Do private equity and venture capital backed firms have better corporate governance after going public?

Mercados financeiros e finanças corporativas

Evolution of corporate governance of privately controlled brazilian companies

Mercados financeiros e finanças corporativas

State ownership and corporate governance

State ownership of publicly-traded corporations remains pervasive around the world, and has been increasing in recent years. Existing literature focuses on the implications of government ownership for corporate governance and performance at the firm level. This Article, by contrast, explores the different but equally important question of whether the presence of the state as a shareholder can impose negative externalities on the corporate law regime available to the private sector. Drawing from historical experiments with government ownership in the United States, Brazil, China, and Europe, this study shows that the conflict of interest stemming from the state’s dual role as a shareholder and regulator can influence the content of corporate laws to the detriment of outside investor protection and efficiency. It thus addresses a gap in the literature on the political economy of corporate governance by incorporating the political role of the state as shareholder as another mechanism to explain the relationship between corporate ownership structures and legal investor protection. Finally, this Article explores the promise of different institutional arrangements to constrain the impact of the state’s interests as a shareholder on the corporate governance environment, and concludes by offering several policy recommendations.

The implementation of corporate governance in Germany and Brazi l: a comparative case study

The recent promotion of best corporate governance standards by several different government institutions and non-for profit organizations resulted in the implementation of more sophisticated governance mechanisms. As consequence to the separation of ownership and control the concept of agency theory arose. Agency theory argues that without out proper control mechanism managers would behave exploit owners due to information asymmetry. Regulators have promoted corporate governance mechanisms in order to address this issue. This paper aims to contrast the implementation of best corporate governance practices in Germany and Brazil on the example of two practical examples. With this purpose in mind, this paper analyzed two companies listed in the main stock exchange in Germany and Brazil throughout a period of 5 years. In order to measure the degree of corporate governance practices implemented 3 different parameters have been chosen. In line with great part of the literature the parameters considered to be relevant are; composition, procedures and deviation from the local corporate governance code. The comparison of the data revealed that board composition in the two analyzed companies is similar regarding the proportion of independent representatives but does distinguish in size. While committees are related to the same topics it can be implied that Natura’s board is more involved in the actual management of the company. Lastly, Beiersdorf has been able to comply to a larger extend with the recommendations of the local German code than Natura to the recommendations published by Brazilian code of the IBGC.

Multiple large shareholders in corporate governance

Large shareholders of firms with majority bIocks are often at the heIm of their companies and do not necessarily have the same interests as minority shareholders. We show that bargaining problems Ied by the presence of muItipIe controlling shareholders protect minority shareholders. The same bargaining problems, however, prevent efficient decisions. By solving this trade-off we find that i) muItipIe controlling shareholders should be present in firms with Iarge costs of diIuting minority shareholders and in firms with Iarge financing requirements, ii) an optimal ownership structure requires the presence of a dass of shareholders - the minority shareholders - with no control over corporate decisions. Evidence on the ownership structure of dose corporations in the V.S. is consistent with our model.

Corporate governance and its influence on the investment decision process of equity market's professionals: An inside view of how corporate governance issues influence the decision-making process of sell-side and buy-side professionals when analyzing Brazilian listed companies

Corporate governance has been in the spotlight for the past two decades, being subject of numerous researches all over the world. Governance is pictured as a broad and diverse theme, evolving through different routes to form distinct systems. This scenario together with 2 types of agency problems (investor vs. management and minorities vs. controlling shareholders) produce different definitions for governance. Usually, studies investigate whether corporate governance structures influence firm performance, and company valuation. This approach implies investors can identify those impacts and later take them into consideration when making investment decisions. However, behavioral finance theory shows that not always investors take rational decisions, and therefore the modus operandi of those professionals needs to be understood. So, this research aimed to investigate to what extent Brazilian corporate governance standards and practices influence the investment decision-making process of equity markets' professionals from the sell-side and buy-side. This exploratory study was carried out through qualitative and quantitative approaches. In the qualitative phase, 8 practitioners were interviewed and 3 dimensions emerged: understanding, pertinence and practice. Based on the interviews’ findings, a questionnaire was formulated and distributed to buy-siders and sell-siders that cover Brazilian stocks. 117 respondents from all over the world contributed to the study. The data obtained were analyzed through structural equation modeling and descriptive statistics. The 3 dimensions became 5 constructs: definition (institutionalized governance, informal governance), pertinence (relevance), practice (valuation process, structured governance assessment) The results of this thesis suggest there is no definitive answer, as the extent to which governance will influence an investment decision process will depend on a number of circumstances which compose the context. The only certainty is the need to present a “corporate governance behavior”, rather than simply establishing rules and regulations at firm and country level.

