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CEO tenure and cost of debt

Author

Listed:
  • Andrews Owusu

    (Coventry University)

  • Frank Kwabi

    (De Montfort University)

  • Ernest Ezeani

    (Manchester Metropolitan University)

  • Ruth Owusu-Mensah

    (Coventry University)

Abstract

In this study, we investigate the relationship between CEO tenure and cost of debt. Using a sample of the FTSE All-Share Index firms listed on the London Stock Exchange for the period 2009 to 2018 and the ordinary least squares regression (OLS) estimation method, we find that cost of debt is higher for firms with CEOs in their early tenure in office than those in their later tenure in office. Further analysis shows that board independence attributes including (1) the proportion of independent directors on the board, (2) full (100%) independent audit committee members, and (3) a lead independent director representation on the board interact with CEO early tenure in office to reduce cost of debt due to the board’s effective monitoring ability when the CEO is new and risk-seeking. Our study extends CEO tenure and corporate outcomes in general and in particular CEO risk-taking incentives and cost of debt literature, and has important implications for firms seeking to raise finance from the debt market when their CEO is new as well as identifying the control mechanisms that they need to put in place to lower the cost of debt.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrews Owusu & Frank Kwabi & Ernest Ezeani & Ruth Owusu-Mensah, 2022. "CEO tenure and cost of debt," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 59(2), pages 507-544, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:rqfnac:v:59:y:2022:i:2:d:10.1007_s11156-022-01050-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s11156-022-01050-2
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    2. Meftah Gerged, Ali & Kuzey, Cemil & Uyar, Ali & Karaman, Abdullah S., 2023. "Does investment stimulate or inhibit CSR transparency? The moderating role of CSR committee, board monitoring and CEO duality," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
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    4. Owusu, Andrews & Kwabi, Frank & Owusu-Mensah, Ruth & Elamer, Ahmed A, 2023. "Lead independent director, managerial risk-taking, and cost of debt: Evidence from UK," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    5. Owusu, Andrews & Zalata, Alaa Mansour, 2023. "Credit rating agency response to appointment of female audit partners: Evidence from the UK," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    6. Ting Liu & Shaoqing Kang & Lihong Wang, 2024. "The externality of politically connected directors’ resignations on peers’ cost of debt," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 62(3), pages 1191-1221, April.
    7. Frank Kwabi & Andrews Owusu & Ernest Ezeani & Agyenim Boateng, 2024. "The impact of political uncertainty on the cost of capital," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 62(4), pages 1397-1429, May.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    CEO tenure; Cost of debt; Board independence;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F3 - International Economics - - International Finance
    • G1 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets
    • K4 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior

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