Voluntary hedging disclosure and corporate governance

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-29
Author(s):  
Seth A. Hoelscher
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Selection Bias ◽  
Voluntary Disclosure ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Self Selection ◽  
Step Model ◽  
Position Data ◽  
Public Disclosures ◽  
Oil And Gas Firms

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the implications of governance quality on a firm’s information environment in the context of voluntary changes in hedging disclosures made by oil and gas companies. Design/methodology/approach The research utilizes a Factiva-guided search to hand-collect public disclosures related to changes in hedging policies along with the hand collection of financial derivatives positions and operational hedging contracts data using 10-K filings. The paper addresses self-selection bias, which typically plagues voluntary disclosure studies, by implementing a Heckman (1979) two-step model to estimate the decision process, make changes in their hedge program and, conditional on making changes to their hedging activities, provide disclosure. Findings Oil and gas firms with relatively poor governance are more likely to voluntarily disclose hedging changes and do so more frequently (substitution hypothesis). There is evidence that poorly governed firms in the presence of large shareholders (i.e. high institutional ownership) are more likely to provide transparency of hedging policy changes. Originality/value This is the first study to combine hand-collected changes in hedging voluntary disclosures and hand-collected derivative position data to investigate the interaction of corporate governance and voluntary disclosure. The sample allows for analysis between three sub-samples: companies that do not make changes in hedging and do not hedge, firms that make changes in their hedging policies but do not disclose the changes during a given year and companies that change their hedging activities and provide voluntary disclosure. This unique setting helps to alleviate concerns of self-selection bias associated with voluntary disclosure.

Women on the board of directors and corporate tax aggressiveness in Australia

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 313-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant Richardson ◽  
Grantley Taylor ◽  
Roman Lanis
Keyword(s):  
Board Of Directors ◽  
Selection Bias ◽  
Tax Avoidance ◽  
Multivariate Regression Analysis ◽  
Corporate Tax ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tax Aggressiveness ◽  
Self Selection ◽  
The Board Of Directors ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the impact of women on the board of directors on corporate tax avoidance in Australia. Design/methodology/approach The authors use multivariate regression analysis to test the association between the presence of female directors on the board and tax aggressiveness. They also test for self-selection bias in the regression model by using the two-stage Heckman procedure. Findings This paper finds that relative to there being one female board member, high (i.e. greater than one member) female presence on the board of directors reduces the likelihood of tax aggressiveness. The results are robust after controlling for self-selection bias and using several alternative measures of tax aggressiveness. Research limitations/implications This study extends the extant literature on corporate governance and tax aggressiveness. This study is subject to several caveats. First, the sample is restricted to publicly listed Australian firms. Second, this study only examines the issue of women on the board of directors and tax aggressiveness in the context of Australia. Practical implications This research is timely, as there has been increased pressure by government bodies in Australia and globally to develop policies to increase female representation on the board of directors. Originality/value This study is the first to provide empirical evidence concerning the association between the presence of women on the board of directors and tax aggressiveness.

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.

Determinants of corporate social and environmental voluntary disclosure in Saudi listed firms

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Helmi A. Boshnak
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Firm Size ◽  
Ownership Structure ◽  
Voluntary Disclosure ◽  
Firm Characteristics ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Ifrs Implementation

Purpose This paper aims to examine firm characteristics and ownership structure determinants of corporate social and environmental voluntary disclosure (CSEVD) practices in Saudi Arabia to address the paucity of research in this field for Saudi listed firms. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses manual content and regression analyses for online annual report data for Saudi non-financial listed firms over the period 2016–2018 using CSEVD items drawing on global reporting initiative-G4 guidelines. Findings Models show that Saudi firm CSEVD has increased over time compared to previous studies to an average of 68% disclosure due to new corporate governance regulations and IFRS implementation. The models show that firm size, leverage, manufacturing industry type and government ownership are positive determinants of CSEVD, while family ownership is the negative driver of CSEVD. However, firm profitability, audit firm size, firm age and institutional ownership have no impact on the level of CSEVD. Originality/value Using legitimacy and stakeholder theories, the paper determines the influence of firm characteristics and ownership structure on CSEVD, identifying implications for firm stakeholders and providing some evidence on the impact of corporate governance regulation and IFRS implementation on such disclosure. The paper provides additional evidence on progress towards Saudi’s Vision 2030.

