Audit committee characteristics and the moderating effect of Malaysian code of corporate governance on IPO liquidity

Purpose This study aims to investigate the link between audit committee characteristics and the liquidity of initial public offerings (IPOs) in Malaysia, which is an emerging economy in Southeast Asia. Another purpose of this study is to examine the moderating effect of the revised Malaysian code of corporate governance (MCCG) on the link between audit committee characteristics and IPO liquidity. Design/methodology/approach The final sample consists of 304 Malaysian IPOs listed in 2002–2017. This study uses ordinary least squares regression method to analyse the data. To confirm this study’s findings, a hierarchical or four-stage regression analysis is used to compare the t-values of the main and moderate regression models. Findings The findings show that audit committee characteristics (size and director independence) have a positive and significant relationship with IPO liquidity. Also, the revised MCCG positively moderates the relationship between audit committee characteristics and IPO liquidity. Research limitations/implications This study’s findings indicate that companies with higher audit committee independence have a more effective monitoring mechanism that mitigates information asymmetry, thus reducing adverse selection issues during share trading. Practical implications Policymakers could use the results of this study in developing policies for IPO liquidity improvements. Additionally, the findings are useful for traders and investors in their investment decision-making. For companies, the findings highlight the crucial role of the audit committee as part of the control system that monitors corporate governance. Originality/value To the authors’ knowledge, this work is a pioneering study in the context of a developing country, specifically Malaysia that investigates the impact of audit committee characteristics on IPO liquidity. Previously, the link between corporate governance and IPO liquidity had not been investigated in Malaysia. This study also contributes to the IPO literature by providing empirical evidence regarding the moderating effect of the revised MCCG on the relationship between audit committee characteristics and IPO liquidity.

Integrated reporting disclosure in Malaysia: regulations and practice

Purpose Integrated reporting (IR) is a new trend in corporate reporting that has spread rapidly in recent years for disclosing financial and non-financial information. This study aims to assess the status of the current regulations and the trends in IR disclosure practice in an emerging market, Malaysia, by providing a comparative analysis of the IR disclosure level (IRDL) and IR disclosure quality (IRDQ). Design/methodology/approach The current study has developed a comprehensive IR disclosure index based on the international integrated reporting framework (IIRF), which comprises 100 items divided into four categories (background, assurance and reliability, content and form). The data were collected from annual reports of companies listed on the Bursa Malaysia over the three years 2017 to 2019, based on 267 observations. Content analysis technique was used to evaluate and measure IRDL and IRDQ. Descriptive analysis was performed to provide the background statistics of the variables examined. Findings IR regulations are at an early stage, and IR adoption is still voluntary in the Malaysian market. Only 267 Malaysian company-year observations during the years 2017–2019 have adopted IR techniques. However, descriptive analysis results showed that Malaysian companies have moved towards the preparation of IR consistent with the IIRF. The findings indicate a significant increase in both IRDL and IRDQ over this period, after the recent recommendation by the Malaysian code of corporate governance (2017) on adopting IR. Further, the results show statistically significant differences in the mean of IRDL and IRDQ between large and small companies. Practical implications These results are important for regulators and policymakers in articulating new IR legislation in an emerging market and for corporate entities and investors in shaping their understanding of IR disclosure practice in the Malaysian institutional context. Originality/value To the best of the researchers’ knowledge, the study is among the first to address the IR regulation status and practice in Malaysian companies. It also established a comprehensive index for measuring IRDL and IRDQ based on the IIRF. The results add to the meagre descriptive literature on IR practice by providing comprehensive insights into IR practice from the perspective of an emerging country.

CONSTRUCTION OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR) DISCLOSURE INDEX AND ITS PRACTICES BY LISTED COMPANIES IN OMAN

The importance of Corporate Social Responsibility has been acknowledged greatly as an objective of business sustainability. Whereas the measurement of CSR is always a source of argument among researchers. There are different approaches identified and used by researchers to measure CSR. The main objective of this study is to measure CSR disclosure by constructing an index based on content analysis. The study used the data of non-financial listed companies' annual reports to construct an index for the period 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. Thus, 291 firm-year observations are used in this study to construct and measure the CSR disclosure index. 40 elements are used to measure CSR disclosure based on five sub-themes. The result of the study reveals that as CSR disclosure requirement is mandatory in Oman according to the new corporate governance system, thus the listed companies are trying to cope and developing CSR charters. The evidence indicates that some companies have high CSR disclosure while few companies are still struggling with developing CSR charter and disclosing their activities. However, CSR disclosure improves significantly from 2016 to 2019, which shows a strict implementation of the code of corporate governance.

Corporate governance and financial performance of state-owned enterprises in Kenya

Purpose This paper aims to report the results of an investigation into the effect of aggregate and individual corporate governance factors on the financial performance of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in Kenya. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses balanced panel data regression analysis on a sample of 45 SOEs in Kenya for a four-year period (2015–2018). Findings The panel data analysis results show that board meetings, board skill and gender diversity individual provisions of corporate governance are significantly and positively associated with capital budget realization ratio (CBRR). Moreover, the study finds that aggregate corporate governance disclosure index, board sub-committees, board size and independent non-executive directors are positive but insignificantly related to CBRR. Research limitations/implications The current study is based on secondary data, other methods of knowledge inquiry such as interviews and questionnaires may provide additional insights on the effectiveness of corporate governance on financial performance. Practical implications Overall, the results imply that corporate governance influences the performance of SOEs in Kenya. The results suggest that Mwongozo Code of Corporate Governance provisions should be changed to increase the number of women representations on board and the number of directors with doctoral qualifications because of their positive impact on the financial performance of SOEs in Kenya. Also, policymakers with remit over SOEs should re-evaluate why other corporate governance appear not to have an impact with a view of making the necessary changes. Originality/value The paper contributes to the dearth of literature on the efficacy of corporate governance on the financial performance of SOEs in developing countries.

