrikaans / Daar is 'n toenemende bewuswording van die noodsaaklikheid van effektiewe beskerming vir minderhede. Die rede vir hierdie toenemende erkenning aan die behoefte aan minderheidsbeskerming is waarskynlik toe te skryf aan die beset dat dit nie alleen die minderheidsaandeelhouers is wat skade ly in geval van benadelende optrede nie, maar ook die ekonomie. Maatskappye word ingevolge die beginsel van meerderheidsbewind bestuur, met die gevolg dat die minderheid onderworpe is aan die wil van die meerderheid. Die minderheid kan hulself hierdeur in 'n onbenydenswaardige posisie bevind, veral indien die meerderheid hul mag aanwend om hul eie belange te bevorder. Gemeenregtelik is die reel in Foss v Harbottle 'n struikelblok vir minderheidsaandeelhouers wat gedingvoering beoog. In 'n poging om die gebrekkige gemeenregtelike beskerming van minderhede te ondervang, is bepaalde statutere maatreels ingevoer. Die evaluasie van hierdie maatreels geskied aan die hand van 'n regsvergelykende ondersoek na verskeie buitelandse stelsels, waarvan die van Nieu-Seeland en Kanada uit staan vanwee die innoverende aard van hul statutere beskermingsmaatreels. Die gevolgtrekking is dat die beskerming wat die Suid-Afrikaanse statutere maatreels aan minderhede bied, onbevredigend is om verskeie redes. Eerstens is hierdie maatreels dikwels te eng bewoord wat daartoe lei dat die aanwendingsveld van die maatreels beperk is. Tweedens hou die maatreels nie tred met ontwikkelings elders in die wereld en veranderende omstandighede en behoeftes in die praktyk nie. Derdens ontbreek goed geformuleerde remedies wat aanvullend tot artikel 252 van die Wet sal wees. Daar is verder bevind dat ad hocwysigings van bestaande maatreels nie die gewenste resultaat gaan bereik nie en 'n algehele hervorming van die Suid-Afrikaanse maatskappyereg word aanbeveel. Ten slotte word konkrete voorstelle in die vorm van konsepwetgewing gemaak en word vergesel van verduidelikende notas. Hierdie wetgewing is hoofsaaklik aan die hand van die Nieu-Seelandse en Kanadese modelle geformuleer. / There is a growing awareness of the need for effective protection of minority shareholders. This can probably be ascribed to the acknowledgement of the fact that prejudicial conduct harms not only minority shareholders, but also the economy at large. Companies are governed by the principle of majority rule; consequently the minority is subjected to the will of the majority. This often places the minority in an invidious position, especially when the majority use their power to further their own interests. The rule in Foss v Harbottle presents a stumbling block to minority shareholder action. Certain statutory measures have been introduced in an effort to counter defective minority protection. These statutory measures are evaluated in the light of a comparative study of several foreign jurisdictions, the most prominent of which are New Zealand and Canada, because of the innovative nature of the measures which they employ. The conclusion arrived at is that, for various reasons, the protection afforded minorities by the South African statutory measures is unsatisfactory. Firstly, the wording of these measures is narrowly construed; this in turn results in a narrow field of application. Secondly, these measures are not in step with developments elsewhere in the world and with the changing circumstances and needs in practice. Thirdly, well-formulated remedies needed in order to supplement section 252 of the Act are non-existent. It has also been found that ad hoc amendments of existing measures will not achieve the required result, and consequently a complete reform of South African company law is recommended. Finally, specific recommendations in the form of draft legislation are made; these are accompanied by explanatory notes. This draft legislation was formulated primarily along the lines of the New Zealand and Canadian models. / Private Law / LL.D.