Female directors on corporate boards and their impact on corporate social responsibility (CSR): evidence from China

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Waqas Bin Khidmat ◽  
Muhammad Danish Habib ◽  
Sadia Awan ◽  
Kashif Raza
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
State Ownership ◽  
Corporate Boards ◽  
Female Representation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Self Selection ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose This study aims to examine the determinants of the female representations on Chinese listed firm’s boards. This study also investigates the effect of gender diversity on corporate social responsibility activities. Design/methodology/approach The Tobit regression model is used because the data is censored and using ordinary least square regression can give spurious results. For robust check, the authors also used Heckman’s (1979) two-stage self-selection model to remove the sample self-selection bias. Findings The authors find that the female representations on the corporate board are positively associated with firm age, firm performance, corporate governance, family ownership, institutional ownership and managerial ownership while negatively related to firm size and state ownership. This study also incorporates predictors of the critical mass of women on the Chinese listed firm’s board. The study also tests the female-led hypothesis and concludes that the female representation increases in firms with female chief executive officer (CEO) or female chairpersons. The Chinese listed firms with gender-diverse board are socially responsible. Research limitations/implications The importance of diversity in corporate boards has been demonstrated in light of the agency theory and the resource dependence framework. The results contribute to the previous literature by documenting the determinants of female representations on board, robust by alternative measures of gender diversity, firm size, corporate governance and estimation techniques. Practical implications The economic significance of gender diversity stirred the firms to increase female representation. The policymakers can understand the reasons for female underrepresentation in Chinese boards and can reform the regulation to enhance governance quality, non-state ownership and risk aversion among the listed firms. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence on the key predictor of the world’s largest emerging economy, specifically the study focuses on the firm specific determinants, different governance attributes, ownership structure and firm risk measures. This study also seeks to answer if the presence of a female in the Chairperson or CEO position encourages the firms to hire more female directors or not?

Voluntary disclosures practices of family firms in Australia

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 273-294
Author(s):  
Judy Louie ◽  
Kamran Ahmed ◽  
Xu-Dong Ji
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Voluntary Disclosure ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Family Firms ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Strategic Decisions ◽  
Voluntary Disclosures ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practice Recommendations ◽  
Good Corporate Governance

Purpose This paper aims to examine the voluntary disclosure practices of family and non-family listed firms and whether family firms have improved their disclosure practices following the introduction of the Principles of Good Corporate Governance and Best Practice Recommendations in 2003 in Australia. Design/methodology/approach Voluntary disclosures are measured by constructing an index specifically for this study. Such indexes consist of corporate governance disclosure, strategic disclosure and future disclosures. They are then regressed on firm-specific variables while controlling for family and non-family firms. A total of 60 family firms and 60 non-family firms in Australia are randomly chosen from 2001 to 2006 for examining their disclosure practices. Findings The research findings show that family firms disclose information voluntarily to signal to the market regarding their growth potentials and abide by government regulations to improve their reputation. Despite the fact that compliance with the Principles of Good Corporate Governance and Best Practice Recommendations was not compulsory, this paper finds that the recommendation encouraged family and non-family firms to disclose more corporate governance information. Practical implications The findings from this research will help investors and regulators make more strategic decisions on investments and regulations respectively in family firms. Originality/value There has been limited empirical evidence on the disclosure practices and their determinants of family firms in Australia. The study will thus significantly contribute to the current knowledge in this regard.

Lower oil prices raise risk of US oil firms defaulting

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Cash Flows ◽  
Transport Sector ◽  
Carbon Intensity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Us ◽  
Distressed Firms ◽  
Exploration And Production ◽  
Oil And Gas Firms

Subject US energy bond market. Significance The US benchmark, the West Texas Intermediate crude oil price, has slumped to 20-30 dollars per barrel in the second half of this month as the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak have reduced demand and the breakdown of OPEC+ talks earlier this month increased supply. The price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia will exert great pressure on the oil and gas industry, which was already facing slower growth because businesses and the transport sector are reducing the carbon intensity of their activity. Impacts If US exploration and production firms cut investment, already distressed firms in ancillary areas such as oilfield services will suffer. Unemployment in the US shale industry could increase sharply. US oil and gas firms will try to protect their cash flows by, for example, selling assets, cutting dividends and raising fresh capital.

Does government ownership affect corporate governance and corporate disclosure?

