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Board Structure and Intragroup Propping: Evidence from Family Business Groups in Hong Kong

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  • Yan-Leung Cheung
  • In-Mu Haw
  • Weiqiang Tan
  • Wenming Wang

Abstract

type="main"> Using earnings announcement events made by group member firms in Hong Kong, this study examines the governance role of boards of directors in curbing propping activities within family business groups. We find that earnings released by group member firms affect the stock prices of their nonannouncing group peers in a manner consistent with intragroup propping. More importantly, this effect is less pronounced when the announcing firms have a larger board or a board with a higher proportion of independent directors, but more pronounced when they have an executive director from their controlling families acting as board chairperson. Furthermore, the monitoring effect of boards of directors is strengthened for firms subject to new regulations increasing board power. Our results suggest that board oversight can mitigate propping activities.

Suggested Citation

  • Yan-Leung Cheung & In-Mu Haw & Weiqiang Tan & Wenming Wang, 2014. "Board Structure and Intragroup Propping: Evidence from Family Business Groups in Hong Kong," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 43(3), pages 569-601, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:finmgt:v:43:y:2014:i:3:p:569-601
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    2. Jiang, Fuxiu & Shi, Wei & Zheng, Xiaojia, 2020. "Board chairs and R&D investment: Evidence from Chinese family-controlled firms," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 109-118.
    3. Yogesh Maheshwari & Pankaj Gupta, 2019. "Propping in Business Groups: Prediction Efficacy of Earnings Announcements," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 20(4), pages 981-995, August.
    4. Wei Wei & Ryan W. Tang & Jing Yu Yang, 2018. "Independent directors in Asian firms: An integrative review and future directions," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 35(3), pages 671-696, September.
    5. Viswanathan Nagarajan & Pitabas Mohanty & Apalak Khatua, 2023. "Financing effects of corporate diversification: A review," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(7), pages 2555-2585, October.

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