Esta tese tem como propósito o estudo da limitação dos poderes do controlador como mecanismo fundamental de proteção dos demais acionistas que integrem as companhias fechadas, sobretudo no contexto das operações de transferência de controle, nas quais é frequente que os minoritários fiquem impossibilitados de vender conjuntamente suas ações na mesma operação em que o controlador tiver transferido a sua participação a terceiros. A questão possui relevância na medida em que o art. 254-A da Lei das Sociedades por Ações (LSA Lei no 6404/1976) não cuida das companhias fechadas, e a obrigatoriedade da realização de oferta pública decorrente de alienação de controle nele prevista destina-se tão somente às companhias abertas. Na análise do assunto, discute-se a limitação dos poderes do controlador como o núcleo dos mecanismos de proteção das minorias, tendo em vista principalmente que as decisões nas companhias fechadas brasileiras são tomadas, como regra, por uma maioria estável, ficando os demais acionistas em uma posição de mera subordinação às decisões tomadas pelos controladores. É imperativo esclarecer que não se pretende assumir uma posição estanque de defesa dos minoritários, tampouco uma postura de ataque ao controlador. Ao revés, o verdadeiro desafio está em contrabalancear o legítimo poder conferido ao controlador, com os interesses dos minoritários. Para tanto, ao tema é conferido um tratamento de composição de interesses mediante o estabelecimento de limites aos poderes do controlador na exata medida necessária à proteção das minorias, sem, contudo, destronar o predomínio da maioria. Utilizam-se como fontes de pesquisa a literatura revisada nacional disponível em livros, periódicos, jurisprudência, decisões administrativas e na legislação pertinente ao tema. Na escassez de regulamentação substanciosa, complementa-se o estudo com teoria extraída da doutrina e da jurisprudência estrangeiras. / This thesis aims to study the limitation of the powers of the controller as a fundamental mechanism for the protection of the other shareholders that are part of the closely held companies, especially in the context of transfer of control transactions, in which it is common for minority remain unable to jointly sell their shares in the same transaction that the controller has transferred its equity interest to third parties. The matter is relevant as the article 254-A of Corporate Law (LSA Lei no 6.404/1976) does not regulate closely held companies, and the obligation to make public offering resulting from de transfer of control provided in such article is intended solely to publicly held companies. In analyzing the subject, it is discussed limiting the powers of the controller as the minority protection mechanisms core, especially in view of the fact that decisions in Brazilian closely held companies are taken, as a rule, by a stable majority, being the other shareholders in a position of mere subordination to the decisions taken by controllers. It is imperative to clarify that it is not intended to assume a standing position defending the minority, nor a posture of attack the controller. To the contrary, the real challenge is counterbalance the legitimate power given to the controller with the minority interests. Therefore, the subject is addressed in a sense of composition of interests by establishing limits to the powers of the controller in the exact extent necessary for the protection of minorities, without, however, dethrone prevalence of majority. As sources of research are used the national reviewed literature available decisions and pertinent legislation. In dearth of material rules, the study will be complemented with foreign doctrine and case law.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T18:40:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Jose Milton Almeida da Silva.pdf: 951427 bytes, checksum: 2eb314059433ac66640426ac17114465 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-10-05 / The central goal of this research was to increase the debating about efficacy from rules, legal actions and Corporate governance to protect the non qualified minority shareholders in the Brazilian IPOs (Initial Public Offering) programs. The theme has showed growing interest, because the number of personal investors and the Bovespa s (São Paulo Stock Exchange) IPO market has been in progress strongly. The event study was the methodology used to measure the abnormal returns in the portfolio s samples with between 23 and 98 shares from 106 IPOs going public in 2004-07, using de market price from January, 2004 to June, 2008. Further, four statistic tests were applied to detect if the speculative bubble dynamic affected the Bovespa from January, 1999 to June, 2008. The empiric results from event study evidenced the overpricing phenomenon measured from the offering price to the market price at the end of the first day of trading estimated between 4,80% and 9,26%, and a underpricing phenomenon in the sequel. The