Management’s Fiduciary Responsibility Towards IT Governance In The Context Of The King III Code Of Corporate Governance In South Africa

The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which South African listed companies trading on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE) are complying with IT governance imperatives in the context of the King III Code of Corporate Governance. Management information systems and usage of computers are now embedded in business processes to the extent that most firms will be dysfunctional should these tools become unavailable. The underlying theoretical setting for this study is anchored on the agency theory and the Porter’s competitive five forces model. Since there were inadequate constructs on the subject, a combination of research methods were used: desk-top review, exploratory study, and content analysis, by reviewing the annual financial statements of fifty JSE-listed companies (the main board) in South Africa. The general outcome of the study was that JSE-listed companies in South Africa were compliant with IT governance practices as prescribed in the King III Code of Corporate Governance. Most JSE-listed companies in South Africa utilized both generic and bespoke or owned-designed IT governance frameworks to meet IT governance requirements. The study also revealed that issues relating to IT governance were among priority issues for South African listed companies. The study concludes that JSE-listed companies in South Africa have indeed fulfilled their fiduciary responsibility towards IT governance.

Enhancing Financial Reporting Quality through Corporate Ethics Commitment

Objective - A rising number of cases involving ethical misconduct within firms have of late received considerable attention in Malaysia. Despite the country's declaring having a strong corporate governance policy, strengthened through the Code of Ethics for Company Directors and Malaysia Code of Corporate Governance, unethical practices, and lack of integrity within firms remain an issue. This paper aims to review the current implementation of corporate ethical conducts among corporate governance practitioners as well as factors that influence corporate ethics commitment in a firm. Methodology/Technique - This paper is developed from extensive readings of previous literature on corporate governance practices and their effect on the quality of financial reports. Findings - This paper discloses collective approaches of corporate ethics practiced in Malaysian firms and how the implementation has enhanced the firms' overall financial reporting quality. It demonstrates current issues and the importance of corporate ethics commitment to enhance financial reporting quality. Firms that emphasize ethical commitments, reduce the risk of financial statement fraud and firms will naturally gain trust from their stakeholders. Novelty - This paper stresses the importance of sound ethical conduct above other factors that influence the financial reporting quality of firms in Malaysia. This paper is the result of extensive research on corporate ethics commitment and financial reporting quality. Type of Paper - Review. Keywords: Corporate Ethics; Corporate Governance; Financial Reporting Quality JEL Classification: G34, M41.

Gender and Ethnic Diversity, and Economic Value Added: Evidence from Government-Linked Companies

Board diversity was further emphasized in the revised Malaysian Code of Corporate Governance (MCCG) 2017, as this can allow for more board effectiveness in constructive debates and better decisions. With this recommended deliverable, the code believes that companies should perform and will be more equipped to face the ever-changing business environment and challenges. This study examines the influence of boardroom diversity on corporate performance using Government-Linked Companies (GLCs) in Malaysia as units of analysis. The study used secondary data of publicly listed GLCs in Malaysia for seven years (2012 to 2018). We used gender and ethnicity to proxy for boardroom diversity while economic value added (EVA) represents the company’s performance. We also used panel data multiple regression to analyze the data. After controlling for firm size and firm age, the empirical results revealed that board ethnicity is negatively and significantly related to firms’ economic performance. Board gender, however, provides insignificant results. We also find the firm size to be significant and positively related to EVA. This preliminary result on board composition requires further research on how Malaysian GLCs can address the MCCG’s recommended governance compliance, particularly on the monitoring roles of the board on firm performance.

Tracking the development of audit committees in Singapore listed companies

Purpose This study aims to show how best practices and baseline surveys influence the development of the audit committees (ACs) in Singapore Listed Companies over the period from 2008 to 2019. Design/methodology/approach This is a descriptive study of the evolution of the composition and attributes of ACs through data collected from the annual reports of listed companies in Singapore for the period from 2008 to 2019. It analyzes the development of the ACs arising from the best practices in the market and disclosures on ACs over this period. Findings The results show positive developments in the composition and attributes of ACs as advocated by best practices in the market which are derived from the Singapore Code of Corporate Governance and various studies on the roles and functions of effective ACs. The study also shows that disclosing the extent of compliance of the ACs to best practices helps them to progress. It clearly shows that progressive ACs are influenced by both best practices in the market and disclosure requirements. Practical implications This study is important for regulation and policy promulgation on ACs to support a well-functioning capital market. This paper strongly encourages capital markets to embark on such baseline surveys to allow them to have a better understanding of the state of the ACs of their listed companies. Originality/value This is an original descriptive study that provides evidence on the development of ACs over time to converge toward market best practices on ACs. Disclosure of the state of compliance to best practices is a powerful force for progression.

Synergistic Integrated Business Model-Sustainability-Technology of Top Malaysian Oil and Gas PLCs: The Moderating Role of United Nations SDG 5

Purpose – This study investigates the impact of the three main determinants of strengthening the sustainability practices of the oil and gas public listed companies of Bursa Malaysia (PLCs) through the Business Model, Sustainability and Technology synergistically compared between pre and post Malaysian Code of Corporate Governance 2017 (MCCG 2017).Design/methodology/approach – The study has followed the purposive sampling method followed by descriptive statistics, regression analysis and content analysis derived from the Malaysian Code of Corporate Governance 2012 (MCCG 2012) and the MCCG 2017 together with previous studies of the analysis of the annual reports and integrated reports in order to explore the reporting of the business model, sustainability and technology as a synergy.