Corporate governance structures and firm performance in large agriculture companies in New Zealand

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 987-1006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamal Roudaki
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Board Independence ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Board Compensation ◽  
Board Gender Diversity ◽  
High Level ◽  
Board Ownership

PurposeThis study aims to explore the role of corporate governance (CG) characteristics on the financial performance of large agricultural companies in New Zealand. External auditor remuneration and board characteristics, such as board ownership, board compensation, board independence and board gender diversity, are addressed in the context of New Zealand’s agricultural companies by applying agency theory.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses a balanced panel data generalised least square regression analysis on 80 firm-years of observations over the period from 2012 to 2015.FindingsEmpirical analysis revealed that external auditors’ remuneration and board characteristics, such as board compensation and board independence, except for board ownership and board gender diversity, held no association with the agricultural companies’ performance. While board ownership and board gender diversity were negatively, but significantly, associated with firm performance, these results were pronounced in the listed agricultural companies rather than in the non-listed companies.Research limitations/implicationsThis study encountered limitations commonly associated with the majority of industry-specific studies, i.e. small sample size and lack of published financial information from databases. Therefore, for generalisation, these limitations were considered relevant.Practical implicationsThe results of this research project are beneficial for authorities and agricultural company directors in implementing CG principles and guidelines to empower such companies in international competition. Encouraging agricultural companies to maintain a high level of transparency in financial reporting is of central interest for the government’s economic development, and stock market investors achieve a high level of transparency in non-financial disclosures, the chief objective of this study. Finally, the results of this paper may encourage auditors to scrutinise CG disclosures by agricultural companies in more detail, looking for undisclosed information.Social implicationsThe results of this paper may encourage managerial transparency by providing appropriate disclosures for the public benefit. Investors may benefit from the disclosure provided in their economic decision-making and the public may expand on the information disclosed in facilitating development through exports, expansion of foreign investments and the indigenous economy.Originality/valueThe findings contribute to the literature by providing novel and original insights into using a sample of listed and non-listed agricultural companies to extend the current understanding of the governance-performance nexus.

Corporate governance and firm value: a study on European financial institutions

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanen Ben Fatma ◽  
Jamel Chouaibi
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Financial Institutions ◽  
Firm Value ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Ownership Concentration ◽  
Board Independence ◽  
Board Size ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Governance Mechanisms ◽  
Board Gender Diversity

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of the characteristics of two corporate governance mechanisms, namely, board of directors and ownership structure, on the firm value of European financial institutions.Design/methodology/approachUsing the market-to-book ratio calculated by the Thomson Reuters Eikon ASSET4 database, this study measures the firm value of 111 financial institutions belonging to 12 European countries listed on the stock exchange during the period 2007–2019. Multivariate regression analysis on panel data is used to estimate the relationship between corporate governance attributes, such as board size, board independence, board gender diversity, ownership concentration and CEO ownership, and the firm value of European financial institutions.FindingsThe empirical results reveal that board gender diversity and CEO ownership are positively related to the firm value, whereas board size and ownership concentration are negatively related. Furthermore, the findings suggest that board independence is insignificantly correlated with the firm value. Regarding the control variables, the results show that financial institutions' size, age and legal system are significant factors in changing the firm value. Nevertheless, financial institutions' leverage and activity sector are not significantly correlated with their value.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the literature by providing the significant links between some corporate governance mechanisms and the firm value of companies from the financial industry, by addressing the information gap for this critical industry in the context of a developed market like Europe.

Does board gender diversity affect the transparency of corporate political disclosure?

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 444-463 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.G. DeBoskey ◽  
Yan Luo ◽  
Jeff Wang
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Voluntary Disclosure ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Political Activity ◽  
Political Contributions ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ethics Research ◽  
Board Gender Diversity

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of board gender diversity on the transparency of corporate political disclosure (CPD). Design/methodology/approach Two empirical proxies, CPD transparency and policy transparency, are constructed from a data set jointly produced by the Center of Political Activity and the Carol and Lawrence Zicklin Center for Business Ethics Research. The CPD transparency score measures the level of transparency in voluntary corporate disclosure of the amount of political contributions and the identity of the recipients as well as the titles and names of the executives who authorize the political spending. The policy transparency score measures the level of transparency in the voluntary disclosure of the policies governing corporate political spending. Board gender diversity is measured by the percentage of women on the board of directors. Findings Higher proportions of female directors are associated with more transparent disclosure of political contributions after controlling for a set of corporate governance and firm-level variables. Originality/value This study is the first to examine whether and how gender-diversified boards enhance the transparency of CPD. It contributes to the literature by providing evidence that gender-diversified boards enhance corporate governance.

