Sources of accountability inside the boardroom

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Goodman ◽  
Hayley Pearson ◽  
Morris Mthombeni
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Listed Companies ◽  
Board Members ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Executive Board ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Johannesburg Stock Exchange ◽  
Governance Effectiveness ◽  
Felt Accountability

Purpose Despite indications of scholarly interest, there are still gaps in the research of the concept of felt accountability, especially the felt accountability of board members. This paper aims to clarify the sources of accountability experienced by board members. Especially those in a non-executive capacity. How these sources can be accessed to enhance felt accountability and thereby governance effectiveness is explored. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative, exploratory research methods were used. In total, 15 semi-structured, in-depth interviews were completed with non-executive board members of Johannesburg Stock Exchange listed companies in South Africa. Thematic content analysis was used to analyse data. Findings The findings clarified the formal and informal sources of accountability experienced by non-executive board members. This included relational and structural mechanisms that can be used within corporate governance to enhance both types of accountability. Accessing the identified sources of accountability through appropriate mechanisms could increase the levels of felt accountability experienced by the individual non-executive board member, thereby strengthening accountability inside the boardroom and improving overall board effectiveness. The study also revealed a layer of implicit and explicit accountability. Research limitations/implications The study was conducted solely in South Africa, with non-executive board members of Johannesburg Stock Exchange listed companies. Originality/value There is limited research that clarifies the sources of accountability experienced by non-executive board members. This study aims to address this gap in the literature by providing techniques on how to enable the clarified sources of accountability to improve governance effectiveness.

Post-recession share repurchase behaviour by JSE-listed companies: transparent or not?

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 465-486
Author(s):  
Gretha Steenkamp ◽  
Nicolene Wesson
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Real Time ◽  
South African ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Listed Companies ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Share Repurchases ◽  
Share Repurchase ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Johannesburg Stock Exchange

PurposeShare repurchases are increasingly employed in South Africa. Disclosure on share repurchases in annual reports is poor, and a high percentage of share repurchases are not announced in real time on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). A comprehensive database of share repurchases by JSE-listed companies has been created up to 2009, but post-recession repurchase behaviour is not known. This study aims to examine South African share repurchase behaviour (activity, repurchase entity, repurchase type and transparency) in the post-recession period and compare this to the 2000–2009 period.Design/methodology/approachComprehensive share repurchase data for all JSE-listed companies (excluding those in the basic materials and financial industries) were obtained by scrutinising annual reports and JSE announcements.FindingsThe repurchasing of shares reached a peak during the financial recession of 2008/2009, with share repurchases stabilising at a lower level post-recession. Repurchases executed by subsidiaries have decreased post-recession, probably owing to the introduction of dividends tax. However, 45% of the share repurchase value was not announced via the JSE (compared to 22% in 2000–2009).Practical implicationsReal-time JSE announcements of all share repurchases are required to improve transparency.Originality/valueOwing to low announcement rates, a lack of transparency relating to share repurchases was observed in South Africa post-recession. Enhanced corporate governance requirements could improve transparency.

Investigating the low-risk anomaly in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yudhvir Seetharam
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Kalman Filter ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Momentum Effect ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Share Prices ◽  
Johannesburg Stock Exchange ◽  
High Volatility ◽  
Finance Theory

PurposeRecent studies have shown that low-volatility shares outperform high-volatility shares. Given the conventional finance theory that risk drives return, this study aims to investigate and attempt to explain the presence of the low-risk anomaly (LRA) in South Africa.Design/methodology/approachUsing share prices from 1990 to 2016, various buy-and-hold strategies are constructed to determine the return to an investor attempting to capitalise on such an anomaly. These strategies involve combinations relating to a price filter, the calculation of risk and volatility, value-weighting or equal-weighting of portfolios and the window period to construct said portfolios.FindingsIt was found that the LRA exists on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE_=) when using univariate sorts, without controlling for the size or value effect. When using multivariate portfolio sorts (size and volatility or value and volatility), it was found that the LRA does not exist on the JSE under the majority of risk proxies, but particularly prevalent when downside risk is used. This loosely points towards a potential “inverse momentum” effect where low-return portfolios outperform their counterparts.Originality/valueIn general, it is established that the risk–return relationship is non-linear and deterministic under traditional proxies, but improves to being somewhat, but not completely, linear under a Kalman filter. The Kalman filter, which can be considered a proxy for learning, does not remove the anomaly in its entirety, indicating that behavioural approaches are needed to explain such phenomena.

