Large Shareholder Tunneling and Risk of Stock Price Crash: Evidence from China

Abstract

Although several studies have examined the economic consequences of large shareholders’ tunneling behavior, little attention has been paid to the negative effects of tunneling on firms’ extreme events. In this article, we investigate how tunneling behavior affects firm-level stock price crashes. The findings indicate that the probability of stock price crashes is positively associated with the extent of tunneling behavior by large shareholders. The positive relationship is more pronounced after the split of share structure reform and is moderated by the firm’s financial conditions. This study contributes to the emerging body of literature focusing on the economic consequences of tunneling and stock price crashes. The conclusions drawn from the study also provide a frame of reference for investor protection and investment portfolios based on large shareholders’ tunneling behavior in China.

Keywords

large shareholder / tunneling behavior / risk of stock price crash / investor protection

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2014 Higher Education Press and Brill