The Impact of Venture Capital Background on CEO Replacement in Portfolio Companies: Empirical Evidence from China

Taking Chinese startups backed by venture capital (VC) in 1997–2017 as the sample, this study investigates the impact of VC background on chief executive officer (CEO) replacement in portfolio companies. The results show that (1) compared to foreign VC, domestic VC is more likely to replace the CEO of the portfolio companies. (2) Syndicate with domestic VC can overcome the disadvantage of foreign VC geographically distant from the portfolio companies, and domestic VC as coinvestors can effectively monitor portfolio companies, increasing the possibility of CEO replacement. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the positive effect of VC background on CEO replacement exists in the subgroup of VC geographically proximate to the portfolio companies, indicating that geographic proximity to the portfolio companies helps VC more easily grasp the development of the portfolio companies and more likely to replace CEO. This paper reveals the differences in the behavior of VC in replacing CEO during the postinvestment management process, highlights the critical role of geographical proximity, and provides important management insights for VC and entrepreneurs.

Regional Peer Effects of Corporate Tax Avoidance

This study empirically demonstrates significant regional peer effects due to tax avoidance. We used peer companies’ idiosyncratic stock returns as an instrumental variable to address potential endogeneity problems. The heterogeneity analysis indicates that for companies with a stronger intensity of regional tax collection and management, a higher degree of informatization, and companies with a low management shareholding ratio, the regional peer effects of enterprise tax avoidance are more significant. Finally, we determined that the managers’ information learning, reputation consideration, and information communication are key mechanisms propagating peer effects. The conclusions of this paper enrich and expand the peer effect theory of corporate tax avoidance, thereby providing a theoretical basis and empirical evidence for tax authorities in supervising corporate tax avoidance.

A Genome-Wide Association Study of a Korean Population Identifies Genetic Susceptibility to Hypertension Based on Sex-Specific Differences

Genome-wide association studies have expanded our understanding of the genetic variation of hypertension. Hypertension and blood pressure are influenced by sex-specific differences; therefore, genetic variants may have sex-specific effects on phenotype. To identify the genetic factors influencing the sex-specific differences concerning hypertension, we conducted a heterogeneity analysis of a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on 13,926 samples from a Korean population. Using the Illumina exome chip data of the population, we performed GWASs of the male and female population independently and applied a statistical test that identified heterogeneous effects of the variants between the two groups. To gain information about the biological implication of the genetic heterogeneity, we used gene set enrichment analysis with GWAS catalog and pathway gene sets. The heterogeneity analysis revealed that the rs11066015 of ACAD10 was a significant locus that had sex-specific genetic effects on the development of hypertension. The rs2074356 of HECTD4 also showed significant genetic heterogeneity in systolic blood pressure. The enrichment analysis showed significant results that are consistent with the pathophysiology of hypertension. These results indicate a sex-specific genetic susceptibility to hypertension that should be considered in future genetic studies of hypertension.

Financing Constraints, Risk of Stock Price Crash and Impact of New Crown Pneumonia

Taking Shanghai and Shenzhen A stock listed companies as a sample, this paper uses the event research method to test the effect of financing constraints and stock price crash risk on the cumulative excess return (CAR) of enterprises under the impact of the epidemic situation. The results show that the risk of stock price collapse plays a negative role in the transmission channel of the impact of the new crown epidemic on the enterprise's cumulative excess return, and the financing constraint intensifies the negative effect. Further, the heterogeneity analysis based on firm size and ownership found that in SMEs and non-state-owned enterprises, the effect of increased financing constraints is more significant Is significant. Finally, this paper puts forward some suggestions from the perspective of relevant regulatory departments and enterprises themselves.