scholarly journals An exploratory study of the effect of country-by-country reporting ambiguities on Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed companies

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cara Thiart ◽  
George F. Nel
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Multinational Enterprises ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Listed Companies ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Reporting Standards ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Johannesburg Stock Exchange ◽  
Group Structures

Background: South Africa issued regulations implementing country-by-country (CbC) reporting standards for multinational enterprises (MNEs) on 23 December 2016. Country-by-country reporting will be applicable to all MNEs with a group revenue in excess of R10 billion. Aim: The aim of the study was twofold: to identify ambiguities that might influence the filing obligation and subsequent scope of CbC reporting in South Africa and to quantitatively measure the potential impact of any identified ambiguities. Setting: This study used data from Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed companies. Methods: The study commences with a review of the relevant regulations and other applicable literature and continues with a quantitative analysis exploring alternative interpretations deduced from this review. Results: The review identified conflicting interpretations of how companies can be categorised as an MNE Group or not, as well as in measuring the revenue threshold. An analysis of the group structures and annual reports of a selected sample of 78 companies showed that the scope of CbC reporting will depend on the definitions applied to an MNE Group and revenue. Conclusion: Further guidance is needed to determine whether non-controlling entities must be considered as Constituent Entities, as well as how to measure revenue (i.e. whether only the International Financial Reporting Standards [IFRS] 15 revenue line item should be used or whether other income should also be included).

A comparative study on strategy disclosure between emerging markets and developed markets

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-22
Author(s):  
Morungwa Lumka Phala ◽  
Yaeesh Yasseen ◽  
Nirupa Padia ◽  
Waheeda Mohamed
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Listed Companies ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
New York Stock Exchange ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Johannesburg Stock Exchange ◽  
York Stock Exchange ◽  
Market Sample

Purpose This study aims to compare the extent of voluntary strategy disclosure in the annual/integrated reports of listed companies in an emerging market with the extent of strategy disclosure in the annual/integrated reports of listed companies in a developed market. Design/methodology/approach A developed market sample that was made up of the top 50 companies on the New York Stock Exchange and the Australian Stock Exchange was compared to an emerging market sample that was made up of the top 50 companies on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and the Bombay Stock Exchange. The comparison was conducted by scoring the amount of strategy disclosure reported in the annual/integrated reports of the companies for the years 2011, 2012 and 2013. Findings The emerging market companies had average to good strategy disclosures in their annual reports, whereas the annual reports of companies in the developed market showed low strategy disclosure. Originality/value This study expanded upon the limited research available on strategy disclosure by comparing the extent of strategy disclosures in two developmental markets (the developed and emerging market).

scholarly journals Board composition, board size and financial performance of Johannesburg stock exchange companies

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 497-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Munyradadzi Raymond Muchemwa ◽  
Nirupa Padia ◽  
Chris William Callaghan
Keyword(s):  
Resource Dependence ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Resource Dependence Theory ◽  
Board Members ◽  
Board Composition ◽  
Executive Board ◽  
Empirical Relationships ◽  
Johannesburg Stock Exchange ◽  
Dependence Theory ◽  
Using Data

On the basis of agency theory and resource dependence theory, as well as other corporate governance literature, it is predicted that board composition measured as the ratio of non-executive to executive board members and the number of directors on a firm’s board can be positively related to firm performance. This study seeks to test the predictions of this body of theory and to investigate the form of the empirical relationships among these effects. In so doing, this study tests theory that relates these variables in the context of a developing country, using data from South Africa’s Johannesburg Stock Exchange, over a seven-year period, 2006–2012.

