The corporate governance model of the shipping firms: financial performance implications

Abstract

The corporate governance model of the shipping firms is under extensive dynamic adjustment. Core reasons for that include the corporate transformation of the shipping firms from private and family run into publicly listed and multi-shareholder entities and a number of strict stock market listing requirements, related to corporate governance in particular. Despite these profound shifts, relevant empirical research in this field remains thin. This study undertakes an updated empirical investigation to assess the impact of key corporate governance mechanisms on the financial performance of the shipping firms, namely: (1) the presence of managerial executives (CEOs) related to the founding family; (2) the ownership concentration (shares held) by Board of Directors members; and (3) the participation of independent members in the Board of Directors. A carefully selected sample of Greek shipping companies listed on US equity markets is employed as a case study. We conclude that shipping firms follow their own corporate governance model that has idiosyncratic divergences from conventional governance approaches. A comparison between Greek and Scandinavian shipping firms indicates some differing financial performance response to common corporate governance practices.

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