Corporate Governance and Its Relationship with the Working Capital Management in Europe
This study aims to investigate the impact of corporate governance on working capital management, which has been relatively overlooked despite its significance on corporate performance. Using the Ordinary Least Square regression model, a model was developed to assess the relationship between dependent and independent variables. Secondary data from the annual reports of 42 non-financial firms listed on the Frankfort and Oslo stock exchanges from 2017 to 2021 were collected. The dependent variable, working capital management, is indicated by cash holding, while the independent variable, corporate governance, is measured through five proxies: board meeting, board remuneration, the board size, CEO remuneration, and CEO tenure. Leverage and firm size are involved as control variables. The findings revealed that board meetings, board remuneration, CEO remuneration, and CEO tenure exhibit a positive and significant relationship with working capital management. However, board size demonstrated a negative but insignificant relationship. Additionally, the study showed that leverage has a negative relationship, while firm size has a positive relationship with working capital management. In conclusion, the study suggests that future research should focus on the financial sector to conduct comparative analyses with other sectors.
Keywords : Corporate Governance; Working Capital Management; Non-Financial Firms
- Abdullah, H., & Tursoy, T. (2023). The Effect of corporate governance on financial performance: Evidence from a shareholder-oriented system. Iranian Journal of Management Studies, 16(1), 79–95. https://doi.org/10.22059/IJMS.2022.321510.674798
- Abebe Zelalem, B., Ali Abebe, A., & Wodajo Bezabih, S. (2022). Corporate governance and financial performance in the emerging economy: The case of Ethiopian insurance companies. Cogent Economics and Finance, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23322039.2022.2117117
- Achchuthan, S., & Kajananthan, R. (2013). Corporate governance practices and working capital management efficiency: Special reference to listed manufacturing companies in Sri Lanka. Information and Knowledge Management, 3(2), 216–226. https://www.iiste.org/Journals/index.php/IKM/article/view/4571
- Afza, T. & Adnan, S. (2007). Determinants of corporate cash holdings: A case study of Pakistan. Proceedings of Singapore Economic Review Conference Organized by Singapore Economics Review and the University of Manchester (Brooks World Poverty Institute), 164–165.
- Aizyadat, A. A. K. (2022). The impact of boards of directors’ characteristics on cash Holdings. International Journal of Finance and Banking Research, 8(2), 57. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijfbr.20220802.11
- Al-Rahahleh, A. S. (2016). Corporate governance quality and cash conversion cycle: Evidence from Jordan. International Business Research, 9(10), 140. https://doi.org/10.5539/ibr.v9n10p140
- Ali, B., & Shah, S. (2017). The impact of corporate governance on working capital management efficiency: A Quantitative study based on Pakistani manufacturing firms. City University Research Journal, 7(2), 272–284. https://cusitjournals.com/index.php/CURJ/issue/view/32
- Anderson, R. C., Mansi, S. A., & Reeb, D. M. (2004). Board characteristics, accounting report integrity, and the cost of debt. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 37(3), 315–342. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacceco.2004.01.004
- Coleman, M., Wu, M., & Baidoo, M. (2020). Corporate governance and working capital policy: An unobserved influence. Emerging Economy Studies, 6(1), 106–122. https://doi.org/10.1177/2394901520907710
- Dalci, I., & Ozyapici, H. (2018). Working capital management policy in health care: The effect of leverage. Health Policy, 122(11), 1266-1272. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2018.09.012
- Darouichi, A., Kunisch, S., Menz, M., & Cannella Jr, A. A. (2021). CEO tenure: An integrative review and pathways for future research. Corporate Governance: An International Review, 29(6), 661-683. https://doi.org/10.1111/corg.12396
- Dou, Y., Sahgal, S., & Zhang, E. J. (2015). Should independent directors have term limits? The role of experience in corporate governance. Financial Management, 44(3), 583–621. https://doi.org/10.1111/fima.12091
- Drobetz, W., & Grüninger, M. C. (2007). Corporate cash holdings: Evidence from Switzerland. Financial Markets and Portfolio Management, 21(3), 293–324. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11408-007-0052-8
- Eluyela, D. F., Akintimehin, O. O., Okere, W., Ozordi, E., Osuma, G. O., Ilogho, S. O., & Oladipo, O. A. (2018). Board meeting frequency and firm performance: examining the nexus in Nigerian deposit money banks. Heliyon, 4(10), e00850. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e00850
- Basheer, M. F. (2014). Impact of corporate governance on corporate cash holdings: An empirical study of firms in manufacturing industry of Pakistan. International Journal of Innovation and Applied Studies, 7(4), 1371–1383. http://www.ijias.issr-journals.org/
- Fernández-Temprano, M. A., & Tejerina-Gaite, F. (2020). Types of director, board diversity and firm performance. Corporate Governance (Bingley), 20(2), 324–342. https://doi.org/10.1108/CG-03-2019-0096
