Corporate Governance and Innovation - Venture Capital, Joint Ventures, and Family Businesses

73 Pages Posted: 4 Apr 2006

See all articles by Joseph A. McCahery

Joseph A. McCahery

Tilburg University - School of Law; European Banking Center (EBC); Tilburg Law and Economics Center (TILEC); European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI)

Erik P. M. Vermeulen

Tilburg University - Department of Business Law; Signify (formerly known as Philips Lighting) - Legal Department; Tilburg Law and Economics Center (TILEC); European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI); Kyushu University - Graduate School of Law

Date Written: March 2006

Abstract

Most of the literature on corporate governance focuses on listed companies. However, the majority of firms worldwide are non-listed. Given the importance of these firms for innovation and job creation, the absence of a robust debate on the best governance practices for these firms is perplexing. Corporate governance for non-listed companies, such as joint-ventures or venture-capital-backed start-ups and spin-offs, is concerned with ensuring that firms are run efficiently and protect the interests of business parties and investors. The article recounts the history of corporate governance from the development of the joint venture business form to the recent initiatives that help to foster the legal infrastructure to keep a modern economy in gear. We argue that the corporate governance debate for non-listed companies will proceed along three dimensions: (1) legal and institutional structures, (2) contractual arrangements, and (3) optional, best practice guidelines.

Keywords: corporate governance, innovation, best governance practices, non-listed companies, joint ventures, family-owned businesses, venture capital, company law

JEL Classification: G32, K11, K20

Suggested Citation

McCahery, Joseph A. and Vermeulen, Erik P.M., Corporate Governance and Innovation - Venture Capital, Joint Ventures, and Family Businesses (March 2006). ECGI - Law Working Paper No. 65/2006, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=894785 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.894785

Joseph A. McCahery (Contact Author)

Tilburg University - School of Law; European Banking Center (EBC) ( email )

Warandelaan 2
Tilburg, 5000 LE
Netherlands
+31-(0)13-466-2306 (Phone)
+31-(0)13-466-2323 (Fax)

Tilburg Law and Economics Center (TILEC)

Warandelaan 2
Tilburg, 5000 LE
Netherlands

European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI)

c/o the Royal Academies of Belgium
Rue Ducale 1 Hertogsstraat
1000 Brussels
Belgium

HOME PAGE: http://www.ecgi.org

Erik P.M. Vermeulen

Tilburg University - Department of Business Law ( email )

Signify (formerly known as Philips Lighting) - Legal Department ( email )

Amstelplein 2
Amsterdam
Netherlands

Tilburg Law and Economics Center (TILEC)

Warandelaan 2
Tilburg, 5000 LE
Netherlands

European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI) ( email )

c/o the Royal Academies of Belgium
Rue Ducale 1 Hertogsstraat
1000 Brussels
Belgium

Kyushu University - Graduate School of Law ( email )

6-19-1, Hakozaki, Higashiku
Fukuoka, Fukuoka 812-8581
Japan

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