Corporate governance: association the spots between institutional enhancement, organisational modification and earnings quality

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the link between earnings quality, Audit Committees and the Board of companies located in Jordan through the lens of enhancing corporate governance. Design/methodology/approach The real earnings management (REM) and accruals earnings management models were notably used within the panel data robust regression analysis approach; these were used against certain Audit Committee characteristics (i.e. meeting frequency, amount of Board and Committee participants [both internal and external], size) and Board of Directors. Findings The former characteristics were found to have a positive relationship with REM, while the latter yielded mixed results: while there was no significant identifiable relationship between Board outsiders and REM, there was a positive relationship identified between Board meetings, Board insiders and Board size and REM. In regard to this study’s limitations, the qualitative data gathered for the Board of Directors through the lens of corporate governance enhancement should have been documented with more detail; furthermore, the study was limited to the study of just one nation. Research limitations/implications The data is limited to only a single country. More explanation for Board of Directors need qualitative understandings into corporate governance improvement. The control variables are essentially partial in a developing market context. Practical implications The different corporate governance code and guidelines improvements have varied influence on earnings quality. As predictable, boards of directors most effect on earnings quality. Improvements have included most modification to audit committees but through them slight measured effect on earnings quality. Social implications Jordan’s corporate governance improvements expected organised corporate governance practices generally in place amongst its boards, and though invoking considerable modification to audit committees, eventually included slight modification to earnings quality. However, both improved earnings quality. Originality/value This particular research appears to be the first to consider both Audit Committee and Board of Directors characteristics in one model; indeed, in this vein, this research is also the first to explore the corporate governance enhancements that initially stemmed from there being zero code or guideline regarding its use, despite it becoming required recently. Hence, the authors can say this study has high originality.

The impact of securities regulation in the European Union on M&A: Does it compensate to go beyond borders?

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of the transposition of the EU directive that regulates M&As on cross-border deals. Acquirers of targets located in the European Union (EU) must comply not only with takeover rules set individually by member states but also with European Council Directives. The most significant of these Directives in the context of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) is the Takeover Bids Directive (TBD). The intent of the Directive is to ensure equal treatment for all companies launching takeover bids or that are subject to a change in control, providing minimum harmonization rules in view of creating a transparent environment for cross-border takeovers. Design/methodology/approach This study uses the event-study and difference-in-differences approaches. Findings Using a sample of 2,129 M&As conducted between 2000 and 2015, this paper finds positive acquisition synergy for acquirers targeting firms from countries with stronger investor protection rules compared to the average of the EU, but no evidence regarding cross-border deals. The results support the prediction that regulation makes countries diverge more depending on their ex ante level of investor protection. Originality/value This study examines the impact of the enactment of the TBD on announcement returns of M&As in the EU.

Exploring the role of corruption and money laundering (ML) on bank’s loan portfolio quality: a cross-country investigation

Purpose Corruption and money laundering (ML) are severe concerns for both developing and developed countries. According to international organizations, such as Transparency International, the Basel Institute on Governance and the International Country Risk Guide, corruption and ML exist in every country. This research aims to investigate the impact of corruption and ML on the loan portfolio quality of banks. Design/methodology/approach From 2013 to 2019, this study used the panel data of 132 countries, including 87 highly corrupt and 45 least corrupt countries: the fixed effect and random effect econometric regression techniques for data analysis. Additionally, this study used the generalized methods of moment technique to check the result’s robustness. Findings This study shows that corruption and ML have diverse relationships with non-performing loans in highly corrupt and low corrupt countries. It is potentially because of the differences in the regulatory structure of a highly corrupt and least corrupt environment. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first attempt that provides a unique perspective on corruption, ML and its effect on the loan’s portfolio quality of banks. Furthermore, this study suggests that governments in highly corrupt environments develop robust anti-corruption and anti-ML regulations.

Banking industry stability and investment dynamics

Purpose This paper aims to evaluate how strands of differing investments influence stability in the banking industry using data from 37 countries in Sub-Sahara Africa from 2000 to 2018. Design/methodology/approach Empirical analyses in the study were carried out using a two-step system Generalized Method of Moments estimation methodology. Findings Empirical results suggest that generally, growth in investments by governments, foreign investments and private domestic investments have a significant positive impact in stabilizing the banking industry. The empirical estimates further suggest that macroeconomic conditions such as macroeconomic uncertainty adversely affects the liquid reserve position of banks even during periods of appreciable growth in investments. Originality/value The authors present a different approach to the banking industry discourse. Instead of surmise the relationship with the direction of impact often emanating from the banking industry to other variables of interest or conditions, this study rather examines how investment dynamics among economies influence the stability of the banking industry overtime. In contrast to related studies, this study examines how strands of investment variables influence the stability of the banking industry. Specifically, this study is modeled to examine the extent to which variability in investment growth (using different investment variables) affect stability in the banking industry.