Corporate governance development in privately held family businesses: a multiple case analysis

The objective of this study is to better understand and illustrate the process and the motivations for corporate governance implementation in Brazilian privately held family businesses. Three case companies were analyzed through an adapted developmental framework to illustrate the progression in corporate governance in response to changes in the ownership, investment and management dimensions over time. In this development, causal relationships between corporate governance and the three other framework dimensions were identified. It was found that the analyzed companies´ corporate governance implementation was motivated by the need to curb agency costs, whereas a cornerstone in this development was the first generational change. Only after the family businesses have reached the necessary maturity on all three dimensions, corporate governance practices were implemented. Put simply, the analyzed case companies developed formal systems as they grew more complex. This study complements the academic discussions on corporate governance in family businesses by offering Brazilian evidence on its underlying motivations and sequential implementation over time.

Do insiders get abnormal returns? : event studies on the trades of insiders of the firms with differentiated corporate governance of the São Paulo stock exchange

The subject insider trading is controversial. This paper presents series of event studies carried through on the trades with stocks of the firm carried by insiders with the objective to detect abnormal returns, based on the access to privileged information. The sample is composed by trades performed by insiders of the companies with stocks negotiated in the São Paulo Stock Exchange, that are classified as firms with differentiated corporate governance. Indication that trades performed by insiders resulted in abnormal returns compared to the statistically significant expected ones, as in the purchases of common shares; or for selling of preferred stocks.

Insights on corporate sustainability and share value: an event study for Brazilian market

Em meio ao crescente volume de publicações sobre sustentabilidade e finanças, diversas pesquisas internacionais e brasileiras têm abordado a relação entre empresas classificadas como sustentáveis e o retorno de suas ações. Nesta mesma linha, este trabalho utilizou o método de estudos de eventos para verificar se entre 2005 e 2013 houve retornos anormais quando as empresas entraram e saíram do Índice de Sustentabilidade Empresarial (ISE). Além de contemplar um período mais atualizado do que seus precedentes, este estudo difere-se dos demais ao analisar o as observações individualmente e ao buscar estabelecer uma relação dos retornos anormais acumulados com as variáveis governança corporativa, tamanho, rentabilidade e alavancagem. Os resultados mostraram que embora não haja evidências conclusivas quando os casos são tomados individualmente, em conjunto eles indicam que a inclusão e a exclusão do ISE geram retornos anormais significativos, positivos e negativos respectivamente, em linha com a teoria dos stakeholders. Quanto às variáveis de controle, nenhuma apresentou relação com os retornos anormais acumulados.

Homem e risco: do oráculo à lei Sarbanes-Oxley

O presente trabalho aborda a relação histórica entre o Homem e o Risco, com ênfase nas relações contemporâneas, passando pela Ética Empresarial e pela Governança Corporativa, que têm por objetivo disciplinar as relações do capital com base nos princípios de eqüidade, transparência e prestação de contas, além do respeito às leis, regulamentos, normas, tanto formais quanto informais ou de mercado, e os aspectos éticos intrínsecos e culminando com a Lei Sarbanes-Oxley. Mais do que aproximar o investimento da produção, esse conjunto alicerça a confiança mútua, tornando-se arena de negócios entre atraídos e atraentes, ou seja, investidores e empresas. Estabelece, também, uma oportunidade para as empresas aumentarem suas origens por ação direta do patrimônio líquido, não implicando, portanto, em ônus dissociado do retorno, premiando, sob vários enfoques, a rentabilidade com responsabilidade social e percepção dos outros públicos inerentes ao negócio - stakeholders.

O papel de governança corporativa em companhias recentemente privatizadas: evidências brasileiras

Examinamos as diferenças de preço entre diferentes classes de ações em companhias abertas no Brasil com particular ênfase a empresas privatizadas, e discutimos o papel do controlador, liquidez, e problemas de governanças que influenciam esta diferença ao longo do tempo. Nos incluímos uma breve discussão sobre o sistema societário brasileiro, e seus efeitos sobre os acionistas, e as características do processo de privatização, antes de passar a análise econométrica. Encontramos evidência empírica que suporta a hipótese de que a razão ação sem direito a voto sobre a participação acionária total, liquidez, e tipo de controle majoritário, e mudanças na regulamentação são significativas na determinação das diferenças de preço entre ações.