The role of national culture in the impact of board gender diversity on firm performance: evidence from a multi-country study

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Navaz Naghavi ◽  
Saeed Pahlevan Sharif ◽  
Hafezali Bin Iqbal Hussain
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Firm Performance ◽  
Generalized Method Of Moments ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Governance Structure ◽  
Corporate Governance Structure ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Board Gender Diversity ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis study seeks to add more insights to the debate on “whether”, “how”, and “under which condition” women representation on the board contributes to firm performance. More specifically, the current study aims to investigate if the effect of board gender diversity on firm performance is dependent on macro factors of national cultures.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used the generalized method of moments regression and a data set consists of 2,550 company year observations over 10 years.FindingsThe results indicated that cultural variables interact with board diversity to influence firm performance. Having women on the board in countries with high power distance, individualist, masculine and low-uncertainty avoidance culture influences the firm performance negatively.Originality/valueThe findings indicate that the effects of corporate governance structure on firm performance depends on culture-specific factors, providing support for the argument that institutional norms that are governed by cultural norms affect the effectiveness of corporate governance structure.

scholarly journals Board gender diversity and environmental, social and governance performance of US banks: moderating role of environmental, social and corporate governance controversies

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Hassan Shakil ◽  
Mashiyat Tasnia ◽  
Md Imtiaz Mostafiz
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Resource Dependence ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Corporate Boards ◽  
Omitted Variables ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Dynamic Panel Regression ◽  
Board Gender Diversity

PurposeGender diversity in corporate boards is broadly studied in existing corporate governance literature. However, the role of board gender diversity on environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance of the banks is still unaccounted for. Drawing on resource dependence and legitimacy theory, this study addresses this pressing research issue. Moreover, investigation of ESG controversies as a moderator paves the existing corporate governance research to the new avenues.Design/methodology/approachData were sourced from Refinitiv database on 37 US banks from the period of 2013 to 2017. This study employs static and dynamic panel regression models that include random effects, fixed effects and dynamic generalised method of moments (GMMs) to test the hypotheses. Furthermore, system GMM is used to reduce the issue of endogeneity, measurement error, omitted variables bias and bank-specific heterogeneity.FindingsWe identify a significant positive relationship between board gender diversity and the ESG performance of US banks. However, the result propounds non-significant moderating effect of ESG controversies on the board gender diversity–ESG performance nexus.Originality/valueLiterature on board gender diversity and ESG separately and predominantly explains firm/bank's financial performance. This study is one of the pioneering attempts to explain the role of board gender diversity on ESG performance. Although incremental, however, this study also contributes to the literature on ESG in the US context.

scholarly journals Corporate governance and dividend pay-out policy in UK listed SMEs

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 459-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed H. Elmagrhi ◽  
Collins G. Ntim ◽  
Richard M. Crossley ◽  
John K. Malagila ◽  
Samuel Fosu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Corporate Board ◽  
Board Size ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Board Gender Diversity ◽  
Alternative Investment

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which corporate board characteristics influence the level of dividend pay-out ratio using a sample of UK small- and medium-sized enterprises from 2010 to 2013 listed on the Alternative Investment Market. Design/methodology/approach The data are analysed by employing multivariate regression techniques, including estimating fixed effects, lagged effects and two-stage least squares regressions. Findings The results show that board size, the frequency of board meetings, board gender diversity and audit committee size have a significant relationship with the level of dividend pay-out. Audit committee size and board size have a positive association with the level of dividend pay-out, whilst the frequency of board meetings and board gender diversity have a significant negative relationship with the level of dividend pay-out. By contrast, the findings suggest that board independence and CEO role duality do not have any significant effect on the level of dividend pay-out. Originality/value This is one of the first attempts at examining the relationship between corporate governance and dividend policy in the UK’s Alternative Investment Market, with the analysis distinctively informed by agency theoretical insights drawn from the outcome and substitution hypotheses.

scholarly journals Corporate Governance and the Earnings Quality of Nigerian Firms

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 161
Author(s):  
Festus Oladipupo Olaoye ◽  
Ademola Adeniran Adewumi
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Earnings Quality ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Board Independence ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Board Size ◽  
Board Gender Diversity ◽  
The Impact

The focus of the study is to examine the impact of corporate governance on earnings quality in listed firms in Nigeria. The specific objective is to investigate the effect of board size, board independence and board gender diversity on earnings quality. This study was carried out with secondary data retrieved from corporate annual reports of the sampled companies and the data was analysed using panel regression on a sample of 37 quoted manufacturing companies for the period 2011-2017. On the overall, the result reveals that Board size, board independence and board gender diversity used for measuring corporate governance show significant impact on earnings quality. In addition, corporate governance variables appear to be quite sensitive to the measure of earnings quality used. Based on the findings, the study recommends the need for comprehensive evaluation of corporate governance systems of companies. The study recommends the need for more level of board independence. The diversity issue though is gaining momentum in corporate governance literature can still be regarded as not as dominant as compared to others especially as it relates to protecting shareholder rights and framing dividend policy. The significance of the variable nevertheless suggests that companies should thrive to achieve an appropriate diversity mix.

