Are multiple directorships beneficial in East Asia?

• Main Authors: Lee, Kin-Wai, Lee, Cheng-Few
• Other Authors: Nanyang Business School
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/97981; http://hdl.handle.net/10220/12283
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

We posit that the benefits and costs of multiple directorships are conditional on firm characteristics. We find firm valuation is positively associated with multiple directorships in (i) firms with high advising needs and (ii) firms with high external financing needs. These beneficial effects of multiple directorships are generally stronger in countries with weak shareholder rights and in firms that are widely held. However, when controlling shareholder hold high votingrights to cash-flow rights, multiple directorships reduce firm valuation, especially in countries with weak shareholder rights and in closely held firms. As multiple directorships increases, cash holdings (capital expenditures) contribute less to shareholder value. The negative association between value of cash (capital expenditure) and busy boards is mitigated in firms with (i) high advising needs, (ii) high external financing needs and (iii) less entrenched ownership structures.