Under Pressure: Listing Status and Disinvestment in Japan
Posted: 15 Aug 2019 Last revised: 8 Dec 2019
Date Written: April 5, 2019
Abstract
We provide the first large sample comparisons of disinvestment by listed and unlisted firms. This study focuses on Japanese firms from 2001-2017, as this was a period of economic stagnation and financial reforms encouraging companies to restructure. We show that stock market listing is positively related to disinvestment. Listed firms disinvest 1.9% more than similar unlisted firms. Disinvestment activities of listed companies are also more sensitive to investment opportunities. Additionally, firms that disinvest show improvements in ROA and increases in future investment. Finally, we find that foreign (financial institution) ownership is positively (negatively) related to disinvestment.
Keywords: disinvestment, listed status, short-termism
JEL Classification: G31, G32, G34
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation