This study analyses financial consequence of the moral hazard activities of the controlling shareholder. Using a sample of Chinese listed companies during 2002 to 2009, we find that firms with a wider divergence between the controlling shareholder’s control rights and cash flow rights are more financially constrained and the cost of equity is significant higher in these firms. Our results suggest that potential tunneling and other moral hazard activities of the controlling shareholder are facilitated by his excess control rights. These activities have a real impact on corporate financial outcomes.
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