Corporate governance and audit features: SMEs evidence

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of corporate governance factors on audit features, namely, audit fees and the selection of Big 4 audit firms within the UK SMEs context. Design/methodology/approach The author uses different regression models to investigate the impact of corporate governance characteristics on audit features, and employs cross-sectional time series models as well as two-stage least squares technique. In addition, the author has used logit analysis to examine the effect of corporate governance factors on the selection of Big 4 audit firms. Findings The author provides new evidence that governance mechanisms in SMEs affect different audit features. The results show that corporate governance mechanisms are important in determining audit fees. The author detects a positive impact of board independence, audit meeting and board size on audit fees. The author also reports evidence that governance factors determine the selection of Big 4 audit firms. In particular, the author reports that independent directors and audit diligence positively affect the decision to select Big 4 audit firms. Originality/value This paper investigates the under-researched relationship between audit features and corporate governance using UK SMEs. In so doing, the author aims to provide new insights into this relationship within the SMEs context

Product market competition and corporate governance disclosure: evidence from the UK

In this study we measure multiple dimensions of product market competition and examine their impacts on corporate governance disclosure, based on a sample of UK public firms over the period 2001 to 2009. We use factor analysis to explore the different dimensions of product market competition; and regression models to analyse the association between multiple dimensions of product market competition and corporate governance disclosure. We find that firms in less competitive industries have significantly more corporate governance disclosure. Furthermore, we detect a positive association between corporate governance disclosure and board independence, as well as audit committee independence. This suggests that firms with better corporate governance tend to disclose more information to external investors. Overall the findings support the view that managers use more corporate governance disclosure as a substitute for the external disciplinary force of product market competition

THE LEVERAGE EFFECT ON THE VALUE PREMIUM VOLATILITY: FROM AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

This paper investigates the leverage effect on the value premium volatility using GARCH and TARCH models utilizing a unique dataset, for twenty nine countries. The findings show that value premium returns are bigger in developed than in developing countries and vary from negative values in some countries to positive in other countries, suggesting that different markets may need different long-run investment strategies. Moreover, we show persistence of a finite unconditional variance that appears strong in developed countries but less significant in developing countries. Finally, leverage appears to have asymmetric effects on the value premium in eight countries including: USA, Canada, Denmark, Finland, New Zealand, Sweden, the UK and Poland

The effect of governance mechanisms on small and medium-sized entreprise cash holdings: evidence from the UK

This paper investigates the impact of governance mechanisms on small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) cash holdings from 2000 to 2009, employing static and dynamic panel data analyses. We find no evidence that firm governance index and insider ownership affect cash holdings. This might indicate that governance mechanisms in SMEs are relatively weak. We also report that chief executive officer compensation has a positive effect on cash holdings. Firm-specific factors such as firm size, leverage, and liquidity negatively affect cash holdings, whereas the research and development ratio and operating risk are positively associated with them. Finally, SMEs have target cash holdings and adjust to these

Corporate governance and CEO pay: Evidence from UK Travel and Leisure listed firms

This paper investigates from the UK context, the impact of board and CEO characteristics on CEO compensation in Travel and Leisure firms. Namely we employ, board size, board independence and board meetings to reflect board characteristics. We also include two CEO features, CEO tenure and CEO age into our models. Using panel data analysis, the findings in this paper indicate that board size, board independence and CEO age are important factors affecting CEO pay. In addition, we report a positive non-linear relationship between CEO tenure and firm performance. Hence, using Travel and Leisure listed firms; we provide new evidence of the relationship between corporate governance and CEO compensation

Calendar anomalies and dividend announcements effects on the stock markets returns

In this study, we extend the existing literature around dividend signaling theory and calendar anomalies by addressing the question of whether calendar anomalies, including Halloween, Turn-of-the-Month (TOM), January, Monday, and Friday effects, have any influence on the relationship between stock returns and dividend announcements. Previous studies have primarily focused on demonstrating the impact of calendar anomalies on overall stock market returns. Our main aim is to investigate whether the Cumulative Abnormal Returns (CARs) associated with dividend announcements made by firms listed in the FTSE 350 index exhibit deviations from the norm due to these calendar anomalies. Our findings reveal a notable asymmetry in the reactions to dividend increase and decrease announcements. Specifically, the timing of dividend increase announcements appears to have no significant effect on their associated CARs. However, dividend decrease announcements made during periods characterized by seasonality exhibit CARs that differ significantly from those observed during normal times. Importantly, these findings remain robust across various alternative economic model specifications, including interaction models, binary models, and GMM estimations. Consequently, our results suggest that calendar anomalies, such as Halloween, January, and Friday effects, play a key role in shaping the association between stock returns and dividend announcements

