Corporate governance, Family ownership, Performance, Agency theory, Stewardship theory, Contingency theory, G34, G32, L25,

The present empirical paper aims to investigate the effect of a long-term company culture in terms of economic performance and firm value. Is it possible to track the cumulative knowledge (passed from father to son) into firm economic returns? The survey tests the hypothesis that the more experienced companies (higher firm age) will perform better than the others considering a set of performance indicators on a four years pattern (from firm value to EVA and VAIC). Comparing firm longevity with the performance indicators, but also monitoring many other corporate governance or ownership indicators, on a panel dataset of the top Italian wine companies. This methodology results in a deep analysis of the Italian wine business – family buy-out strategies, cooperatives. Family firms represent 42% of the panel, with more than 200 years of experience, a larger presence of women on board, a higher average age of the directors and a higher propensity to the production of grapes. The research findings support the hypothesis that a family firm add value over the generations through generating an internal cumulative knowledge process and a strong brand image. In addition, the presence of an external CEO is positively influencing performance (the Most Trusted Advisor). Firm value increases along with the number of family members within the board, to support the family logic and the social capital theories

In the last decade the number of buyback transactions involving listed companies in the Italian equity capital market has experienced a huge growth. However, no clear understanding of this phenomenon has yet been reached, also because of the limited information available on such financial decisions. The purpose of this paper is to check the main hypotheses behind the determinants of share repurchases, analysing the effect of own share buyback announcements specifically on the performance of the listed companies before and after the discontinuity introduced in Italy through the Reform of the financial markets. The first major outcome coming from the empirical analysis deals with the strong incentive played by the reform mentioned above, which introduced stricter corporate governance criteria, leading to a sharp increase in the volume and frequency of share buyback announcements, as well as in the number of companies getting access to this instrument. Secondly, the analysis strongly supports the replacement hypothesis theory, which states that buybacks have become a better substitute for dividends as a remuneration policy for shareholders.

In this study we analyze the risks and perils arising from LBO transactions, in order to consider the impact of private equity in this category of transactions. From this perspective, focusing attention on 2,450 deals occurred during the period 2002-2011, our study adds to previous literature that has investigated the post-LBO operating performance and the factors that can determine the success of those deals. In particular, by running a multivariate regression analysis in order to test for different research hypothesis proposed by literature dealing with the determinants of LBO deals, we confirm the validity of the assets stripping hypothesis, even if we find evidence that the presence of private equity, among other factors, can help to mitigate that peril. We find evidence that, especially in the short term, enterprises suffer from a slight deterioration in operating performance compared to their situation before the buyout. Moreover, under specific circumstances, enterprises experience a slight improvement in the ability to generate cash. Finally, we find positive evidence about the presence of private equity investors, which are mainly able to promote the growth of firms, as well as to increase the capability to generate cash, rather than generate positive effects on the level of employment. At the same time, we find also evidence that the presence of private equity investors is a significant determinant of distress for firms involved in LBO transactions. Risks and Perils in LBO transactions AbstractIn this study we analyze the risks and perils arising from LBO transactions, in order to consider the impact of private equity in this category of transactions. From this perspective, focusing attention on 2,450 deals occurred during the period 2002-2011, our study adds to previous literature that has investigated the post-LBO operating performance and the factors that can determine the success of those deals. In particular, by running a multivariate regression analysis in order to test for different research hypothesis proposed by literature dealing with the determinants of LBO deals, we confirm the validity of the assets stripping hypothesis, even if we find evidence that the presence of private equity, among other factors, can help to mitigate that peril. We find evidence that, especially in the short term, enterprises suffer from a slight deterioration in operating performance compared to their situation before the buyout. Moreover, under specific circumstances, enterprises experience a slight improvement in the ability to generate cash. Finally, we find positive evidence about the presence of private equity investors, which are mainly able to promote the growth of firms, as well as to increase the capability to generate cash, rather than generate positive effects on the level of employment. At the same time, we find also evidence that the presence of private equity investors is a significant determinant of distress for firms involved in LBO transactions. JEL Codes: G32, G34