Money laundering and financial stability: does adverse publicity matter?

Purpose Already suffering reputational damage from the global financial crisis, banks face a further loss of trust due to their poor money laundering (ML) compliance practices. As confidence-driven institutions, the loss of reputation stemming from inadequate compliance with regulations and policies labels banks as facilitators of crime and destroys public trust both in the bank itself, peer banks and the wider banking system. Considering the links between financial stability and adverse publicity about banks, this paper aims to critically examine the implications of ML-specific bank information on financial stability. Design/methodology/approach This paper adopts a content analysis and a theoretical discussion by critically evaluating the role of bank compliance information on stability with references to recent case studies. Findings This paper establishes that availability of information regarding a bank involved in or facilitating ML might pose a threat to financial stability if bank counterparties cut their ties with the bank in question and when bank stakeholders show a strong and sudden negative reaction to adverse publicity. Though recent ML scandals have not caused immediate instability, general loss of confidence associated with reputational risk have had a destabilising effect on affected banks’ capital and liquidity. Originality/value There has been surprisingly little discussion to date on the impact of publicly available bank information on financial stability and public confidence within the ML compliance framework. This paper approaches the issue of publicly available banking compliance information solely through the prism of public confidence and reputational risk and its impact on macro-stability by examining recent ML scandals.

Red flag behaviors in financial services frauds: a mixed-methods study

Purpose This study aims to enlist the red flag behaviors exhibited in financial services frauds. Design/methodology/approach A pluralistic mixed methodology was adopted in this study. Data collected via semi-structured interviews were coded, quantified and subjected to descriptive analysis to identify the most frequently exhibited red flag behaviors in financial services frauds. The relative risk of exhibition of the identified red flag behaviors was assessed by intuitively comparing the red flag behaviors identified in financial services frauds (experimental group, n = 24) with the red flag behaviors identified in a heterogeneous control sample of non-financial services frauds (control group, n = 28). Findings This study identifies six red flag behaviors likely to be more frequently exhibited in financial services frauds than in non-financial services frauds. Practical implications Results of this study can be used to develop a typical behavioral profile of a financial services fraud perpetrator. Active communication of this profile in fraud awareness training can help make fraud conspicuous in the financial services industry. Originality/value This study is unique because human behavior as a possible fraud indicator is an under-researched area. Further, this study examines first level of evidence and attempts an ex-post analysis of actual red flag behaviors exhibited in acknowledged fraud cases in which the perpetrator/perpetrators has/have been clearly identified.

Bank capital, liquidity and risk in Ghana

Purpose Capital, risk and liquidity are the vitality of the banking industry, which can improve the efficiency of banking and promote the efficiency of resource allocation. The purpose of this study is to examine how Basel III new liquidity ratios affect bank capital and risk adjustments and how banks respond to the new liquidity rules. Design/methodology/approach The authors adopted the system generalized method of moments (GMM) to examine how Basel III new liquidity ratios affect bank capital and risk adjustments and how banks respond to the new liquidity rules. Based on the call reports data from banks, GMM was used to test the hypotheses that new liquidity ratios affect bank capital and risk adjustments, as well as how banks respond to the regulation. Findings The results indicate banks targeted capital, risk and liquidity and simultaneously coordinate short-term adjustments in capital and risk. New liquidity measures enable banks to coordinate risk and liquidity decisions. Short-term adjustments in new liquidity rules inversely impact bank capital. Short-term adjustments in new liquidity rules inversely impact bank capital and capital adjustments adversely affect changes in the liquidity coverage ratio (LCR). Research limitations/implications The primary results revealed that Ghanaian banks simultaneously coordinate and target capital, risk exposure and liquidity level. Also, capital adjustments positively influence risk adjustments and vice versa while bidirectional negative coordination exists between bank capital and risk on one hand and liquidity on the other hand. Short-term adjustments in new liquidity rule inversely impact bank capital and capital adjustments adversely affect changes in the LCR. The findings partially confirm the theoretical predictions of Repullo (2005) regarding the negative links between capital, risk and liquidity but the authors have higher capital induces higher risk. Practical implications Banks should balance off their targeted risk and liquidity in order not to sacrifice capital accumulation for liquidity. Originality/value This research offers new contributions in the research of bank management of capital and liquidity toward banks during a financial crisis from a theoretical perspective and trust management from an applicative perspective.