cumulative average abnormal returns, ruled out of the first day return, achieved -11,52% at the end of the 6º month, -16,60% at the end of the 12º month and -35,74% at the end of the 24º month, presented a underperfomance phenomenon with economic and statistic significance, widely documented by the academy, specially on the north American capital market. The empiric results from four statistic tests showed, with statistic significance, that speculative bubble dynamic affected the Ibovespa (Index of São Paulo Stock Exchange) in the period from January, 1999 to June, 2008. Thus, evidences were found of the minority shareholders that bought shares in the Bovespa s IPOs programs in the studied period were induced by market anomalies to overpay the share s portfolios. Consequently, the research suggests that actions to improve the rules, legal actions and Corporate governance is necessary to protect of the non qualified minority shareholders in the Brazilian capital market / Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo central ampliar as discussões quanto à eficácia das normas, procedimentos e Governança Corporativa na proteção dos acionistas minoritários não qualificados nos processos de IPO s (Initial Public Offering) ou abertura de capital das companhias no mercado de capitais brasileiro. O tema apresenta importância crescente em face do recente aumento do número de investidores individuais e do forte incremento do mercado de IPO s na Bolsa de Valores de São Paulo (Bovespa). A metodologia empregada foi um estudo de evento para a identificação da presença de retornos anormais em carteiras compostas por uma amostra entre 23 e 98 ações de um total de 106 IPO s realizados na Bovespa entre 2004 e 2007, abrangendo as cotações das ações no período entre janeiro de 2004 e junho de 2008. Também foram realizados quatro testes estatísticos visando detectar indícios da presença da dinâmica de bolha especulativa na Bovespa no período entre janeiro de 1999 e junho de 2008. Os resultados empíricos do estudo de evento demonstraram evidências de sobre-valorização nos preços das ações no primeiro dia de negociação, com retornos anormais entre 4,80% e 9,26%, seguida de significativas quedas nas cotações subseqüentes. Os retornos anormais médios acumulados, excluído o retorno do 1° dia, atingiram -11,52% no final do 6º mês, -16,60% no final do 12º mês e -35,74% no final do 24º mês, evidenciando relevantes perdas de valor das carteiras analisadas no período, tanto em termos econômicos quanto em nível de significância estatística, caracterizando o fenômeno da underperformance, amplamente documentado pela academia, notadamente no mercado de capitais norte-americano. Os resultados dos testes estatísticos demonstraram indícios, com significância estatística, da presença da dinâmica de bolha especulativa na formação do Índice da Bolsa de Valores de São Paulo (Ibovespa) no período entre janeiro de 1999 e junho de 2008. Desse modo, foram encontradas evidências de que os acionistas minoritários que participaram dos processos de IPO s na Bovespa no período estudado foram induzidos, por anomalias de mercado, ao pagamento de valores acima dos preços justos das carteiras de ações. Como conseqüência, a pesquisa sugere a necessidade do aperfeiçoamento dos mecanismos de proteção dos acionistas minoritários não qualificados no mercado de capitais brasileiro

[pt] A proposta desta dissertação é analisar a eficácia de contratos privados como mecanismos para um maior comprometimento da firma em relação aos seus acionistas minoritários. Para tanto, investigou-se uma amostra de empresas brasileiras de capital aberto no período de 1997 a 2001. Em dois testes econométricos, encontrou-se evidência de que o lançamento de ADR Nível II e a presença no grupo diferenciado de governança da BOVESPA foram relevantes para uma menor diluição dos acionistas minoritários e para uma performance diferenciada da firma em momentos de choques de retorno. Apesar da importância de uma legislação societária mais rígida também ter sido constatada, a conclusão desta dissertação caminha para a eficácia de contratos privados que realmente imponham regras mais rígidas de governança. / [en] This dissertation uses a sample of Brazilian firms in the period 1997 to 2001 to investigate the effectiveness of alternative corporate governance mechanisms. The data show that firms can commit to protect their minority shareholders by issuing Level II ADRs -American Depository Receipt- or joining the Novo Mercado -firms listed in the BOVESPA that agree with stricter governance practices-. In particular, firms with Level II ADRs and firms in the Novo Mercado have larger stock returns in times of turmoil, and they are more likely to pay dividends. The study shows, however, that changes in corporate law affect the ability of private contracts like ADRs to protect minority shareholders.As such, firms cannot completely overcome weaknesses in the Brazils legal system that harm minority shareholders.

