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The efficacy of principle‐based corporate governance practices and firm financial performance

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  • Krishna Reddy
  • Stuart Locke
  • Frank Scrimgeour

Abstract

Purpose - This paper seeks to address the effect that principle‐based corporate governance practices have on the financial performance of large publicly‐listed companies. In 2004, the New Zealand Securities Commission (NZSC) promulgated nine high level principles and guidelines for all business entities with an aim of improving corporate governance practices and boosting investor confidence in the New Zealand capital market. This event provides a point for empirically testing companies' responses. Design/methodology/approach - Panel data for the NZX top 50 companies over the period 1999‐2007 are analysed using ordinary least squares (OLS) and two stage least squares (2SLS) regression techniques to evaluate whether: those firms that were continuously compliant with the NZSC requirements perform better; and the firm performance post‐NZSC recommendations is better than pre‐NZSC recommendations. Tobin'sQ, market‐to‐book (MB) and return on assets (ROA) metrics are used as dependent variables.. Findings - The findings indicate that large listed companies have universally adopted the Securities Commission recommendations, establishing subcommittees for audit and remuneration, and having a majority of non‐executive/independent directors on the board which, on average, have seven members. There is support for the view that the NZSC recommendations have had positive influence on firm performance measured by Tobin'sQ, MB and ROA. The results show that the presence of a remuneration committee has had a positive influence on firm performance. Research limitations/implications - This study provides empirical support for the corporate governance recommendations made by the NZSC in 2004, giving support to the principle‐based corporate governance practices to be adopted in New Zealand. The sequential testing of each NZSC recommendation provides a comprehensive picture of performance outcomes which has not been achieved in prior research. The interdependency issues are of interest and the correlation between recommendations provides useful insights. Originality/value - This study offers insights for policy makers interested in adopting principle‐based corporate governance practices within their country. Within New Zealand, public policy developments and stock exchange listing requirements/regulatory issues with associated compliance burdens are better informed as a consequence of the research.

Suggested Citation

  • Krishna Reddy & Stuart Locke & Frank Scrimgeour, 2010. "The efficacy of principle‐based corporate governance practices and firm financial performance," International Journal of Managerial Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 6(3), pages 190-219, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:ijmfpp:v:6:y:2010:i:3:p:190-219
    DOI: 10.1108/17439131011056224
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    Cited by:

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    3. Ji, Xu (Jane) & Boyle, Glenn, 2011. "New Zealand Corporate Boards in Transition: Composition, Activity and Incentives Between 1995 and 2010," Working Paper Series 19213, Victoria University of Wellington, The New Zealand Institute for the Study of Competition and Regulation.
    4. Mercedes Rodríguez-Fernández & Eva M. Sánchez-Teba & Alberto A. López-Toro & Susana Borrego-Domínguez, 2019. "Influence of ESGC Indicators on Financial Performance of Listed Travel and Leisure Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-20, October.
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    6. Nguyen, Tuan & Locke, Stuart & Reddy, Krishna, 2014. "A dynamic estimation of governance structures and financial performance for Singaporean companies," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 1-11.
    7. Sheeba Kapil & Rakesh K Mishra, 2019. "Corporate Governance structure and firm performance in Indian context: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach," Working Papers 1937, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade.
    8. Nguyen Van Tuan & Nguyen Anh Tuan, 2016. "Corporate Governance Structures And Performance Of Firms In Asian Markets: A Comparative Analysis Between Singapore And Vietnam," Organizations and Markets in Emerging Economies, Faculty of Economics, Vilnius University, vol. 7(2).
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    11. Liew, Chee Yoong & Devi, S.Susela, 2020. "Family Firms, Banks and Firm Value: Evidence from Malaysia," MPRA Paper 99704, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Yasser, Qaiser Rafique & Mamun, Abdullah Al, 2014. "Implications of Ownership Identity and Insider's Supermacy on the Economic Performance of the Liste Companies," MPRA Paper 61426, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    13. Shakri, Irfan Haider & Yong, Jaime & Xiang, Erwei, 2022. "Does compliance with corporate governance increase profitability? Evidence from an emerging economy: Pakistan," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
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    15. Majid Khan & James C. Lockhart & Ralph J. Bathurst, 2018. "Institutional impacts on corporate social responsibility: a comparative analysis of New Zealand and Pakistan," International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 1-13, December.
    16. Jia, Jing & Bradbury, Michael E., 2020. "Complying with best practice risk management committee guidance and performance," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 16(3).
    17. Tariq, Yasir Bin & Abbas, Zaheer, 2013. "Compliance and multidimensional firm performance: Evaluating the efficacy of rule-based code of corporate governance," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 565-575.
    18. Glenn Boyle & Xu (Jane) Ji, 2011. "New Zealand Corporate Boards in Transition: Composition, Activity and Incentives Between 1995 and 2010," Working Papers in Economics 11/36, University of Canterbury, Department of Economics and Finance.
    19. Fitriya Fauzi & Abdul Basyith & Dani Foo, 2017. "Committee on board: Does it matter? A study of Indonesian Sharia-listed firms," Cogent Economics & Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 5(1), pages 1316547-131, January.
    20. Bravo-Urquiza, Francisco & Moreno-Ureba, Elena, 2021. "Does compliance with corporate governance codes help to mitigate financial distress?," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    21. David Hay & Jenny Stewart & Nives Botica Redmayne, 2017. "The Role of Auditing in Corporate Governance in Australia and New Zealand: A Research Synthesis," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 27(4), pages 457-479, December.
    22. Simona Cosma & Giovanni Mastroleo & Paola Schwizer, 2018. "Assessing corporate governance quality: substance over form," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 22(2), pages 457-493, June.
    23. Rodríguez Fernández, Mercedes, 2015. "Company financial performance: Does board size matter? Case of the EUROSTOXX50 index," Cuadernos de Gestión, Universidad del País Vasco - Instituto de Economía Aplicada a la Empresa (IEAE).
    24. Rashid Zaman & Muhammad Bilal Farooq & Fahad Khalid & Zeeshan Mahmood, 2021. "Examining the extent of and determinants for sustainability assurance quality: The role of audit committees," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(7), pages 2887-2906, November.

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