Iranian Journal of Finance

Abstract The primary objective of this study is to develop a predictive model for money laundering risk in Iranian listed firms. Initially, firm-level money laundering risk is measured using auditor assessments of anti-money laundering (AML) activities disclosed in annual audit reports. Subsequently, a quantitative modeling approach is employed, using financial and governance-related variables identified in prior research. To validate the quantitative findings, a qualitative approach based on grounded theory is also applied to identify additional explanatory factors. This research follows a mixed-methods design, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative phases. In the quantitative phase, a panel logit regression model is estimated using data from 1,680 firm-year observations covering the period 2012–2023. Independent variables include firm size, return on equity, leverage, investment opportunities, board independence, and board size. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 experts to identify key risk factors, followed by the design and administration of an 18-item questionnaire distributed to 110 professionals. Exploratory factor analysis was then used to extract latent variables. The quantitative analysis reveals significant relationships between money laundering risk and several variables, such as firm size (positive), return on equity (negative), leverage (positive), and board independence (negative). The qualitative analysis identifies three core factors: (1) organizational culture and employee training, (2) corporate governance, and (3) a composite factor comprising compliance, organizational complexity, financial performance, firm size, and capital structure. Together, these factors explain over 50% of the variance in expert responses. The convergence of results from both methodological approaches confirms the robustness of the proposed model. Corporate governance indicators—particularly board size and independence—alongside financial attributes such as firm size, profitability, and capital structure, are found to be significant predictors of firm-level money laundering risk. The findings underscore the importance of strengthening internal control mechanisms and compliance structures in reducing money laundering risk.

Abstract Holding companies collect funds from subsidiaries and allocate them to important areas (Internal Capital Market). Managers of holding companies have the ability to transfer funds between subsidiaries. Some specific orientations cause the non-optimal allocation of financial resources. One of the concerns of investors is investing in companies where transparency is fully implemented. Companies are trying to achieve this by implementing corporate governance mechanisms. In this research, using a systematic review method, the dimensions of corporate governance were extracted with the stakeholder theory approach. Finally, in order to examine the question of whether the managers of holding companies consider the interests of all stakeholders when using the internal capital market or not, according to the assumptions of the research, the dimensions of corporate governance on stakeholders have been investigated. To investigate this relationship, a set of questions based on Likert scale about the measured variables of the target society was designed. After data collection, finally, data analysis was done by statistical method using SPSS software and structural equations using SPLS software, and the results of path analysis and causal relationships between the research variables were interpreted in the conceptual model. The data analysis also showed that the value of the path coefficient, the effects of dimensions and components of corporate governance and stakeholders, is a positive value. The null hypothesis of the research is rejected and the opposite hypothesis is confirmed. This shows that there is a relationship between the effects of corporate governance dimensions and stakeholders. The direct effect value indicates a strong and high effect size. As a result, the interests of all stakeholders should be considered.

Abstract Added over the period 2006-2018. We focused on different proxies of corporate governance indicators, such as the Directors' Effectiveness, the Transparency and the Disclosure, Responsibility. Basel Principles have been used to make corporate governance indicators and Stern & Stewart and Chew (1995) method have been used to make banking economic value added. We used the PCA method to choose important indicators. The results of PCA estimation identified ten important variables affecting banks' economic value added. Due to the importance of banks' age in creating economic value-added, banks are divided into two classes according to age. The GMM method is used to estimate the models. Eight models were designed to examine the impact of different corporate governance measures on the banking economic value added. The results indicated that corporate governance indicators were significant in explaining changes in the Iranian banking economic value added. The result also shows that according to the banks' age, the effectiveness of the board structure is greater than others. This illustrates the importance of board structure more than other criteria.