Univ., Diss--Zürich, 1999.

Dès la loi NRE de 2001, le législateur français s’est intéressé à l’utilisation de la voie électroniqueen période d’assemblée générale des actionnaires. Il laisse au pouvoir réglementaire la liberté deposer les modalités de toute forme d’interaction à distance entre la société anonyme et sesactionnaires. Le régime juridique allemand relatif aux assemblées générales a quant à lui étémodernisé en profondeur par la seule ARUG de 2009. Cette loi transpose la directiveeuropéenne 2007/36/CE du 11 juillet 2007 concernant l’exercice de certains droits desactionnaires de sociétés cotées. Ces textes ont conçu un actionnaire qui utiliserait la voieélectronique pour faciliter l’exercice de ses droits, un « cyber-actionnaire ». Si les textes françaisont bien pour objectif de faciliter l’exercice des droits de l’actionnaire, un nouveau cadre juridiquesemble s’être greffé sur la réglementation connue jusqu’alors. À trop chercher à s’en distinguer,notamment pour marquer la nouveauté, un régime juridique spécial semble s’être constitué, alorsque le droit allemand paraît aisément assimiler la voie électronique aux modes traditionnels decommunication. Or l’on ne fait pas face à une nouvelle catégorie d’actionnaires qui justifierait untraitement particulier. Le cyber-actionnaire n’est qu’un actionnaire exerçant par voie électroniqueses droits relatifs à l’information, à la communication et à la prise de décision collective enpériode d’assemblée générale. Pour s’en convaincre, la présente étude tire le bilan del’implication de la voie électronique en droit des sociétés par actions français et allemand. / This study looks into the introduction of electronic means in French and German company law.The French legislator already introduced the possibility of participating in shareholders annualgeneral meetings via electronic means in 2001. The law on New Economic Regulations led thegovernment to set the conditions of all the electronic communication between companies andtheir shareholders. In Germany, mainly the ARUG from 2009 modernized the law related to theAGM, by transposing the European directive from 11th July 2007 on the exercise of certain rightsof shareholders in listed companies. The new laws have a shareholder in mind, who would useelectronic means to facilitate the exercise of his rights before and during the AGM, a “cybershareholder”.While the German law seeks to assimilate the electronic communication with thetraditional correspondence, the varying French decrees seem to distinguish between a new legalregime and a traditional one. However, there is no need for a new category of shareholders,which could justify a special legal foundation. The cyber-shareholder is just a shareholderexercising his rights related to information, communication and collective decision-making in theAGM via electronic means.

