By using the data on Indian firms on the BSE 500 Index during the period 2005-2006, we find that family ownership affects group affiliated firms more positively than standalone firms. Group affiliated firms underperform initially as compared to standalone firms but after certain threshold of family ownership their performance becomes better than standalone firms. Within diversified Indian Business Group, family ownership affects highly diversified affiliates positively. Effect of family excess vote holdings and involvement of family management is found to be insignificant. We also find that block holders affect firm value negatively. Our results are in contrast with the existing literature of diversification and family ownership on developed market especially, US and UK. Some of our results are consistent with those of Khanna and Palepu (2000). This paper supports most of the findings of Khanna and Palepu based on more complete and reliable data set. In addition, it shows that the superior performance of highly diversified groups is related to greater family ownership. In the second essay, we examined the issues related to market reaction on IT outsourcing announcement and firm characteristics which induce firms to outsource. We find that IT outsourcing has a strong positive effect on stock prices of announcing firms, especially for longer event windows. We also find that the higher the pre-announcement inefficiency of a firm (as evidenced by lower asset turnover ratios, higher operating cost to sales, and higher cost of good sales to sales), the greater the positive price reaction to the outsourcing announcements. We also find that firms with higher information asymmetry problems (firms in the service industry) elicit a higher positive market reaction at the time of outsource announcement. Finally, firms that are likely to outsource are cost inefficient, and/or are cash needy.

This study examines the interactive effects of family and minority ownership on small business debt financing. On one hand, family involvement in ownership has an influence on small firms financial decision. On the other hand, racial disparities in small business ownership make these firms experience differently in credit markets. In the context of family and minority involvements, this study measures two dimensions of small business debt financing, one for its use, a financing issue directly related to the capital structure, and the other for its cost, an agency issue related to the firms ability to borrowing and repayment. By using the unique data from the 1993, 1998, and 2003 Survey of Small Business Finances, our empirical results show significant evidence that family involvement has an impact on both the use of debt and the cost of debt financing in small businesses. That is, family ownership are negatively related to both the use of debt and the cost of debt financing, and when the firms are all non-visible minority owned, family firms have a lower level of debt and pay a lower interest rate than non-family firms. The results also show that the firm owners visible minority are positively related to the cost of debt financing, and when these firms are all family owned, visible minority owned firms pay a higher interest rate than non-visible minority owned firms. These results of our study also have important implications for both small business and family business research. For small business owners, it is important to understand the advantages and disadvantages of family as well as minority involvements to finance their businesses. And for policymakers and institutional lenders, understanding the family and minority effects also assists small businesses in obtaining debt financing.

This study examines the interactive effects of family and minority ownership on small business debt financing. On one hand, family involvement in ownership has an influence on small firms financial decision. On the other hand, racial disparities in small business ownership make these firms experience differently in credit markets. In the context of family and minority involvements, this study measures two dimensions of small business debt financing, one for its use, a financing issue directly related to the capital structure, and the other for its cost, an agency issue related to the firms ability to borrowing and repayment. By using the unique data from the 1993, 1998, and 2003 Survey of Small Business Finances, our empirical results show significant evidence that family involvement has an impact on both the use of debt and the cost of debt financing in small businesses. That is, family ownership are negatively related to both the use of debt and the cost of debt financing, and when the firms are all non-visible minority owned, family firms have a lower level of debt and pay a lower interest rate than non-family firms. The results also show that the firm owners visible minority are positively related to the cost of debt financing, and when these firms are all family owned, visible minority owned firms pay a higher interest rate than non-visible minority owned firms. These results of our study also have important implications for both small business and family business research. For small business owners, it is important to understand the advantages and disadvantages of family as well as minority involvements to finance their businesses. And for policymakers and institutional lenders, understanding the family and minority effects also assists small businesses in obtaining debt financing.

