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Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis Vol. 30 No. 2 1995

Relative Prices of Dual Class Shares

Brian F. Smith1; Ben Amoako-Adu

1 Wilfrid Laurier University

Abstract

Empirical studies of dual class shares indicate that superior voting shares (SVS) sell at a premium relative to their counterpart restricted shares (RVS). This paper uses Toronto Stock Exchange data to show that SVS price premium over RVS reflects the expected takeover premium paid to shareholders outside the control block. Thus, marginal shareholders pay a higher SVS price in anticipation of receiving a differential takeover bid as suggested by the extra merger hypothesis. Further analysis indicates that voting power increases the price premium while ownership, size, and the higher trading liquidity of RVS are inversely related to the premium.

DOI
10.2307/2331118
Volume
30
Issue
2
Pages
223
Sources
openalex crossref

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