Estudo da validade de generalização das práticas de governança corporativa ao ambiente dos fundos de pensão: uma análise segundo as teorias da agência e institucional

Este estudo investiga as possibilidades de generalização das práticas de governança corporativa a organizações operando em ambientes não mercantilistas. Os limites da teoria da agência, referencial teórico predominante no desenvolvimento dessas práticas, são analisados no ambiente dos fundos de pensão brasileiros a partir da verificação da aplicação dos mecanismos de monitoramento, controle e incentivos, previstos por essa teoria, por patrocinadores e participantes, e a percepção dos gestores quanto à importância desses mecanismos na conformação de seu comportamento. Alternativamente, é examinada a extensão da busca de legitimidade pelos gestores, segundo o referencial da teoria institucional. São comparados os resultados obtidos para fundos com perfis diversos quanto a variáveis como tipo de plano, origem do patrocinador e maturidade. Os resultados indicam uma diferença no uso e percepção daqueles mecanismos, em virtude principalmente da natureza do patrocinador, volume de ativos de investimento, tempo de existência e maturidade do fundo. Não foram obtidas diferenças estatísticas significativas para a percepção dos fatores institucionais, sugerindo a existência de elevada coesão no campo organizacional constituído pelos fundos de pensão.

Visões das gerências da auditoriainterna da Petrobras sobre a sua estratégia de atuação em facedas práticas de mercado e da nova modelagem organizacional da companhia

The purpose of this study is to identify the strategic vision of the Internal Audit Department of Petrel Brasileiro S.A. PETROBRAS, in comparison with the audit function's proposals and practices in competitive organizations and their reality. It also aims at the verification of the possible solutions, within Petrobras itself, so as to constantly add value to the business and to the shareholders. With this in mind, a research was carried out, contemplating the conceptual proposals and market practices related to auditing and to the current diagnosis and the organizational model of Petrobras, so as to choose elements for comparison and analysis of such vision. The results of this research pointed in the direction of questioning the organizational value of the internal audit action, concluding that it will only be possible to continuously attain such value by means of a permanent coordination with the organization's strategic level. This is especially true if the audit action participates effectively in the process of Corporate Governance, in defining the risks, the internal control system and the measurement of corporate performance, as related to the development of the strategic plan. However, any action along these lines is still heavily impacted and limited by several aspects of culture and relationship of the organizational power as well as by the beliefs of the organization and of the body of auditors. The involvement of the auditors as employees was also considered relevant in the auditing process, by means of the participation of the audited entities in self assessment2. This procedure is still not sufficiently guaranteed by successful experiments in major organizations, considering that there is not a clear demonstration of the effective benefits of adopting this practice, as ompared to the central control, seldom shared but strongly monitored by integrated information systems. Finally, this research points to the need to renew the concept of the formation and role of the auditors in modern competitive organizations, in the face of information technology and of automation of the instrument controls of the business. Therefore, one may conclude that the trend will be toward an action aiming at the revision of formal internal control matrixes, as they are established in such systems. On the other hand, the majority of audit human resources will be increasingly deployed to the evaluation of risk and control, as related to relevant events of a more abstract nature, as in the case of those connected with the uncontrollable factors of the external environment.

A Evolução e Consolidação das Práticas de Governança Corporativa no Banco do Brasil S.A. entre 1996 e 2006

The purpose of this dissertation is to identify the main historical and institutional facts that have led to the present corporate governance policy adopted by Banco do Brasil S.A. (BB). The good practices of corporate governance aim to increase corporate value and facilitate the funding of capital and contribute to company¿s duration over the time. Besides, ensure to the shareholders some governance principles such as disclosure", "compliance", "accountability", "fairness" and ¿corporate responsability¿ By the time BB has been shown its concern about disclosure especially for its close relationship with principal shareholder. ¿ the Brazilian Government, other equity partners and the Brazilian society. Banco do Brasil was founded in 1808 by the Portuguese emperor Dom João VI and today is the oldest bank operating in the local market. BB also was the first company listed on Brazilian stock exchange since 1906. In 1996, after some net losses, the Brazilian Government raised the bank¿s authorized capital in R$ 8 billion. This fact established the first attempts to develop bank¿s corporate governance through the years. Banco do Brasil currently has more than 24.4 million customers, served by a network of 15,113 points of service with R$ 296.4 billion in total assets2. The purpose of this work is to demonstrate the principal measures adopted by Banco do Brasil to reach the top level of corporate governance in the Brazilian stock exchange ¿ the New Market of Bovespa. This top position was reached in June 2006. Banco do Brasil was the first state owned company to reach this level of governance in Brazil. This dissertation was based on Yin's taxonomy methodology as a single case study. This research has used documents and file records as sources of evidence, including longitudinally research to demonstrate the evolution facts through time."