246 Int. J. Managerial and Financial Accounting, Vol. 7, Nos. 3/4, 2015 Copyright © 2015 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. Impact of shareholders’ identity on intellectual capital performance: evidence from Tunisian manufacturing companies Jamel Chouaibi* and Amel Kouaib Department of Accounting, Faculty of Economics and Management of Sfax, University of Sfax, Airport Road km 4, 3018, Sfax, Tunisia Email: chouaibi_jamel@yahoo.fr Email: amelkouaib@hotmail.fr *Corresponding author Abstract: The main purpose of this study is to investigate the association between Intellectual Capital Performance (ICP) and ownership structure as an internal corporate governance mechanism. Data are drawn from a sample of 80 manufacturing Tunisian companies divided into nine sectors. These companies are listed and unlisted in the Tunis Stock Exchange for the 2010 fiscal year. Empirical analysis is conducted using linear multiple regression analysis in which Value-Added Intellectual Coefficient (VAIC) was selected to measure ICP. Findings from the empirical analysis revealed that both managerial ownership and ownership concentration have a positive impact on ICP, while institutional ownership has no significant effect on VAIC. Keywords: shareholders’ identity; agency theory; intellectual capital; value- added intellectual coefficient; Tunisian context. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Chouaibi, J. and Kouaib, A. (2015) ‘Impact of shareholders’ identity on intellectual capital performance: evidence from Tunisian manufacturing companies’, Int. J. Managerial and Financial Accounting, Vol. 7, Nos. 3/4, pp.246–267. Biographical notes: Jamel Chouaibi is an Assistant Professor in Finance and Accounting Methods at the Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management of Sfax, University of Sfax, Tunisia. He is expert in accounting financial, behavioural finance business, corporate governance, corporate financial policy, investment decisions, and new problems of the value as well. He is a founding member of the Research Laboratory of Information Technologies, Governance and Entrepreneurship (LARTIGE) at University of Sfax, Tunisia. Amel Kouaib is a PhD student in Finance and Accounting Methods at the University of Sfax, Tunisia. She teaches Accounting and Audit at the Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management of Sfax, Tunisia. Her main research interests are related to behavioural finance, corporate governance, accounting standards, earnings management, audit, innovation and firm value. She is member of the Research Laboratory of Information Technologies, Governance and Entrepreneurship (LARTIGE) at University of Sfax, Tunisia.