Board independence and firm performance in Southern Europe: A contextual and contingency approach

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 313-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebeca García-Ramos ◽  
Myriam García-Olalla

AbstractThis study analyses whether or not the effect of board independence on a firm's strategic performance is moderated by family involvement in ownership and control. Moderation of the board's size and the independent director ratio are tested under quadratic specifications. The effect of CEO duality with family involvement on long-term sales growth is also measured. The empirical analysis is conducted in the Southern European context using a sample of publicly traded firms that have concentrated ownership structures. The main findings indicate that when nonlinearities are considered, family involvement moderates the relationship between the independent director ratio and firm performance. The optimal proportion of independent directors is lower in family businesses than in non-family ones. However, the results fail to support nonlinearities for board size. We find positive linear relationships between both board size and CEO duality with firm performance, which are not moderated by family involvement.

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 384-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shamsul Nahar Abdullah

In the aftermath of the Asian Financial crisis in 1997/1998, the Malaysia Securities Commission (SC) issued the Malaysian Code on Corporate Governance in 2000 (MCCG 2000). It was subsequently revised in 2007 following the Enron and Transmile debacles. In 2012, the SC issued the latest MCCG 2012 which introduced several new recommendations that are in line with developments in other parts of the world. Hence, the purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of the structure of the board and its activities on firm performance post MCCG 2007. The study also aims to shed light on the effectiveness of the board of directors since the issuance of MCCG 2000 and of MCCG 2007. It also aims to reveal the preparedness of listed firms in Malaysia to embrace MCCG 2012. Using a population of non-finance listed firms for the 2009, 2010 and 2011 financial years, it was found that board independence, chief executive officer (CEO) duality, directors’ busyness, nomination committee independence, the establishment of a risk management committee (RMC) and board meetings are not associated with firm performance, i.e. Tobin’s q. However, the market appears to be in favour of a larger board size. As for return on assets (ROA), it is not associated with board independence, board size, directors’ busyness and nomination committee independence. On the other hand CEO duality and the establishment of a RMC improve ROA, while board meetings are detrimental to ROA. It can therefore be concluded that board independence is not associated with either Tobin’s q or ROA. Hence, any corporate governance reforms should not over-emphasize the representation of independent directors on the board, rather the focus might be shifted to board activities, such as board meetings and the establishment of a RMC. With regard to board size, since the market is in favour of a larger board size, firms should increase the board’s size to enable the appointment of women directors to the board. Finally, combining the CEO and board chairman roles should not be disallowed as the market views this favourably. Hence, the ‘one-hat approach’ does not appear to be applicable in the case of CEO duality.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 210-226
Author(s):  
Ishfaq Gulzar ◽  
S. M. Imamul Haque ◽  
Tasneem Khan

This article endeavours to study the relationship between corporate governance and performance for a sample of 11 textile firms listed on Nifty 500 Index in India. The article examines whether the board characteristics have any impact on performance measures. The data covers the time period from 2014 to 2018. The study uses board size, board meetings, board independence as corporate governance surrogates from different dimensions along with other widely uses of independent variables to assess their impact in a panel data-based regression. The findings provide mixed results between the board characteristics and the firm performance. Board size and firm performance is statistically significant with return on assets and Tobin’s Q. Whereas, board independence, board meetings and CEO duality are not statistically significant with both accounting-based measure of performance and market-based measure of performance. The article provides empirical evidence that board independence, board meetings and CEO duality is not necessary for listed textile companies in India and would be of interest to regulatory bodies, business practitioners and academic researchers. The main value of this article is the analysis of the effect of corporate governance on performance measures on listed Indian textile industries.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-22
Author(s):  
Sajad Nawaz Khan ◽  
Engku Ismail Ali

During the global financial crises, the prominence of corporate governance was realized after the major loopholes identified in corporate policies and conspicuous corporate scandals all over the world. Developed countries have passed several laws such as the “Say on Pay” or the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act” to protect the shareholder's wealth. On the contrary, developing countries are still thriving to gain effective corporate governance recognition. This study examined the moderating effect of intellectual capital on the relationship between corporate governance and firm performance. The current study uses four-year panel data from 2012 to 2015. Linear regression, correlated panels corrected standard errors (PCSEs) are used in the analysis. The findings of the study indicate that the intellectual capital has a significant effect on the relationship between board size, board financial expertise, CEO duality, gender diversity and firm performance (ROA). On the other hand, it does not seem to moderate the relationship between board independence and firm performance (ROA). Similarly, the findings indicate that intellectual capital has a significant relationship between board size, board independence, CEO duality, gender diversity and firm performance (ROE) has no moderating effect on the relationship between board financial expertise and firm performance (ROE). Moreover, the empirical results highlight the significance of intellectual capital for regulations and policy making.