Basel III liquidity regulatory framework and bank liquidity creation in MENA countries

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the potential impact of the Basel III liquidity requirements, namely, the net stable funding ratio (NSFR) and the liquidity coverage ratio (LCR), on bank liquidity creation. Design/methodology/approach The authors developed a dynamic panel model using the Quasi-Maximum Likelihood estimation on an unbalanced panel dataset of 129 commercial banks operating in 10 Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries from 2009 to 2017. Findings The results show that the NSFR significantly negatively affects liquidity creation. Similarly, the LCR exerts a substantial negative impact on the liquidity creation of the sampled MENA banks. These findings suggest that complying with both liquidity requirements tends to curtail liquidity creation. Moreover, further regression analysis of large and small bank sub-samples uncovered results similar to the overall MENA sample. Research limitations/implications The findings raise interesting policy implications and suggest a trade-off between the benefits of the financial resiliency induced by implementing liquidity requirements and the creation of liquidity essential for promoting economic growth in the region. Originality/value Most empirical research focuses on the relationship between bank capital and liquidity creation. To the knowledge, this paper is the first to provide empirical evidence on the effect of both the NSFR and LCR regulatory liquidity standards on bank liquidity creation in the MENA region.

Compliance level with IFRS disclosure requirements across 12 African countries: do enforcement mechanisms matter?

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of enforcement, and more particularly government quality and the stock market development, on compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) disclosure requirements in 12 African countries. Design/methodology/approach The authors use a self-constructed compliance index from content analysis and apply panel regressions for a sample of 606 firm-year observations during the period 2012 to 2014. Findings This analysis illustrates a high level of disparity of information provided by companies, possibly due to the complexity of the selected standards and the depth of information required. The findings reveal that government quality and stock market development have a positive and significant effect on compliance with IFRS disclosure requirements in Africa. This implies that enforcement plays a key role in improving the compliance level across African countries. Practical implications These findings should be of interest to government policymakers, professional bodies, regulators and standard setters who are concerned with compliance and financial reporting transparency at a country level. It should be a signal to call for more effort to strengthen the enforcement of accounting standards and capital market supervision by putting in place some disciplinary actions for non-compliance with IFRS. The authors also believe that the results may help African policymakers and regulators enhance the level of compliance with IFRS disclosure requirements by enforcing accounting standards. Originality/value This research contributes to the compliance literature by investigating the effect of enforcement on compliance with IFRS disclosure requirements in the African countries, an understudied context where enforcement is a challenge.

Shareholder risk-taking incentives in the presence of contingent capital

Purpose This paper aims to present a model of shareholders’ willingness to exert effort to reduce the likelihood of bank distress and the implications of the presence of contingent convertible (CoCo) bonds in the liabilities structure of a bank. Design/methodology/approach This study presents a basic model about the moral hazard surrounding shareholders willingness to exert effort that increases the likelihood of a bank’s success. This study uses a one-shot game and so do not capture the effects of repeated interactions. Findings Consistent with the existing literature, this study shows that the direction of the wealth transfer at the conversion of CoCo bonds determines their impact on shareholder risk-taking incentives. This study also finds that “anytime” CoCos (CoCo bonds trigger-able anytime at the discretion of managers) have a minor advantage over regular CoCo bonds, and that quality of capital requirements can reduce the risk-taking incentives of shareholders. Practical implications This study argues that shareholders can also use manager-specific CoCo bonds to reduce the riskiness of the bank activities. The issuance of such bonds can increase the resilience of individual banks and the whole banking system. Regulators can use restrictions on conversion rates and/or requirements on the quality of capital to address the impact of CoCo bonds issuance on risk-taking incentives. Originality/value To model the risk-taking incentives, authors generally modify the asset processes to introduce components that reflect asymmetric information between CoCo holders and shareholders and/or managers. This paper follows a simpler method similar to that of Holmström and Tirole (1998).