Mandatory integrated reporting disclosure and corporate misreporting

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 363-382
Author(s):  
Thinh Gia Hoang ◽  
Trang Kieu Vu ◽  
Ha Tuyet Nguyen ◽  
Hiep Ngoc Luu
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Integrated Reporting ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Regulatory Authorities ◽  
Johannesburg Stock Exchange ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Mandatory Adoption

PurposeThis paper aims to enrich our understanding of whether mandatory IR adoption lures firm into misreporting or forces them to reduce it.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical analysis is carried out based on the sample containing all publicly listed firms in South Africa. Many different rigorous econometric techniques are adopted to thoroughly evaluate whether corporate misreporting practices increase or decrease following the mandatory adoption of IR.FindingsThe empirical results reveal that mandatory IR disclosure results in a decline in the misreporting practices of firms. The authors further find that as firms increasingly comply with the IR guidelines, especially with the “Content Elements” and “Guiding Principles,” their misreporting levels decrease.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has implications for a wide range of stakeholders, especially for regulatory authorities, international policymakers and regulators, as well as users of integrated reports of listed firms on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).Practical implicationsRegulatory authorities should be aware of misreporting determinants to set adequate and fitting corporate reporting standards that restrict the opportunistic behaviour of managers and amend IR guidelines to make them more comprehensible for integrated report preparers, therefore improves the implementation of IR.Social implicationsThis study sheds light on the current state and consequences of IR adoption in South Africa before and after the mandatory IR disclosure requirement, thus, international policymakers and regulators can refer to the critical aspects in our findings when considering whether to support IR mandatory adoption in their markets.Originality/valueThis paper sheds light on the emerging debate over the usefulness of IR and the necessity of mandatorily adopting this new reporting framework. In addition, by showing that the mandatory adoption of IR significantly reduces corporate misreporting practices, we also contribute to the literature on corporate misreporting behaviour.

The effect of intangible assets on sustainable growth and firm value – Evidence on intellectual capital investment in companies listed on Bucharest Stock Exchange

Kybernetes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Catalin Ionita ◽  
Elena Dinu
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Firm Value ◽  
Intangible Assets ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Listed Companies ◽  
Sustainable Growth ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainable Growth Rate ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe present study investigates the connection between company investments in intellectual capital (IC) and how they translate into financial value. The aim is to test the impact of intangible assets on the firm value and its sustainable growth.Design/methodology/approachThe research employs computation models to determine the sustainable growth rate (SGR) and the firm value (FV), and by using the ordinary least squares (OLS) model through a linear regression assesses the relationship between the dependent variables and expenditures on intangibles like R&D, IT programs and patents. A sample of 42 companies has been selected out of the 78 listed at Bucharest Stock Exchange (BSE), based on the appropriateness of the information disclosed in the financial reports for the period 2016–2019.FindingsThe results show that intangibles classified as innovative competences (R&D and Patents) do not have a positive impact on SGR and FV in listed companies from Romania. Moreover, R&D has a negative and significant effect on FV, while IT Programs have a positive and significant impact on FV, but not on the SGR. Variables categorised as economic competencies (Brands, Shares held in associates and jointly controlled entities) and firm structure-specific variables (Leverage, Firm Performance) seem to have a significant effect on SGR and FV. Shares held in associates and jointly controlled entities is the variable that can have the biggest impact when it comes to FV for companies listed at BSE.Research limitations/implicationsDue to non-disclosure of specific information by some companies, or lack of investments in intangibles the sample had to be reduced and does not cover all listed companies.Practical implicationsCompanies listed on the Regulated Market from the Bucharest Stock Exchange should maintain their scale of liabilities at a reasonable level when financing intangible assets in order to ensure corporate long-term and sustainable development. Also, these companies should maintain awareness about the importance of intangible assets and invest more in specific sub-components, in order to sustain competitive advantage. Recognizing the roles of intangibles, managers need to develop strategies to invest in profitable intangibles by reasonably allocating their limited resources, in order to achieve sustainable growth and increase company success.Originality/valueStudies concerning the relation between investments in intangibles and sustainable growth rate and firm value of listed Romanian companies are very scarce. This paper reveals new research, never before undertaken, concerning expenditures on intangibles by Romanian companies and the valuation of such investments on Bucharest Stock Exchange.

