Index Membership vs. Loss of Voting Power: The Unification of Dual-Class Shares

André Betzer (), Inga van den Bongard () and Marc Goergen
Additional contact information
André Betzer: BUW - Schumpeter School of Business and Economics
Inga van den Bongard: University of Mannheim

No SDP16008, Schumpeter Discussion Papers from Universitätsbibliothek Wuppertal, University Library

Abstract: A change in the index selection rules of Deutsche Börse provides a unique opportunity to investigate the drivers behind the decision to abolish dual-class shares. As of June 2002, selection is based on the market capitalization of the free-float of the more liquid share class rather than the overall market capitalization. Hence, firms have had to reassess the benefits from their dual-class shares by weighing them against the cost from foregone index weight associated with having two share classes. Our findings suggest that index membership significantly affects the controlling shareholder’s motivation to unify preferred and common stock.

Keywords: private benefits of control; dual-class stock; ownership structure; corporate governance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G30 G32 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 41
Date: 2017-04
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Journal Article: Index membership vs. loss of voting power: The unification of dual-class shares (2017)
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