The relation between corporate diversification and managerial equity ownership in Thailand

Abstract

This thesis investigates whether the corporate diversification of companies listed in the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) leads to value creation or value destruction. Using the data from 1996 to 1998, the study estimates the effect of diversification on firm value. The evidence shows that, like studies in developed countries, companies listed on the SET on average experience a value loss of more than 20 percent through their corporate diversification. While the study does not show not show whether there exists the relation between the level of diversification and the degree of agency problem, the empirical results suggest the the value loss due to diversification stem from the agency costs.