Relationship between corporate governance and audit switching: Iranian evidence

2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (5) ◽  
pp. 673-686
Author(s):  
Mahdi Salehi ◽  
Ali Asgar Alinya
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Listed Companies ◽  
Panel Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Effective Factors ◽  
Dependent Variables ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the relationship between corporate governance and auditors switching of listed companies on the Tehran Stock Exchange. Design/methodology/approach To achieve the objectives of this study, 12 hypotheses developed which and tests the relationship between corporate governance and selecting and switching auditors in Iran during 2008-20014 by selecting 116 listed companies on the Tehran Stock Exchange. To test the hypotheses, the cross-sectional time-series nature of research variables data, panel analysis is used. Also, to investigate the relationship between independent and dependent variables in each year, the logistic regression is used. Findings The results of the study indicate that there is a weak relationship between corporate governance auditors switching. Therefore, it could be concluded that there are some other effective factors on which selecting and switching auditors in studied companies are more dependent. Originality/value The current study is almost the first study which has been conducted in Iran, so the results of the study may be beneficial to the Iranian conditions as well as other developing countries.

The relationship between audit components and audit expectation gap in listed companies on the Tehran stock exchange

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 199-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahdi Salehi ◽  
Fariba Jahanbin ◽  
Mohammad Sadegh Adibian
Keyword(s):  
Regression Model ◽  
Multiple Regression ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Audit Fees ◽  
Listed Companies ◽  
Multiple Regression Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Expectation Gap ◽  
Audit Firms ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The expectation gap between auditors and users has recently been the topic of many controversies. This paper aims to evaluate the relationship between auditor’s characteristics and audit expectation gap among information users in listed companies on the Tehran stock exchange market. In other words, the study attempts to find whether there is a significant relationship between audit components and the audit expectation gap or not. Design/methodology/approach The multiple regression model is used to test the hypotheses. Research hypotheses are tested using a sample of 78 listed companies on the Tehran stock exchange during 2012-2016, by using integrated data technique of the multiple regression model. Findings The findings show that standard audit fees are not significantly associated with the audit expectation gap. Furthermore, audit fees are negatively associated with the audit expectation gap, which provides that allocated audit price in financial statements gives useful information for external and internal individuals. Predictably, it is recommended that audit opinion significantly determines the level of the audit expectation gap. The authors also find that the independence of the director boards and audit committee members fulfill the expectation gap of individual users. Moreover, finding the negative impact of audit firms ranking on the expectation gap, supports the idea of higher ranked audit firms provide high quality services, and consequently, more reliable information. Finally, the results show that the audit record is positively associated with the audit expectation gap. Originality/value As all recent studies on the expectation gap were qualitative, the present study is the first paper, which measures the expectation gap quantitatively through the statistical method.

scholarly journals Value creation measures: an industry-based study

2018 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 426-444
Author(s):  
John Henry Hall
Keyword(s):  
Stock Returns ◽  
Value Creation ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Shareholder Value ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Value Drivers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Johannesburg Stock Exchange ◽  
Return On Capital ◽  
Market Value Added

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the shareholder value creation measure best suited to express shareholder value creation for a particular industry. Design/methodology/approach The analysis was performed on 192 companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, classified into nine different samples or industries. Five shareholder value creation measures were examined, namely market value added (MVA), a market-adjusted stock return, the market-to-book ratio, Tobin’s Q ratio, and the return on capital employed divided by the cost of equity. Findings An analysis of the nine categories of firms led to the identification of different measures that are suited to express value creation. Stock returns did not provide an appropriate value measure. Instead, depending on the specific industry, Tobin’s Q ratio, MVA, and the market-to-book ratio should be used to measure and express value creation. Practical implications For management, the value drivers identified for each industry present a clear indication of industry-specific variables upon which they can focus in operating activities to most efficiently increase shareholder value. Originality/value Unlike previous studies that use only one or two different shareholder value creation measures as dependent variables, this study uses five different value creation measures. Another contribution of this study is the compilation of a unique set of value drivers that explain shareholder value creation separately for each of the nine different categories of firms.

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