Complex Ownership Structures and Accounting Conservatism

This study examines how complex ownership structures shape accounting conservatism. Using a firm-level complex ownership dataset from thirteen Western European countries, we find that: (1) firms with multiple blockholders apply more conservative accounting than those with a single blockholder or dispersed ownership; (2) unevenly distributed cash-flow rights across multiple large shareholders are positively associated with accounting conservatism; (3) the positive association between the dispersion of cash-flow rights and accounting conservatism only exists when controlling shareholders have different types of ownership. Additional analysis reveals that strong investor/creditor protection institutions and family ownership strengthen the association between the dispersion of cash-flow rights and conservatism. This study highlights the important role played by the second largest controlling shareholder and the characteristics of multiple blockholders in shaping accounting conservatism