Article2020

Ownership concentration in the Gulf Cooperation Council

Irma Martínez‐García · Rodrigo Basco · Silvia Gómez Ansón · Narjess Boubakri

34 citations0/0 files storedInternational Journal of Emerging Markets

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Corporate Finance and Governance Family Business Performance and Succession Political Influence and Corporate Strategies

Abstract

Purpose This article attempts to answer the following questions: Who ultimately owns firms listed in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries? Does ownership structure depend on the institutional context? How does ownership affect firm performance? Do institutional factors influence the ownership–performance relationship? Design/methodology/approach We apply univariate analyses and generalised methods of moments estimations for a sample of 692 GCC listed firms during 2009–2015. Findings Our results reveal that corporations are mainly controlled by the state or families, the ownership structure is highly concentrated and pyramid structures are common in the region. Ownership is more concentrated in non-financial than financial firms, and ownership concentration and shareholder identity differ by institutional country setting. Finally, ownership concentration does not influence performance, but formal institutions play a moderating role in the relationship. Practical implications As our findings reveal potential type II agency problems due to ownership concentration, policymakers should raise awareness of professional corporate governance practices and tailor them to GCC countries’ institutional contexts. Social implications Even with the introduction of new regulations by some GCC states to protect minority investors and promote corporate governance practices, ownership concentration is a rigid structure, and its use by investors to protect their economic endowment and power is culturally embedded. Originality/value Although previous studies have analysed ownership concentration and large shareholders’ identities across countries, this study fills a research gap investigating this phenomenon in-depth in emerging economies.

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References

1976Theory of the firm: Managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure 1991Some Tests of Specification for Panel Data: Monte Carlo Evidence and an Application to Employment Equations 1998Law and Finance 1986Agency Costs of Free Cash Flow, Corporate Finance, and Takeovers 1999Corporate Ownership Around the World 2000Investor protection and corporate governance 1985The Structure of Corporate Ownership: Causes and Consequences 2000The separation of ownership and control in East Asian Corporations

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