Board gender diversity, corporate governance, and earnings management

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nurlan Orazalin
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Earnings Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Public Companies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Weak Evidence ◽  
Board Gender Diversity

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine whether board gender diversity and other board characteristics affect earnings management practices of top public companies in Kazakhstan. Design/methodology/approach The study analyzes data of top public companies for the period 2010-2016. Data on corporate governance were manually collected from annual reports and investment memorandums, and financial data were collected from audited financial statements. Findings The empirical results show that companies with greater board gender diversity are more effective in constraining earnings management. The findings also indicate that companies with larger boards adopt a more restrained approach to earnings management practices, thus supporting the theoretical framework of the study. However, the results provide weak evidence of the association between board independence and earnings quality. Originality/value This study is the first to investigate the relationship between gender diversity and earnings management in emerging markets such as Kazakhstan that offers managerial and policy implications.

scholarly journals The effect of corporate governance on financial performance of rural banks in Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 305-319
Author(s):  
Alhassan Musah ◽  
Mavis Yaa Adutwumwaa
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Financial Performance ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Board Independence ◽  
Governance Structures ◽  
Board Size ◽  
Ceo Duality ◽  
Board Gender Diversity

Purpose: The study examined the influence of various corporate governance structures such as board size, board independence, board gender diversity and CEO duality on the financial performance of rural banks in Ghana. Research methodology: The study collected secondary data from the annual report of 30 rural banks for a 10-year period spanning 2010 to 2019. The data was coded into excel and exported into STATA where descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and regression analysis were adopted to answer the research questions. Results: The result shows that there was a positive but statistically insignificant association between CEO duality and ROA and ROE. The study further reveals a positive association between board size and ROA and ROE even though that of ROA was statistically insignificant. Also, board independence was found to be a significant determinant of rural bank financial performance In addition to the above, the study reported a negative association between gender diversity on the boards of the rural bank and ROA and ROE and both associations were statistically significant. Limitations: As a result of the lack of publicly available data on rural banks in Ghana, the study relied on only 30 out of the over 100 rural banks currently operating across the country. Contribution: The result of the study will help the Bank of Ghana and the ARB Apex Bank in their formulation of an appropriate corporate governance framework for rural banks in Ghana and enlighten managers of rural banks on corporate governance structures that enhance their financial performance in Ghana. Keywords: Corporate governance, Rural banks, Return on Assets, Return on Equity, Ghana

scholarly journals Tax Aggressiveness, Corporate Governance and Audit Fees: A Study of Listed Firms in Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 278
Author(s):  
E. A. Onatuyeh ◽  
I. Ukolobi
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Audit Fees ◽  
Board Independence ◽  
Tax Rate ◽  
Tax Aggressiveness ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Board Gender Diversity

The concept of audit fee has received immense empirical investigation in literature. However, these vast studies have not sufficiently explored the relation of the concept with tax aggressiveness and corporate governance. This study therefore sought to provide empirical evidence as to whether tax aggressive and corporate governance mechanisms are significantly associated with audit fees among listed firms in Nigeria. Leaning on the agency and stakeholder theories, the study examined the measures of tax aggressiveness of effective tax rate and cash tax rate as well as corporate governance mechanisms of board gender diversity, audit committee diligence, and board independence; and how these variables explain changes in external audit fees. A sample of one hundred and seven (107) firms from the entire firms quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange as at December, 2018 was utilised. Data were sourced solely from annual financial statements of the studied firms over a ten-year period (2009 to 2018). The panel regression technique, with preference for the random effect model based on the outcome of the Hausman test, was employed to estimate the balanced panel data. The results of the study showed that cash tax rate, audit committee diligence and board independence all exert positive and significant effect on audit fees. Surprisingly, the study revealed a positive but statistically insignificant link between board gender diversity and audit fees. This result may not be unconnected with the low presence of female directors on the board of the firms investigated. In light of the findings, we therefore recommend that more female gender should be allowed to sit on the boards of listed firms in Nigeria in line with the Norwegian model of 40% female gender representation and the Federal Government 35% Affirmative Action. We also recommend that board independence should be encouraged more so as to enhance their oversight functions, and promote quality financial reporting and audit amongst listed firms in Nigeria.

Independent board, gender diversity and bank performance in Nigeria: a system-GMM approach

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chinwe Okoyeuzu ◽  
Augustine Ujunwa ◽  
Angela Ifeanyi Ujunwa ◽  
Emmanuel Onyebuchi Onah
Keyword(s):  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Bank Performance ◽  
Board Independence ◽  
Annual Data ◽  
Corporate Boards ◽  
Female Representation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Board Gender Diversity ◽  
Negative Predictor

Purpose This study aims to examine the effects of board independence and gender diversity on bank performance in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach The two-step system-generalized method moment was used to estimate the effect of board independence and gender diversity on bank performance in Nigeria using annual data of 15 deposit money banks from 2006 to 2018. Findings The results revealed that gender diversity is a significant positive predictor of bank performance, whereas board independence is a negative predictor of bank performance in Nigeria. Practical implications Despite the significant positive relationship between gender diversity and bank performance, this paper does not recommend mandatory quota-based initiates of female representation on corporate boards because of the increasing number of female representations on corporate boards of banks in Nigeria. Originality/value The study contributes to corporate governance literature from developing country perspective and policy, particularly, on the relevance or otherwise of market-based measures in assessing bank performance in developing counties. This paper finds that market-based variables are not good measures of firm performance in economies with underdeveloped markets.

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