Titel: Förhållandet mellan hållbarhetsprestationer och finansiella prestationer inom IT-sektorn. En kvantitativ studie på 321 börsnoterade bolag inom IT-sektorn i Europa och USA. Nivå: Kandidatuppsats i företagsekonomi Författare: Edwin Johansson och Robel Beyene Handledare: Jan Svanberg Datum: 2023-Maj Syfte: Syftet med studien är att med hjälp av ESG-betyg samt delkomponenterna E-, S- och G-betyg undersöka hur hållbarhetsprestationer påverkar finansiella prestationer för börsnoterade IT-bolag i Europa och USA. Metod: Studien har en vetenskapsteoretisk utgångspunkt i den positivistiska forskningsfilosofin och antar vidare en deduktiv forskningsansats. Dessutom är den kvantitativa forskningsstrategin och tvärsektionella forskningsdesignen den forskningsstrategi respektive forskningsdesign som studien antar. Hållbarhet- och finansiell data på 321 börsnoterade IT-bolag i Europa och USA har inhämtats från Thomson Reuters datastream för året 2021. Analysen har sedan genomförts i statistikprogrammet IBM SPSS. Resultat och slutsats: Resultatet från denna undersökning tyder på att det finns ett svagt positivt samband mellan ESG samt komponenten miljö (E) och finansiell prestation men inte för komponenterna social (S) och styrning (G). Detta tyder på att miljöfaktorer är särskilt viktiga för det finansiella resultatet inom IT-sektorn.Examensarbetets bidrag: Denna studie ger värdefulla insikter för investerare, företag och beslutsfattare som är intresserade av att främja hållbarhet och ansvarsfullt företagsbeteende inom IT-sektorn. Förslag till fortsatt forskning: För att öka kunskapen samt för att kunna generera konkreta slutsatser behövs vidare forskning inom ämnet. För specifikt IT-sektorn kan vidare forskning inkludera företag från alla kontinenter för att utöka urvalet. Vidare kan liknande studier genomföras med en longitudinell design där flera år inkluderas. Nyckelord: ESG, finansiella prestationer, hållbarhetsprestationer, shareholder theory, stakeholder theory, legitimitetsteorin och IT-sektorn. / Title: The relationship between sustainability performance and financial performance in the IT sector. A quantitative study of 321 listed companies in the IT sector in Europe and the USA. Level: Bachelor thesis in Business administration Authors: Edwin Johansson and Robel Beyene  Supervisor: Jan Svanberg  Date: 2023 - May Aim: The purpose of this study is to use ESG ratings and the sub-components E, S and G ratings to investigate how sustainability performance affects financial performance for listed IT companies in Europe and the USA. Method: This paper has a scientific starting point in the positivist research philosophy and further adopts a deductive research approach. In addition, a quantitative research strategy and cross-sectional research design are adopted throughout this paper. Sustainability and financial data on 321 listed IT companies in Europe and the USA have been collected from Thomson Reuters data stream for the year 2021. A univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis has taken place in the statistical program IBM SPSS. Results and conclusions: The results from this study indicate that there is a weak positive relationship between ESG and the component environment (E) and financial performance. However, no relationship was found between the components social (S) and governance (G) and financial performance. This suggests that environmental factors are particularly important for financial performance in the IT-sector.Contribution of the thesis: This study provides valuable insights for investors, companies and decision makers that are interested in promoting sustainability and responsible corporate behavior in the IT- sector. Suggestions for future research: In order to increase the knowledge and to be able to draw conclusions, further research is needed within the subject. Specifically for the IT-sector, further research could include companies from all continents to broaden the view. Furthermore, similar studies can be carried out with a longitudinal design where data from several years are included. Key words: ESG-rating, sustainability performance, financial performance, shareholder theory, stakeholder theory, legitimacy theory and IT-sector.

In this study, the difference between shareholder reactions to eco-harmful behaviour by firms in China and Germany are being researched. Previous research has focused on shareholder reaction in developed countries, especially the US. What remains unknown is whether shareholders in developing countries have adopted the same norms concerning the environment as shareholders in developed countries. Institutional theory, legitimacy theory and desensitization theory are examined in this study. An event study was conducted with an [-1,1] and [-1,3] event window surrounding the announcement of eco-harmful behaviour by firms. Events were drawn from relevant news articles and environmental databases. In total 43 events have been discovered over the years 2007 to 2015. Overall, results indicate that the decrease in share prices is not significantly different from zero. However, when comparing China and Germany, evidence is found that Chinese firms are punished more severely than German firms when corporations harm the environment. Contrary to expectations, it can be concluded that the institutionalization of environmental norms has taken place in China, either through internal or global pressures.

