Costs of Corporate Governance Failures: Evidence from South Africa

Abstract

Corporate governance (CG) failures, exemplified by noncompliance with laws, regulations and best practices, have pecuniary costs. Using agency theory, the study aimed to quantify costs of governance failures in South Africa’s FTSE/JSE Top40 listed companies and establish ultimate cost bearer. This differentiates this study from extant literature and makes both methodological and practice contributions by using Value at Risk procedures. Except for Steinhoff, which lost 85% of its value in six weeks, event study method was used to select the other eleven Top40 listed companies included in the study. Data on identified CG failures, published on the Stock Exchange News Service and announced by Regulatory Authorities between 2008 and 2016, was used. At 99.99% confidence level, up to 73.33% of revenue and 62 cents per R1 of market capitalisation were eroded because of governance failures. Due to ascertained losses, the study concluded that CG failures have pecuniary socio-economic costs incurred by principals and government through social expenditure. Theoretical implications suggest agency theory’s extension as agency costs underestimate potential costs by excluding socio-economic costs. The study recommended the use of behavioural theories for insights into agents’ behaviours leading to governance failures and losses. It also recommended that policymakers should strengthen the role of gatekeeping professions to curb the magnitude of ascertained costs.