2021 ◽  
pp. 0258042X2110261
Author(s):  
Mukesh Nepal ◽  
Rajat Deb

The study has attempted to examine whether the board size and board independence have any impact on the financial performances of the Indian textile firms. Accessing the data of the 40 sample firms representing the top 100 BSE-listed textile firms during the timeline 2015–2019 and applying the panel data regression model, it has assessed the impacts. Accounting- and market-based financial measures have been proxied, and a significant positive association between the board size and firm performance has been established. Interestingly, a significant inverse relationship between the board independence and financial performance has also been indicated. It has concurred policy implications as the inclusion of more number of board members would likely to increase the firm performance. Moreover, for improving the sound decision-making, firms may chalk out a policy with capping on the engagement of independent directors in other firms. It has acknowledged a few limitations and has sketched a roadmap for posterior studies as well. JEL Codes: G28, G30, M40


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 4808 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaime Guerrero-Villegas ◽  
Leticia Pérez-Calero ◽  
José Hurtado-González ◽  
Pilar Giráldez-Puig

Many studies have examined the relationships between board attributes (board independence, CEO duality, board size, and women on boards) and corporate social responsibility disclosure (CSRD) as a means to improve a firm’s reputation. This research was performed in various international settings and uneven outcomes were obtained. We therefore meta-analyzed 88 studies to summarize scattered evidence and found that CEO duality had a significantly negative relationship with CSRD, while board independence, board size and women representation had a significantly positive relationship with CSRD. These relationships were more significant in countries with low levels of commitment to sustainable goals. Thus, our study revealed differences in the relationship between board attributes and CSRD, and that these differences were conditioned by the institutional contexts in which firms operate. Our research has practical implications for practitioners and policy makers alike as we offer guidelines on the most suitable corporate governance mechanisms to achieve lower capital costs and better access to finance.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 268
Author(s):  
Adegbola Otekunrin ◽  
Tony Nwanji ◽  
Damilola Fagboro ◽  
Johnson Olowookere ◽  
Stella Ibitoye

With the rise of corporate failures and the conflict of interest arising from shareholders and the management, there have been growing concerns in corporate governance (CG). It is there is ponsibility of the board of director in CG is to oversee the management as well as the firm performance and to make the management accountable to shareholders. Hence this research examines the connection between firms’ performance and board features using board size, board independence in addition to board age as a proxy for board characteristics and turnover as a proxy for firm performance. A sample size of 16 consumer goods firms out of a population of 20 consumer goods firms listed in the NSE from 2016 to 2019 was used using a judgmental sampling technique. Secondary data employed was taken out from the sampled firms’ annual reports. Hausman test analysis was used to select the appropriate regression model, which is the fixed effect regression model that was utilized to analyse the connection between firms’ performance in addition to board characteristics. It is found that firm performance and board independence of the consumer services goods companies in Nigeria are significantly related.The results also confirmed that firm performance and board size of the consumer services goods companies in Nigeria are significantly related. The result indicates firm performance and board education of the consumer services goods companies in Nigeria are not significantly related. Consequently, overall lthe study concluded that firms’ performance and board characteristics are related. Also, board characteristics increase board performance which will lead to increase in firms’ performances, there by maximizing profit and ensuring efficiency. The study concluded that a company with good board characteristics would help to ensure the maximization of both the shareholders and stakeholders wealth. Hence a proper board characteristic helps to solve the problem of both agency theory and stakeholders’ theory.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatrice Sarpong-Danquah ◽  
Prince Gyimah ◽  
Richard Owusu Afriyie ◽  
Albert Asiama

