Do foreign institutional investors improve board monitoring?

Exploiting the global financial crisis of 2007–08 as an exogenous shock that resulted in a significant decline in the ownership of foreign institutional investors (FIIs) in the Indian equity market, we find evidence of a causal link between FIIs’ ownership and different dimensions of board monitoring. Specifically, the empirical results suggest that higher FIIs ownership leads to lower board size, busyness, network size, CEO power, CEO pay, and improved board diligence. However, we also document a negative link between FIIs’ ownership and board independence, indicating that FIIs do not view independent directors as effective monitors. In terms of implications, our results suggest that improved board monitoring, induced by higher FIIs’ ownership, leads to higher firm valuation and innovation activities

Do foreign institutional investors improve board monitoring?

Exploiting the global financial crisis of 2007–08 as an exogenous shock that resulted in a significant decline in the ownership of foreign institutional investors (FIIs) in the Indian equity market, we find evidence of a causal link between FIIs' ownership and different dimensions of board monitoring. Specifically, the empirical results suggest that higher FIIs ownership leads to lower board size, busyness, network size, CEO power, CEO pay, and improved board diligence. However, we also document a negative link between FIIs' ownership and board independence, indicating that FIIs do not view independent directors as effective monitors. In terms of implications, our results suggest that improved board monitoring, induced by higher FIIs' ownership, leads to higher firm valuation and innovation activities

Does it matter to be a part of the Sustainability Index?

We study how companies' sustainability performance affects their future operational and financial performance. Using firms' inclusion in the FTSE4Good index series as an indicator of sustainability performance, a quasi-natural experiment shows that sustainability has a beneficial effect on firms' long-term financial performance. Our findings show a notable rise in the companies' profitability following their addition to the sustainability index. Additionally, companies that are part of the sustainability index are considered to have higher value compared to firms that are not part of a sustainability benchmark.<br/