The aim of this research is to examine the determinants of the level of corporate risk disclosure (CRD) in the interim reports of Swedish non-financial companies. A quantitative research approach is used, the sample data of which consist of 166 firms with 4,849 interim reports over a 10-year period. By utilizing the notion of risk and its definition, I have distinguished three categories of risk, namely risk as uncertainty, risk as threat and risk as opportunity. A systematic content analysis is conducted with the use of a software program, which is specifically designed for this purpose. The number of sentences that contain keywords related to the three risk categories is counted as the total CRD score, which is transformed to the disclosure index. I have examined the impact of firms’ characteristics and corporate governance mechanisms on the level of CRD based on agency theory. The ordinary least squares regression method with  control for fixed year effects is used to analyse the data, which show that firm size and audit committee have a positive relationship with the level of corporate risk disclosure. The result demonstrates also that there is a negative relationship between family ownership and the level of CRD, and an insignificant relationship between leverage and the level of CRD.

The need to raise the skills and knowledge of both managers and staff in small business through improvement to education and training is the underpinning thematic concern of this research. Another concern is the appropriateness of action research as a process for research and development in education and training for small business. The independent supermarket industry in Australia provided the case study for this action research. The study sought to identify the barriers to participation in education and training programs and to develop strategies to overcome these barriers. Participation in education and training programs in the independent supermarket industry in Australia was found to be constrained by working conditions at store level, geographic location, negative attitudes of owners or principal managers towards education and formalised training and economic pressures on the industry. In this study the action research methodology provided the means to incrementally achieve a rich contextual understanding, to build researcher-client relationships, client receptivity to the research findings and credibility for both the researcher and the study. However, a key constraint to action research was the difficulty of gaining active participation from the client system. Another contribution of this is the documentation of the key issues and characteristics of independent supermarkets which have been poorly reported. The issues and characteristics identified for independent supermarkets, such as those arising from future uncertainity, family ownership, management style and attitude are compatible with those reported for small business generally. This research was guided by, and the results support, the proposition put forward by Gummesson that action research in a business environment is enhanced by the combining of the consultant and researcher roles. This role duality and the cyclic processes of action research provided the opportunity for incremental benefits to the clients which gave incentive for the clients to provide access and support for research in their enviro / Master of Science (Hons)

The main purpose of this thesis is to investigate the differences between family and non-family businesses that are listed on the stock exchange, more specifically which factors that is being used in the valuation process and why family businesses as a rule seem to be undervalued. We also look at if family ownership is a factor in this process. By conducting interviews with analysts and journalists working with valuation we hope to be able to not only find out what factors differ but also why family busi-nesses are undervalued. Our conclusion is that while the two forms of ownership has several negative factors that differ between them that are more common among family businesses, such as conservative dividend policy, this is not connected to the family business as a form but is rather an individual factor differing from company to company. Family ownership as such was however not in any way a factor in the valuation since the valuations instead looks at the individual company and does not generalize.

This study examines the relationship between cash flow rights and dividend payout policy of listed family firms in Taiwan, an economy characterized by a predominance of family-controlled firms. Dividend payout levels are important because they are crucial to governing the firm and managing its investments. The empirical results show that at a low level of controlling families¡¦ cash flow rights, the threat to lose control any time makes controlling families claim more in dividends. This yields a positive relationship between dividend payout and the cash flow rights of controlling families. Meanwhile, at a moderate level of controlling families¡¦ cash flow rights, the entrenchment effect creates a negative relationship. Finally, at the very highest level of controlling families¡¦ cash flow rights, excessive firm-specific risk again yields a positive relationship. This nonmonotonic relationship between controlling family cash flow rights and dividend payout also holds for financially mature firms that have high earned to contributed capital mix.

