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Board composition and capital structure: evidence from Kenya

Author

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  • Daniel Kipkirong Tarus
  • Ezekiel Ayabei

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of board composition on capital structure of a firm. Design/methodology/approach - The paper uses data from firms listed in Nairobi Securities Exchange covering the period 2004-2012. Fixed effect regression model was estimated to test the effect of board composition on capital structure and how chief executive officer (CEO) tenure moderates the relationship. Findings - The paper finds that board composition has important implications on capital structure decisions. Specifically, director independence is positively related to leverage, whereas CEO duality and tenure have negative and significant effect on leverage. In addition, the interaction effect of CEO tenure indicates that when CEOs have long tenure, the power of independent directors to influence capital structure decisions diminishes. Further, the study found that under long CEO tenure, long-tenure boards use less leverage in their capital structure. As expected, dual CEO with long tenure uses less leverage. Originality/value - The study uses data from an emerging market, contrary to previous studies using data from developed markets, to test the relationship between board composition and leverage. Second, the paper tests the moderating effect of CEO tenure on board composition – leverage relationship based on the idea that entrenched CEO may influence the decision-making ability of directors, particularly capital structure decisions.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Kipkirong Tarus & Ezekiel Ayabei, 2016. "Board composition and capital structure: evidence from Kenya," Management Research Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 39(9), pages 1056-1079, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:mrrpps:v:39:y:2016:i:9:p:1056-1079
    DOI: 10.1108/MRR-01-2015-0019
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Nizar Dwaikat & Mohamed Imen Gallali & Mohammed Saadeh, 2021. "The Impact of Family Ownership on the Capital Structure of Palestinian Firms," International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), vol. 0(3), pages 32-52.
    2. Nkwantabisa Agyeiwaa Owusu & Falistus Raphael Hadjor & Nelly Joel Tchuiendem, 2021. "The influencing power of apply and explain on capital structure," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 24(1), pages 348-361, October.
    3. Ayman Hassan Bazhair & Mohammed Naif Alshareef, 2022. "Dynamic relationship between ownership structure and financial performance: a Saudi experience," Cogent Business & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(1), pages 2098636-209, December.
    4. Chu Wang & Char-Lee Lok & Lian Kee Phua, 2023. "Ownership Structure and Capital Structure: Moderating Effect of Product Market Maturity," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, December.
    5. Wan Shah Shahdila-Shahar & Noryati Ahmad & Mohamad Nizam Jaafar, 2020. "Impacts of CEO’s Overconfidence in Financing Decisions on Shariah-Compliant Firms Listed on the Bursa Malaysia تأثيرات ثقة المدير التنفيذي في قرارات التمويل على الشركات المتوافقة مع الشريعة الإسلامية ," Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Islamic Economics, King Abdulaziz University, Islamic Economics Institute., vol. 33(1), pages 117-131, January.

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