Impact of Board Composition on Pension De‐risking Strategies

Pension de-risking strategies have been widely adopted by firms with defined-benefit (DB) pension plans to reduce pension risk. This paper investigates the influence of board composition on pension de-risking strategies within the UK, focusing particularly on three strategies: changes to pension asset allocations, switches from DB to defined-contribution (DC) pension plans and pension buy-ins and buy-outs. Our findings suggest that firms with larger boards and more independent directors are less likely to invest their pension assets in equities. Survival analysis shows that firms with larger boards are slower to switch from DB to DC pension plans. This is consistent with stakeholder theory, in that firms with large boards or more independent directors are more likely to protect employees’ benefits when de-risking their DB pension plans. However, firms with more female directors are faster to switch fully from DB to DC pension plans and slower to engage in pension buy-in and buy-out transactions. This suggests that female directors encourage fully switching DB pension plans, while they are concerned with the significant costs of pension buy-in or buy-out. This research provides clear evidence that pension de-risking strategies are influenced by board composition. UK pension trustees play a key role in determining switches from DB to DC pension plans, mitigating the impact of independent directors

Exploring the connections: dividend announcements, stock market returns, and major sporting events

This study conducts a detailed investigation into the interplay between major sporting events, specifically the ICC Cricket World Cups and FIFA Football World Cups, and their potential impact on the relationship between dividend announcements and stock market returns. Beyond the customary exploration of investor sentiment and its connection to stock market returns, our research thoroughly examines the effects of these significant sports events on the stock market's reaction to dividend announcements. Drawing on extensive FTSE 350 index data spanning January 1990 to December 2021, we employ event study methodology as the primary analytical framework. To bolster the reliability of our findings, we apply the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimation method, addressing potential endogeneity concerns. Our results uncover a distinct pattern—the stock market exhibits a less favourable response to dividend increases announced following England's victories in major sporting events, such as the FIFA Football World Cup and ICC Cricket World Cup, compared to instances where they faced defeat. Additionally, we observe a more negative market response to dividend decreases announced following England's losses in these pivotal sporting events, as opposed to England emerging victorious in these key contests. This research contributes valuable insights into the intricate relationship between sports passion and market dynamics, offering implications for both scholarly discourse and investment strategy formulation

Revisiting Firm-Specific Determinants of Dividend Policy: Evidence from Turkey

This study investigates the effects of firm-specific factors on dividend policies of Turkish publicly listed firms in the post-2003 period. The paper focuses on this period, because Turkish authorities and regulators implemented various major economic and structural reforms for market integration and made significant changes in the regulatory framework of cash dividend policy rules starting with the fiscal year 2003. We analyse a panel dataset of 264 firms traded in the Istanbul Stock Exchange (ISE) over the period 2003-2012 and our results reveal that profitability, debt, growth, firm age and firm size are the most important firm-specific characteristics determining cash dividend payment decisions of ISE-listed firms. The findings, thus, suggest that more profitable, more mature and larger size firms are more likely to pay dividends (and distribute higher dividends), whereas firms with higher growth (investment opportunities) and more debt are less likely to pay dividends (and distribute lower dividends) in the Turkish market. Overall, we detect that the firm-specific determinants that affect corporate dividend policies of ISE firms do follow similar patterns of dividend policy factors in more developed economies after the implementation of major developments in the post-2003 period, and hence such reforms make Turkish firms to be comparable to their counterparts in developed markets in terms of dividend policy setting process

What drives firms' commitment to fighting corruption? Evidence from the UK

The recent leak of the FinCEN files has highlighted the widespread presence of corruption in developing and developed economies, including the UK. Accordingly, this study aims to investigate the factors that drive companies to implement measures for preventing corruption in developed countries using FTSE 350 nonfinancial firms. Specifically, the research examines the influence of corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitments, board structure, and shareholding structure on adopting strategies, policies, and procedures aimed at countering corruption. Drawing upon agency, stakeholder, and legitimacy theories, our empirical evidence supports that CSR commitments and board independence positively influence firms' engagement in anticorruption measures. Conversely, institutional and managerial shareholdings are found to have a negative association with firms' efforts to combat corruption. In addition, the study shows that the effect of board characteristics became more pronounced following the enactment of the UK Bribery Act 2010, indicating risk-averse behavior. Various models, including cross-sectional and two-stage least squares (2SLS), are employed to analyze the data. Our findings have significant implications for understanding the complex relationship between CSR, corporate governance, and the ethical infrastructure of organizations. Ultimately, our results provide valuable insights for policymakers, companies, and other stakeholders in developing effective strategies, policies, and procedures to combat corruption activities