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Journal of Financial Economics Vol. 108 No. 3 2013

Pyramidal ownership and the creation of new firms

Jan Bena1; Hernán Ortiz-Molina

1 University of British Columbia

Abstract

We study the role of pyramidal ownership structures in the creation of new firms. Our results suggest that pyramids arise because they provide a financing advantage in setting up new firms when the pledgeability of cash flows to outside financiers is limited. Parent companies supply inside funds to new firms that, due to large investment requirements and low pledgeable cash flows, cannot raise enough external financing. The financing advantage of pyramidal structures is pervasive in many countries, exists regardless of whether new firms are set up by business groups or by smaller organizations, and is an important underpinning of entrepreneurial activity.

DOI
10.1016/j.jfineco.2013.01.009
Volume
108
Issue
3
Pages
798-821
Language
en
Sources
bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref

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