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (8/9) ◽  
pp. 871-890 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaseen Al-Janadi ◽  
Rashidah Abdul Rahman ◽  
Abdulsamad Alazzani
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Voluntary Disclosure ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Government Ownership ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quality Disclosure ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Negative Role

Purpose This paper aims to examine the moderating effect of government ownership (GO) on the association between corporate governance (CG) and voluntary disclosure (VD). Design/methodology/approach This study used multivariate analysis to examine the moderating variable. Findings GO has a moderating negative effect on the association between CG factors [e.g. board size, non-executive directors (NEDs)] and VD, which indicates that GO plays a negative role in the effectiveness of CG. The study also found that audit quality is not affected by the influence of GO, indicating that companies without GO are better than companies with GO in terms of applying the best practices of CG to provide sufficient and high-quality disclosure. Originality/value This study has important implications for governments to be more effective in implementing the best practices of CG. Additionally, the findings could have implications for authority regulators, policy makers and shareholders to require effective implications for CG to reduce the effects of GO the implementation of best CG practices and the disclosure of quality information.

scholarly journals Corporate governance mechanisms, sensitive factors and earnings management in Nigerian oil and gas industry

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 39-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nuraddeen Usman Miko ◽  
Hasnah Kamardin
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Earnings Management ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Chief Executive ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Governance Mechanisms ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
Corporate Governance Mechanisms ◽  
Oil And Gas Firms

Oil and gas industry is considered as the sector that contributes a big share to the Nigeria economy. This study investigated the effects of corporate governance mechanisms, sensitive factors on earnings management of quoted oil and gas firms in Nigeria using the sample of nine (9) listed oil and gas firms for the period of ten years (2004-2013). Discretionary current accruals was used as the proxy for earnings management. Corporate governance mechanisms (boards size, chief executive officer (CEO) duality, directors’ ownership, audit committee size, audit committee independence), sensitive factors (corporate tax, corporate profit, corporate social responsibility) served as independent variables. The study concludes that corporate governance mechanisms curves earnings management while sensitive factors increase earnings management. The study recommends that corporate governance regulations should be strengthened to reflect present challenges.

The impact of corporate governance on social and environmental engagement: what effect on firm performance in the food industry?

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Gangi ◽  
Eugenio D'Angelo ◽  
Lucia Michela Daniele ◽  
Nicola Varrone
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Food Industry ◽  
Innovation Management ◽  
Sample Selection ◽  
Cost Of Debt ◽  
Environmental Responsibility ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Step Model ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis paper aims to provide new evidence on firm-specific determinants and effects of corporate social and environmental responsibility (CSER) in the food industry.Design/methodology/approachThe current study is designed to empirically answer dual related research questions. First, we investigate the extent to which effective corporate governance (CG) mechanisms foster CSER. Second, we analyse the impact of CSER engagement on corporate financial performance (CFP). Consistent with the research design, to avoid sample selection bias, the authors employed Heckman two-step model (1979) to a worldwide sample of 324 food firms between 2011 and 2017.FindingsThe findings of the study reveal that effective board characteristics foster CSER engagement. Furthermore, CSER engagement is a positive predictor of improved profitability and also reduces the cost of debt (COD).Originality/valueThis article has elements of originality regarding the research questions, the context and the method. First, the authors demonstrate that CSER is a “missing link” between CG and CFP in the food industry. The authors’ contribution complements the debate on CSER and CFP through the stakeholder theory, the resource-based view and the innovation management perspective. They disentangle the effect of CG from the impact of social and environmental responsibility after correcting for endogeneity bias. The implications of the study contribute to a win-win scenario for companies investing in CG that result in higher CSER engagement, better profits and lower cost of capital.

Voluntary corporate governance disclosure and bank performance: evidence from an emerging market

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haitham Nobanee ◽  
Nejla Ould Daoud Ellili
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Voluntary Disclosure ◽  
Dynamic Panel Data ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Bank Performance ◽  
Islamic Banks ◽  
Dynamic Panel ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Governance Disclosure ◽  
Conventional And Islamic Banks

Purpose This study aims to explore the extent of voluntary corporate governance disclosure in the annual reports of banks in the UAE, operating in an emerging economy in the Gulf Cooperation Council region. It also examines the effect of this non-financial disclosure on bank performance by differentiating conventional and Islamic banks. Design/methodology/approach This study applies content analysis to explore the extent of voluntary corporate governance disclosure using data collected from the annual reports of all the banks traded on the UAE financial markets from 2003 through 2020. It further examines the potential effect of voluntary disclosure on bank performance using dynamic panel data regressions. Findings The results indicate a low level of voluntary corporate governance disclosure in the annual reports for most disclosure indices. However, conventional and Islamic banks do not differ significantly. Additionally, the results of the robust dynamic panel data from the two-step generalized method of moments system estimation confirm that voluntary corporate governance disclosure does not affect bank performance significantly. Practical implications The findings of this study would benefit the central bank and lawmakers in the UAE in developing a framework for appropriate voluntary disclosure and enhancing the corporate governance framework to improve the quality of annual reports. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature on the extent of corporate governance disclosure, as well as its association with bank performance in an emerging economy by differentiating between conventional and Islamic banks.

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