- Ferreira, M. A., & Vilela, A. S. (2004). Why do firms hold cash? Evidence from EMU countries. European Financial Management, 10(2), 295–319. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1354-7798.2004.00251.x
- Ganesan, V. (2007). An analysis of working capital management efficiency in telecommunication equipment industry. Rivier Academic Journal, 3(2), 1–10. http://www.rivier.edu/journal/ROAJ-Fall-2007/J119-Ganesan.pdf
- Gill, A., Biger, N., Mand, H. S., & Shah, C. (2012). Corporate governance and capital structure of small business service firms in India. International Journal of Economics and Finance, 4(8), 83–92. https://doi.org/10.5539/ijef.v4n8p83
- Gill, A. S., & Biger, N. (2013). The impact of corporate governance on working capital management efficiency of American manufacturing firms. Managerial Finance, 39(2), 116–132. https://doi.org/10.1108/03074351311293981
- Goel, U., Bansal, N., & Sharma, A. (2015). Impact of corporate governance practices on working capital management efficiency: A structural equation modelling approach. Indian Journal of Finance, 9(1), 38–48. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.17010/ijf%2F2015%2Fv9i1%2F71534
- Graf-Vlachy, L., Bundy, J., & Hambrick, D. C. (2020). Effects of an advancing tenure on CEO cognitive complexity. Organization Science, 31(4), 936-959. http://graf-vlachy.com/publications/Graf-Vlachy%20et%20al%202020%20Effects%20of%20an%20Advancing%20Tenure%20on%20CEO%20Cognitive%20Complexity%20OS.pdf
- Gujarati, N.D. & Porter, D. C. (2009). Basic Econometrics (5th Editio). McGraw-Hill Irwin.
- Hamood, N., Almaqtari, F., Al-Faryan, M. A. S., & Tabash, M. (2022). Impact of corporate governance on working capital management: an empirical investigation from India. Global Business and Economics Review, 27(4), 406–428. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1504/GBER.2022.126636
- Harymawan, I., Agustia, D., Nasih, M., Inayati, A., & Nowland, J. (2020). Remuneration committees, executive remuneration, and firm performance in Indonesia. Heliyon, 6(2), e03452. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03452
- Huang, X., Liu, J., Min, L., Zeng, Q., Zhang, J., & Zhang, X. (2023). CEO’s functional experience and firm performance based on text mining. Plos one, 18(3), e0281866. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0281866
- Idress, M., Bangash, R., & Khan, H. (2022). The impact of board structure and board committee attributes on firm’s cash holdings: An empirical study from Pakistan. Journal of Asian Finance, 9(3), 135–0147. https://doi.org/10.13106/jafeb.2022.vol9.no3.0135
- Indjejikian, R. J. (2007). Discussion of accounting information, disclosure, and the cost of capital. Journal of Accounting Research, 45(2), 421–426. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-679X.2007.00239.x
- Isshaq, Z., Bokpin, G. A., & Mensah Onumah, J. (2009). Corporate governance, ownership structure, cash holdings, and firm value on the Ghana Stock Exchange. Journal of Risk Finance, 10(5), 488–499. https://doi.org/10.1108/15265940911001394
- Jamalinesari, S., & Soheili, H. (2015). The relationship between the efficiency of working capital management companies and corporate rule in Tehran stock exchange. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 205(May), 499–504. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.09.052
- Jamil, S., Anwar, A., Afzaal, N., Tariq, A., & Asif, M. (2016). Determinants of corporate cash holdings: Empirical analysis of Pakistani Firms. IOSR Journal of Economics and Finance (IOSR-JEF), 7(3), 29–35. https://doi.org/10.9790/5933-0703032935
- Kamau, S. M., & Basweti, K. A. (2013). The relationship between corporate governance and working capital management efficiency of firms listed at the Nairobi securities exchange. Research Journal of Finance and Accounting, 4(19), 190-199. https://www.iiste.org/Journals/index.php/RJFA/article/view/9516
- Kamel, S. (2015). The impact of corporate governance and firm maturity on working capital management efficiency: Evidence from listed European firms (Master’s Thesis, the American University in Cairo). AUC Knowledge Fountain. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/333723362.pdf
- Kengatharan, L., & Tissera, W. S. S. (2019). Do corporate governance practices influence working capital management efficiency? Evidence from listed manufacturing companies in Sri Lanka. Research in World Economy, 10(3). https://doi.org/10.5430/RWE.V10N3P205
- Kariuki, S. N., Namusonge, G. S., & Orwa, G. O. (2015). Determinants of corporate cash holdings: evidence from private manufacturing firms in Kenya. International Journal of Advanced Research in Management and Social Sciences, 4(6), 15-33. https://garph.co.uk/IJARMSS/June2015/2.pdf
- Koo, K. J. (2021). The Differential benefits of reputed generalists ceos over tenure. 아태비즈니스연구, 12(4), 87-105. https://doi.org/10.32599/apjb.12.4.202112.87
- Kuan, T. H., Li, C. S., & Chu, S. H. (2011). Cash holdings and corporate governance in family-controlled firms. Journal of Business Research, 64(7), 757–764. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2010.07.004
- Kumpamool, C., & Chancharat, N. (2022). Does board composition influence working capital management? Evidence from Thailand. Corporate Governance: The International Journal of Business in Society, 22(6), 1178-1196. https://doi.org/10.1108/CG-10-2020-0468
