Family ownership, premiums paid and performance: Evidence from corporate take-overs in Malaysia

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between ownership identity of the largest shareholders, premiums paid and take-over performance, with reference to 63 large acquisitions by Malaysian public listed firms from 1990 to 1999. It is found that the premiums paid are much higher than those in developed countries. It has a curvilinear relationship with take-over performance. At lower to moderate levels of premiums, it improves post-take-over performance while excessive premium drags down the performance of the bidding firms. The finding shows that there is an interaction effect between family ownership and premiums paid which has contributed positively to the post-take-over performance. The evidence suggests that family ownership mitigates agency problem in corporate take-overs