Mercados financeiros e finanças corporativas / Submitted by Cristiane Shirayama (cristiane.shirayama@fgv.br) on 2011-05-19T17:39:03Z No. of bitstreams: 1 61080100025.pdf: 397727 bytes, checksum: 462bc8ef0184918c4f273ec985521f93 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Gisele Isaura Hannickel(gisele.hannickel@fgv.br) on 2011-05-19T17:47:06Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 61080100025.pdf: 397727 bytes, checksum: 462bc8ef0184918c4f273ec985521f93 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Gisele Isaura Hannickel(gisele.hannickel@fgv.br) on 2011-05-19T17:47:54Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 61080100025.pdf: 397727 bytes, checksum: 462bc8ef0184918c4f273ec985521f93 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2011-05-19T17:59:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 61080100025.pdf: 397727 bytes, checksum: 462bc8ef0184918c4f273ec985521f93 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-08-16 / The aim of this study is to map the main aspects of corporate governance in Brazil used by publicly traded companies and analyze them from a comparative perspective, contrasting companies that have suffered Private Equity and Venture Capital investment with the remaining public firms. The investigation is a result of the companies that in fact responded to the third version of the Survey on Corporate Governance in Brazil, previously conducted in 2005 and 2007. Analysis of adherence to BM&FBovespa’s corporate governance levels show a significantly greater adherence of the PE/VC backed companies in higher listing levels. Particular characteristics of the corporate governance of companies are detailed in an attempt to determine whether the clear advantage found in the comparison among the premium listing levels extends to other issues. The findings show significant differences in certain areas, i.e. processes of the board of directors, formation of committees, external auditor, shareholders rights, disclosure and compensation of officers and directors, which can be explained by the previous relationship of the backed enterprise, the PE/VC investor and the term sheet agreed upon between the parties.

Mercados financeiros e finanças corporativas / Submitted by Cristiane Shirayama (cristiane.shirayama@fgv.br) on 2011-05-19T18:56:35Z No. of bitstreams: 1 61080100022.pdf: 712879 bytes, checksum: 317762f58b96ceaa23a90ce3daeaabd3 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Gisele Isaura Hannickel(gisele.hannickel@fgv.br) on 2011-05-19T19:02:59Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 61080100022.pdf: 712879 bytes, checksum: 317762f58b96ceaa23a90ce3daeaabd3 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Gisele Isaura Hannickel(gisele.hannickel@fgv.br) on 2011-05-19T19:03:38Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 61080100022.pdf: 712879 bytes, checksum: 317762f58b96ceaa23a90ce3daeaabd3 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2011-05-19T19:05:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 61080100022.pdf: 712879 bytes, checksum: 317762f58b96ceaa23a90ce3daeaabd3 (MD5) / In this dissertation we provide an overview of the evolution of corporate governance practices in Brazil over time based primarily in Brazilian private firms which responded to the 2005 and 2007 Brazil Corporate Governance (CG) Survey. This study address issues related to the number of independent directors and non-independent, board structure and control of companies, audit committees and fiscal board. Shareholder rights, shareholder agreements, mechanisms for transparency, and transactions with conflict of interest will also be discussed in this work. We found that the evolution of corporate governance practices has been more significant in some areas. However, others are still less adopted by Brazilian companies. Board independence is an area relatively weak: only 13% of companies in 2007, versus 11% in 2005 have 50% or more of independent directors. The number of the companies that provide takeout rights to minority shareholders on a sale of control beyond the minimum required by Brazilian law has increased. There is an increase in formality of board processes, like system to evaluate CEO, CEO succession plan, system to evaluate other officers and materials before meeting. Moreover, financial disclosure has improved considerably during this period. / Nesta dissertação, nós fornecemos um panorama da evolução das práticas de governança corporativa no Brasil ao longo do tempo com base preliminarmente em empresas privadas brasileiras que responderam o Survey de Governança Corporativa no Brasil realizado em 2005 e 2007. Este estudo aborda questões relacionadas com o número de conselheiros independentes e não independentes, conselho de administração, controle das companhias, comitês de auditoria e conselho fiscal. Direitos dos acionistas, acordos de acionistas, mecanismos de transparência e de transações com conflito de interesse, também serão discutidos neste trabalho. Constatamos que a evolução das práticas de governança corporativa tem sido mais significativa em algumas áreas. Todavia, outros ainda são menos adotados pelas empresas brasileiras. Independência do conselho é uma área relativamente fraca: apenas 13% das empresas em 2007, contra 11% em 2005 tem 50% ou mais conselheiros independentes. O número de empresas que fornece direitos de proteção aos acionistas minoritários em uma venda do controle, além do mínimo exigido pela lei brasileira, aumentou. Há um aumento da formalidade dos processos do conselho, como sistema de avaliação de CEO, plano de sucessão de CEO, sistema para avaliar outros diretores e o envio de materiais antes da reunião. Além disso, divulgações de informações financeiras melhoram consideravelmente durante este período.