We present an asymmetric information model to examine private placements issued to owner-managers. Our main conclusion is that allowing private placements to insiders can mit- igate, if not eliminate, the underinvestment problem. Our model predicts that announcement period returns for private...

In this paper we study the determinants of business groups' ownership structure using unique panel data on Korean chaebols. In particular, we attempt to understand how pyramids form over time. We find that chaebols grow vertically (that is, pyramidally) as the family uses well-established group...

Permanent or long-term large shareholders have different governance incentives and mechanisms from institutional investors. Liquidity could facilitate either cutting and running by large shareholders or, alternatively, increased monitoring. Using an exogenous shock to liquidity in China, we...