Impact of Agency Costs on Financial Performance of Listed Consumer Goods Companies in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper examined impact of agency costs on financial performance of listed consumer goods companies in Nigeria. The research utilized documentary data collected from annual reports of consumer goods companies in Nigeria for the period of 2007-2016. A panel data regression technique was employed. The study reveals inverse relationship between agency costs and financial performance, indicating that agency costs will lead to a decline in financial performance, if not properly managed. Based on this result the study recommends that managements of listed consumer goods companies in Nigeria should lay down effective rules and regulations that will ensure avoidance of keeping free cash flow at managers’ discretion so that agency costs could be minimized and effectively managed. This could be achieved by complying with the suggestions by free cash flow hypothesis paying it out in the form of cash dividend or committing the firms in to more financial obligations which requires periodic interest payments. There should be critical reviewed before such action are taken by companies in consumer goods industries.