<p>The main purpose of this thesis is to investigate the differences between family and non-family businesses that are listed on the stock exchange, more specifically which factors that is being used in the valuation process and why family businesses as a rule seem to be undervalued. We also look at if family ownership is a factor in this process.</p><p>By conducting interviews with analysts and journalists working with valuation we hope to be able to not only find out what factors differ but also why family busi-nesses are undervalued.</p><p>Our conclusion is that while the two forms of ownership has several negative factors that differ between them that are more common among family businesses, such as conservative dividend policy, this is not connected to the family business as a form but is rather an individual factor differing from company to company. Family ownership as such was however not in any way a factor in the valuation since the valuations instead looks at the individual company and does not generalize.</p>

Ownership structure is referenced as one of the key determinants of policy decisions and corporate governance of companies however suggested implications of different structures part in previous research. This study investigates the relationship between different ownership structures and dividend policy decisions taken by a firm and sets out to identify how family ownership in specific differs from other ownership structures. The study follows a framework based on a number of postulated hypothesis based on previous findings of similar investigations and applies it to a Swedish setting. A model is constructed consisting of variables describing ownership, financial and market conditions in Swedish firms from the period 2010-2019. Some, yet sparse, evidence is found indicating differences in dividend policy can be derived from differences in ownership, yet results clarify dividend policy decisions are based on a complex set of conditions not easily captured in a single model.

Bakgrund: Familjeföretag är en vanlig företagstyp både i Sverige och i världen och har vanligtvis bolagsformen aktiebolag. Definitionen av ett familjeföretag innebär att en majoritet av företaget ska ägas och kontrolleras av en familj som antingen grundat eller förvärvat företaget. Vidare ska även minst en familjemedlem vara verksam i företagsledningen. Familjeföretag ärvs vanligtvis inom familjen samtidigt som försäljning till utomstående också förekommer. I och med att andra ägare än grundarna driver företaget kan nya värderingar och preferenser ta plats i bolagsstyrningen än vad företaget grundades på. Problematiken är att få familjeföretag framgångsrikt drivs vidare efter ägarskiften. En möjlig orsak till det är förändrade representationer av värderingar och strategier, exempelvis kortsiktiga nyttor. Syfte: Rapporten syftar till att skapa en ökad förståelse för ägarnas främsta värderingar gällande sitt företagande och hur det har implementerats i bolagsstyrningen. Ägarna är valda från små och medelstora familjeföretag och har genomgått minst en form av ägarskifte. Rapporten fokuserar på de gemensamma dragen hos dessa ägare. Metod: Genom en kvalitativ metod har elva intervjuer med ägare och ledare i tio små och medelstora familjeföretag utförts. Sekundärdata har även samlats in genom företagens hemsidor och årsredovisningar. Gemensamma drag har sedan analyserats. Slutsats: Gemensamt bland studerade familjeföretagsägare värderas främst det långsiktiga ägandet och gärna genom deras barn. Vidare värderades det även att fortsätta vara en lokal aktör, öka lönsamheten och skapa tillväxt. Därför har långsiktiga investeringar gjorts och fokus har lagts på relationer till kunder, leverantörer och medarbetare. Flera ägare hade tillsatt externa individer som bland annat VD, styrelseordförande och styrelseledamöter i syfte att ta bättre beslut. / Background: Family business is a common type of business both in Sweden and worldwide and usually under the form of a limited company. The definition of a family business means that a majority of the business must be owned and controlled by a family that has either founded or acquired the business. Furthermore, at least one family member must also be active in the company's management. Family businesses are usually inherited within the family, while sales to outsiders also occur. As owners other than the founders run the company, new values and preferences can appear in corporate governance. The problem is that only a few family businesses are successfully run after the change of ownership. One possible reason for this problem is changed representations of values and strategies, such as short-term benefits. Aim: This report aims to create an increased understanding of the owners' main values regarding their business and how it has been implemented in corporate governance. The owners are selected from small and medium-sized family businesses, that have undergone at least one form of ownership change. The report focuses on the collective features of these owners. Method: Through a qualitative method, eleven interviews with owners and leaders in ten small and medium-sized family companies were conducted. Secondary data has was also collected through the companies' websites and annual reports. Collective features have then been analyzed. Conclusion: Collective values among studied family business owners are primarily long-term ownership and preferably through their children. Furthermore, it was also valued to continue to be a local player, increase profitability and create growth. Therefore, long-term investments have been made, and focus has been placed on relationships with customers, suppliers and employees. Several owners had appointed external individuals such as the CEO, Chairman of the Board and Board members to make better business-related decisions.