Who benefits from political connections? Minority investors or controlling shareholders

Abstract

Using a sample of Chinese privately controlled firms listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange during 2003–2012, this paper empirically examines the relation between politically connected independent directors and firm value creation and value expropriation. Our empirical results show that having politicians as independent directors helps listed privately controlled firms to increase subsidies received from the government as well as obtain an ease of access to long-term bank financing. In contrast, we discern that a large fraction of politically connected independent directors increases the magnitude of related-party transactions between the listed firms and their controlling parties, suggesting wealth expropriating from minority shareholders. Finally, when exploring the net effects of political connections, the presence of politically connected independent directors promotes firm profitability and adds residual value to Chinese listed privately controlled firms.