Investors make investment decisions based on their risk appetite. Furthermore, when such investors consider shares as part of their investment portfolio, these investors will consider the risk profile of the company it is interested in. By taking on a certain level of risk, shareholders expect to be commensurately compensated. Shareholders of companies with relatively higher debt levels in their capital structure and therefore higher financial risk, require a relatively higher return on their investment in order to compensate for such additional risk taken. Shareholders expect return in the form of dividend pay-outs, and capital growth in the share price. A positive correlation is therefore expected between the debt levels of a company and the total return to their shareholders, i.e. the sum of the dividend pay-outs and the capital growth in the share price, also referred to as total shareholder return (TSR). The focus of this study is on the platinum industry in South Africa, as this industry is vital to the South African economy in terms of job creation and earner of foreign exchange as South Africa dominates the world production of platinum. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether there is a correlation between the debt levels and the total shareholder return (TSR) of platinum companies listed on the JSE Ltd. Quantitative research techniques were used to address the research problem, making use of secondary data and rank correlation-based research. Firstly, the debt-to-equity ratio for each company was calculated based on book values. Secondly, the TSR of each company was calculated considering the dividends received and capital growth in share price. The correlation between the TSR and the debt-to-equity ratio was determined using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. The results were inconclusive, i.e. no, negative and positive relationships where the relationship is for the first 12 years not significant and for the last two years significant. Therefore the final conclusion is that this study is inconclusive to support or to reject the conceptual scope of the study in that risk is concomitant to return, i.e. returns compensate for risks, therefore higher debt levels require higher total shareholder returns (and vice versa). This study contributes to the literature on capital structure decisions from a South African platinum company perspective. The core audience will be the management of South African platinum companies considering changes in their capital structure as well as investors considering investing into a listed platinum company. / MCom (Management Accountancy), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Investors make investment decisions based on their risk appetite. Furthermore, when such investors consider shares as part of their investment portfolio, these investors will consider the risk profile of the company it is interested in. By taking on a certain level of risk, shareholders expect to be commensurately compensated. Shareholders of companies with relatively higher debt levels in their capital structure and therefore higher financial risk, require a relatively higher return on their investment in order to compensate for such additional risk taken. Shareholders expect return in the form of dividend pay-outs, and capital growth in the share price. A positive correlation is therefore expected between the debt levels of a company and the total return to their shareholders, i.e. the sum of the dividend pay-outs and the capital growth in the share price, also referred to as total shareholder return (TSR). The focus of this study is on the platinum industry in South Africa, as this industry is vital to the South African economy in terms of job creation and earner of foreign exchange as South Africa dominates the world production of platinum. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether there is a correlation between the debt levels and the total shareholder return (TSR) of platinum companies listed on the JSE Ltd. Quantitative research techniques were used to address the research problem, making use of secondary data and rank correlation-based research. Firstly, the debt-to-equity ratio for each company was calculated based on book values. Secondly, the TSR of each company was calculated considering the dividends received and capital growth in share price. The correlation between the TSR and the debt-to-equity ratio was determined using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. The results were inconclusive, i.e. no, negative and positive relationships where the relationship is for the first 12 years not significant and for the last two years significant. Therefore the final conclusion is that this study is inconclusive to support or to reject the conceptual scope of the study in that risk is concomitant to return, i.e. returns compensate for risks, therefore higher debt levels require higher total shareholder returns (and vice versa). This study contributes to the literature on capital structure decisions from a South African platinum company perspective. The core audience will be the management of South African platinum companies considering changes in their capital structure as well as investors considering investing into a listed platinum company. / MCom (Management Accountancy), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

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.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Market capitalisation is a measure of size and prestige for various JSE listed companies. Changes in the Companies Act in relation to the capital maintenance provided companies the opportunity to repurchase their own shares. South Africa’s legislation is different to those of its international peers which resulted in a different interpretation of how to deal with treasury shares and resultantly impacted on the valuation of market capitalisation. This study was undertaken with the aim of establishing if there are differences in the reporting of closing balances of the number of shares of the company and group as provided by the share analysis section of the annual financial reports which is required by the JSE Listing Requirements. Thirty-four companies were selected specifically, analysed and compared to information as per the University of Stellenbosch Business School share program to determine whether differences arise and to determine the impact that this has on the market capitalisation valuation and explanations for deviations. The results reflected that the non reconciliation of closing balances of the group was primarily due to the non consolidation of trusts, subsidiaries and treasury shares and companies not adhering to the listing requirements as per section 3.3 of the shareholders’ spread to adequately disclose treasury related transactions. The study also found ambiguity in accounting standards IAS 1 in that they did not provide conclusive guidance in terms of the disclosure of share movements in rand value and units to reconcile between opening and closing balances of all treasury shares. Changes in the tax legislation will in future negate the reason for share repurchases through the subsidiaries or trusts which will have an impact on the reconciliation process going forward. Ultimately the accounting profession and JSE will have to implement standardised guidelines to ensure that the reporting of treasury shares is simplified to ensure that market users’ understanding of treasury activities and market capitalisation valuation can be improved.