This paper assesses the effect of corporate governance on the financial performance of manufacturing firms in a developing country. Specifically, the paper investigates whether gender diversity, board independence, and board size affects return on asset (ROA) and return on equity (ROE) of manufacturing listed firms in Ghana. We use the generalized least squares (GLS) panel regression model to analyze the dataset of 11 listed manufacturing firms from 2009-2013. Our result reveals an insignificant representation of women on boards. Also, the empirical result shows that board independence and board gender diversity have significant positive effect on ROE and ROA. However, there is no statistical significant relationship between board size and firm performance (ROE and ROA). We suggest that manufacturing firms should appoint female board members as well as outside directors on their boards as this can make significant contribution to firm’s performance. Our study provides the first comprehensive explicit exposition of corporate governance-performance nexus using data from the manufacturing sector in Ghana.


Author(s):  
Danuse Bement ◽  
Ryan Krause

Boards of directors are governing bodies that reside at the apex of the modern corporation. Boards monitor the behavior of firm management, provide managers access to knowledge, expertise, and external networks, and serve as advisors and sounding boards for the CEO. Board attributes such as board size and independence, director demographics, and firm ownership have all been studied as antecedents of effective board functioning and, ultimately, firm performance. Steady progress has been made toward understanding how boards influence firm outcomes, but several key questions about board leadership structure remain unresolved. Research on board leadership structure encompasses the study of board chairs, lead independent directors, and board committees. Board chair research indicates that when held by competent individuals, this key leadership position has the potential to contribute to efficient board functioning and firm performance. Researchers have found conflicting evidence regarding CEO duality, the practice of the CEO also serving as the board chair. The effect of this phenomenon—once ubiquitous among U.S. boards—ranges widely based on circumstances such as board independence, CEO power, and/or environmental conditions. Progressively, however, potential negative consequences of CEO duality proposed by agency theory appear to be counterbalanced by other governance mechanisms and regulatory changes. A popular mechanism for a compromise between the benefits of CEO duality and independent monitoring is to establish the role of a lead independent director. Although research on this role is in its early stage, results suggest that when implemented properly, the lead independent director can aid board monitoring without adding confusion to a unified chain of command. Board oversight committees, another key board leadership mechanism, improve directors’ access to information, enhance decision-making quality by allowing directors to focus on specialized topics outside of board meetings, and increase the speed of response to critical matters. Future research on the governance roles of boards, leadership configurations, and board committees is likely to explore theories beyond agency and resource dependence, as well as rely less on collecting archival data and more on finding creative ways to access rarely examined board interactions, such as board and committee meetings and executive sessions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 508-551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Merendino ◽  
Rob Melville

PurposeThis study aims to reconcile some of the conflicting results in prior studies of the board structure–firm performance relationship and to evaluate the effectiveness and applicability of agency theory in the specific context of Italian corporate governance practice.Design/methodology/approachThis research applies a dynamic generalised method of moments on a sample of Italian listed companies over the period 2003-2015. Proxies for corporate governance mechanisms are the board size, the level of board independence, ownership structure, shareholder agreements and CEO–chairman leadership.FindingsWhile directors elected by minority shareholders are not able to impact performance, independent directors do have a non-linear effect on performance. Board size has a positive effect on firm performance for lower levels of board size. Ownership structure per se and shareholder agreements do not affect firm performance.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper contributes to the literature on agency theory by reconciling some of the conflicting results inherent in the board structure–performance relationship. Firm performance is not necessarily improved by having a high number of independent directors on the board. Ownership structure and composition do not affect firm performance; therefore, greater monitoring provided by concentrated ownership does not necessarily lead to stronger firm performance.Practical implicationsThis paper suggests that Italian corporate governance law should improve the rules and effectiveness of minority directors by analysing whether they are able to impede the main shareholders to expropriate private benefits on the expenses of the minority. The legislator should not impose any restrictive regulations with regard to CEO duality, as the influence of CEO duality on performance may vary with respect to the unique characteristics of each company.Originality/valueThe results enrich the understanding of the applicability of agency theory in listed companies, especially in Italy. Additionally, this paper provides a comprehensive synthesis of research evidence of agency theory studies.


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