- Kyereboah-Coleman, A. (2008). Corporate governance and firm performance in Africa: A dynamic panel data analysis. Journal for Studies in Economics and Econometrics, 32(2), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/10800379.2008.12106447
- Lim, J., & Lee, S. C. (2019). Relationship between the characteristics of CEOs and Excess cash holdings of firms. Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, 55(5), 1069–1090. https://doi.org/10.1080/1540496X.2018.1518778
- Liu, Y., & Mauer, D. C. (2011). Corporate cash holdings and CEO compensation incentives. Journal of Financial Economics, 102(1), 183–198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfineco.2011.05.008
- Magerakis, E., Gkillas, K., Tsagkanos, A., & Siriopoulos, C. (2020). Firm size does matter: New evidence on the determinants of cash holdings. Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 13(8), 163. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jrfm13080163
- Mahmood, F., Han, D., Ali, N., Mubeen, R., & Shahzad, U. (2019). Moderating effects of firm size and leverage on the working capital finance–profitability relationship: evidence from China. Sustainability, 11(7), 2029. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11072029
- Myers, S., C. (1984). The capital structure puzzle. The Journal of Finance, 39(3), 575–592. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6261.1984.tb03646.x
- Narwal, K. P., & Jindal, S. (2018). Working capital management impact on corporate profitability relation with corporate governance: Evidence from Indian manufacturing sector. Journal of Commerce and Accounting Research, 7(3), 8-12. http://www.publishingindia.com/
- Naz, M. A., Ali, R., Rehman, R. U., & Ntim, C. G. (2022). Corporate governance, working capital management, and firm performance: Some new insights from agency theory. Managerial and Decision Economics, 43(5), 1448–1461. https://doi.org/10.1002/mde.3466
- Opler, T., Pinkowitz, L., Stulz, R. and Williamson, R. (1999). The determinants and implications of corporate cash holdings. Journal of Financial Economics, 52, 3–46. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-405X(99)00003-3
- Orens, R., & Reheul, A. M. (2013). Do CEO demographics explain cash holdings in SMEs? European Management Journal, 31(6), 549–563. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2013.01.003
- Ozordi, E., Adetula, D. T., Eluyela, D. F., Aina, A., & Ogabi, M. A. (2019). Corporate dynamism and cash holding decision in listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 17(4), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.21511/ppm.17(4).2019.01
- Palombini, N. V. N., & Nakamura, W. T. (2012). Key factors in working capital management in the brazilian market. RAE Revista de Administracao de Empresas, 52(1), 55–69. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-75902012000100005
- Paniagua, J., Rivelles, R., & Sapena, J. (2018). Corporate governance and financial performance: The role of ownership and board structure. Journal of Business Research, 89(February), 229–234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2018.01.060
- Santosuosso, P. (2015). How cash flow volatility affects debt financing and accounts payable. International Journal of Economics and Finance, 7(8). https://doi.org/10.5539/ijef.v7n8p138
- Sathyamoorthi, C. R., Mbekomize, C. J., Mapharing, M., & Selinkie, P. (2018). The impact of corporate governance on working capital management efficiency: Evidence from the listed companies in the consumer services sector in Botswana. International Journal of Economics and Finance, 10(2), 135-149. https://doi.org/10.5539/ijef.v10n12p135
- Shahid, M. N., Abbas, A., Latif, K., Attique, A., & Khalid, S. (2020). The mediating role of board size, philanthropy and working capital management between basic corporate governance factors and firm's performance. Journal of Asian Business and Economic Studies, 27(2), 135-151. https://doi.org/10.1108/JABES-07-2018-0050
- Suherman, S., Usman, B., Mahfirah, T. F., & Vesta, R. (2021). Do female executives and CEO tenure matter for corporate cash holdings? Insight from a Southeast Asian country. Corporate Governance (Bingley), 21(5), 939–960. https://doi.org/10.1108/CG-07-2020-0290
- Thuy, P. B. G., & Duc, v. h. (2013). corporate governance and firm’s performance: empirical Evidence from Vietnam. Journal of Economics Development, 218, 62–77. https://doi.org/10.24311/jed/2013.218.08
- Wirianata, H., Viriany, & De Mayo, I., F. (2023). Corporate governance in cash management, net working capital, and cash holding. Jurnal Akuntansi, 27(1), 118–135. https://doi.org/10.24912/ja.v27i1.1246
- Zariyawati, M. A., Annuar, M. N., & Pui-San, N. (2016). Working capital management determinants of small and large firms in Malaysia. International Journal of Economics and Management, 10(2), 365–377. http://www.ijem.upm.edu.my/vol10no2/(9)-VOL_10(2)2016_Zariyawati_Working%20Capital%20Management.......pdf
- Zhang, Y., Zhou, J., & Zhou, N. (2007). Audit committee quality, auditor independence, and internal control weaknesses. Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, 26(3), 300–327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaccpubpol.2007.03.001