In this dissertation, I investigate whether corporate governance affects the negative association between investment and future excess returns. Shareholders are concerned with the effectiveness of the firm's governance regime as a tool to reduce agency costs. In the absence of strong control over firm assets, managers may choose to invest in value-decreasing projects. The probability that managers select value-decreasing projects is an increasing (decreasing) function in investment activity (governance regime). At the time of investment, the capital market prices expected returns to the investment activity conditioned on the governance regime in place. This study examines future risk-adjusted returns to investment activities conditioned on low and high governance regimes. If the market correctly prices the governance environment and the expected returns to expenditures at time t, there should be no future risk-adjusted returns to either governance or expenditure information. I find that for firms with low external monitoring, and separately, for firms with high shareholder rights, lower (higher) investment activity results in positive (negative) future risk-adjusted returns. Implementing a trading strategy which holds low investment firms and shorts high investment firms results in 7.1% and 5.6% annual risk-adjusted returns when conditioned on low institutional holdings and high shareholder right, respectively. This study also provides preliminary evidence that outside blockholder and activist ownership is effective in mitigating the negative association between investment activity and future excess returns through the shareholder rights mechanism. Finally, I provide evidence that the diversification discount associated with multi-segment firms is generally invariant to investment activity levels.

隨著企業經營規模日趨複雜、專業化，股東因人數眾多、股東意見不一，在面臨公司所有與經營分離所產生的代理成本控制上，實有困難。一般小股東因持股過低，對於公司經營事務只能消極以待，若對公司經營成果不滿意，只能選擇華爾街準則(Wall Street Walk or Vote with Feet)，而賣掉股票，甚難對管理階層進行更進一步的影響。相較之下，機構投資人基於其人力及資源優勢，能深入參與公司治理、監督管理階層，進而提昇公司經營績效，增進股東投資價值，此即為機構投資人積極主義。 本篇論文探討機構投資人行使股東權以促進公司治理發展。首先討論機構投資人積極主義之兩大基礎支柱－其一，良好公司治理確能對公司績效表現有所助益，其二機構投資人促進公司治理乃其善盡受託義務之體現。 由於美國機構投資人主義高度成熟發展，而國內機構投資人積極主義仍屬起步階段，本篇論文即以比較研究法，探討美國機構投資人行使股東權如股東提案、委託書投票、直接與管理階層溝通、發布黑名單、團體訴訟與股東提名董事草案等，及分析說明我國公司治理相關條文與機構投資人行使表決權時所會遭逢之困境。 此外，本論文經由案例研究，深入蒐集資料並訪談兩個在促進公司治理領域夙負盛名的退休基金-美國威斯康辛州投資委員會與加拿大安大略省教師退休計畫，從而細膩地觀察美國及加拿大機構投資人積極主義之發展、瓶頸與挑戰。 最後，本論文提出促進機構投資人提出公司治理及表決權行使政策、鼓勵機構投資人於股東提案權與表決權等議案進行合作及建置對機構投資人餐與公司治理友善之法規環境等建議，期能對於我國機構投資人積極主義之發展有所助益。 / The increase in institutional funds has been extraordinarily rapid. Comparing with the minority shareholders, the institutional shareholders’ size and expertise can minimize the collective choice problem and agency costs. Their resources enable them to investigate and monitor management in corporate governance field. This is the “Institutional Shareholder Activism“. This article discusses the institutional shareholder’s enhancement of corporate governance. It explores from the two backbones of the Institutional Shareholder Activism: Firstly, the correlation between corporate governance and corporate performance, and secondly, fiduciary duties of the Institutional Shareholder. It makes two conclusions: Good corporate governance certainly helps protect shareholder interests, and contributes to superior long-term economic performance, and institutional shareholders can comply with fiduciary duties by enhancing corporate governance. Furthermore, due to America institutional shareholder activism is highly developed, while Taiwan institutional shareholder activism is not developed. This paper compares America institutional shareholder activism with Taiwan’s. It discusses America institutional shareholder activism in many aspects, such as shareholder proposal, proxy solicitation, vote, direct negotiation with the corporate management, focus list, class action, security holder director nominations bill etc. Then, it analyses some of Taiwan’s corporate governance related articles such as shareholder proposal and security holder director nominations, and some difficulties which the pension fund and the security investment trust fund face when they vote as shareholders. Moreover, through case study, this paper analyses two prestigious pension funds: State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB) and The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP), and investigates their stages of development and current operation and future challenges in the corporate governance field. At last, this paper provides some suggestions and inspirits the institutional shareholder activism in our country.