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Corporate board and board committee independence, firm performance, and family ownership concentration: An analysis based on Hong Kong firms

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  • Leung, Sidney
  • Richardson, Grant
  • Jaggi, Bikki

Abstract

This study examines whether the relationship between corporate board and board committee independence and firm performance is moderated by the concentration of family ownership. Based on a sample of Hong Kong firms, we find no significant association between the independence of corporate boards or board committees and firm performance in family firms, whereas board independence is positively associated with firm performance in non-family firms. Additionally, our findings show that the proportion of independent directors on the corporate boards of family firms is lower than that of non-family firms, but we find no significant difference in the representation of independent directors on the key committees of corporate boards between family and non-family firms. Overall, these results suggest that the “one size fits all” approach required by the regulatory authorities for appointing independent directors on corporate boards may not necessarily enhance firm performance, especially for family firms. Thus, the requirement to appoint independent directors to the corporate boards of family firms needs to be reconsidered.

Suggested Citation

  • Leung, Sidney & Richardson, Grant & Jaggi, Bikki, 2014. "Corporate board and board committee independence, firm performance, and family ownership concentration: An analysis based on Hong Kong firms," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 10(1), pages 16-31.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jocaae:v:10:y:2014:i:1:p:16-31
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jcae.2013.11.002
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    18. Srinidhi, Bin & Liao, Qunfeng, 2020. "Family firms and crash risk: Alignment and entrenchment effects," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 16(2).
    19. Mukesh Nepal & Rajat Deb, 2022. "Board Characteristics and Firm Performance: Indian Textiles Sector Panorama," Management and Labour Studies, XLRI Jamshedpur, School of Business Management & Human Resources, vol. 47(1), pages 74-96, February.
    20. Al-Hadi, Ahmed & Al-Yahyaee, Khamis Hamed & Hussain, Syed Mujahid & Taylor, Grantley, 2019. "Market risk disclosures and corporate governance structure: Evidence from GCC financial firms," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 136-150.
    21. Ines Kateb & Ines Belgacem, 2024. "Navigating governance and accounting reforms in Saudi Arabia's emerging market: impact of audit quality, board characteristics, and IFRS adoption on financial performance," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 21(2), pages 290-312, June.
    22. Mohd Anas & Ishfaq Gulzar & Mosab I. Tabash & Gayas Ahmad & Wasi Yazdani & Md. Firoz Alam, 2023. "Investigating the Nexus between Corporate Governance and Firm Performance in India: Evidence from COVID-19," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-18, June.
    23. 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.

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