The cost of debt and the characteristics of audit firms

2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong-Sang Woo ◽  
Minjung Kang ◽  
Ho-Young Lee
Keyword(s):  
Interest Rates ◽  
Default Risk ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Organizational Characteristics ◽  
Cost Of Debt ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Audit Firms ◽  
Firm Bankruptcy ◽  
The Cost

Purpose Audit firm bankruptcy can have significant negative impacts on the stock prices of client firms. The purpose of this paper is to identify determinants of audit firm bankruptcy risk as measured by costs of debt. Design/methodology/approach Using audit firm data publicly available in Korea, this study empirically examines whether client portfolio, financial, and organizational characteristics are associated with the weighted average interest rates assumed by auditors. Findings The authors find empirical evidence that audit firms’ client portfolio characteristics, including the incidence (or number) of lawsuits against the auditor, the proportion of audit clients under surveillance, the proportion of initial audit engagements, and the proportion of listed companies of audit clients, are positively associated with the cost of debt. The authors also find several financial and organizational characteristics associated with the cost of debt. Practical implications The findings of this study suggest that client portfolio characteristics as well as financial and organizational characteristics are important determinants of the cost of debt in audit firms, and that these characteristics are different from those of firms in other industries. Identifying the determinants of audit firms’ cost of debt provides insight to regulators, client firms, and capital market participants. Originality/value This study examines the default risk of audit firms that play an important monitoring role in capital markets. By utilizing unique data about audit firms available in Korea, this study is the first study to empirically examine the effect of detailed audit firm characteristics on audit firm’s default risk.

Are corporate social responsibility disclosures relevant for lenders? Empirical evidence from France

2019 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amal Hamrouni ◽  
Ali Uyar ◽  
Rim Boussaada
Keyword(s):  
Interest Rates ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Cost Of Debt ◽  
Environmental Disclosure ◽  
Debt Contracts ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Csr Disclosure ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Cost

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to test whether or not CSR disclosure (i.e. aggregate as well as its three sub-indicators) reduces the cost of debt for French corporations listed in the SBF 120 index between 2010 and 2015. Design/methodology/approach CSR disclosure ratings of firms were collected from the Bloomberg database under three dimensions such as environmental, social and governance (ESG). Then, a pooled regression analysis was run. Findings The results indicate that overall CSR disclosure score as a combination of ESG disclosure scores has a negative effect on the cost of debt (i.e. lowers the cost of debt). While environmental disclosure is negatively associated with the cost of debt, social disclosure is unexpectedly positively associated, and governance disclosure has an insignificant association with the cost of debt. Research limitations/implications The study has two main limitations. First, the analysis does not consider contractual constraints and obligations that might exist in debt contracts (Jung et al., 2018). Second, the analyses cover a specific time period (i.e. between 2010 and 2015) for a specific country (i.e. France) excluding utilities and the financial sector. Practical implications Overall, it is inferred from the results that financial markets for lenders take into account CSR disclosure when assessing the creditworthiness of borrowers. Specifically, environmental disclosure is the only subdimension of CSR that is influential on creditors’ decisions to offer favorable interest rates. In line with this outcome, companies can assess their processes and be more aligned with eco-friendly practices, and investors are particularly advised to invest in those types of firms. Originality/value This study extends scant literature on the association between CSR and the cost of debt by exploring how creditors treat CSR dimensions dissimilarly in granting loans to firms. The findings of this study have particular importance as financial debt is one of the most predominant forms of external financing.

Tax avoidance, tax risk and the cost of debt in a bank-dominated economy

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (8/9) ◽  
pp. 683-699 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jost Hendrik Kovermann
Keyword(s):  
Interest Rates ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Tax Avoidance ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Cost Of Debt ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether tax avoidance has a positive or negative effect on firms’ cost of debt. It further investigates whether the implications for the cost of debt are different for tax avoidance and tax risk. Design/methodology/approach Based on a sample of 201 firms listed on Frankfurt Stock Exchange from 2009 to 2014, three tests are performed using pooled OLS regression. Controlling for numerous variables that have been found to influence the cost of debt, a first model examines the relationship between tax avoidance and the cost of debt. A second model examines the relationship between tax risk and the cost of debt and a third model interacts tax avoidance with tax risk. Findings The results show that tax avoidance has a negative effect on the cost of debt; however, tax risk increases the cost of debt. These results indicate that creditors generally view tax avoidance as positive and that tax avoidance is not regarded as inherently risky. Although tax avoidance is rewarded by capital markets with lower interest rates, tax risk contributes to higher interest rates. The effect of tax avoidance on the cost of debt depends therefore on the level of tax risk. Originality/value This paper contributes to two distinct strands of research: literature investigating the driving factors behind the cost of debt and literature investigating the consequences of firms’ tax avoidance activities.

CSR and cost of capital: evidence from Japan

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 798-816 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megumi Suto ◽  
Hitoshi Takehara
Keyword(s):  
Ownership Structure ◽  
Capital Market ◽  
Cost Of Capital ◽  
Corporate Social Performance ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Cost Of Debt ◽  
Cost Of Equity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Stakeholder Relationships ◽  
The Cost

Purpose This study aims to examine the link between corporate social performance (CSP) and the cost of capital of Japanese firms in 2008-2013, considering the influences of banking relationships and ownership structure. Design/methodology/approach It examines the relation between CSP and the cost of capital in terms of the cost of debt, cost of equity and weighted average cost of capital, using a composite CSP measure based on stakeholder relationships. A regression model is adopted, controlling for bank dependency, ownership structure and firm-specific attributes. Findings Institutional ownership influences the CSP–cost of equity relation and reduces the cost of equity, while CSP is perceived by debtors as not information-mitigating for the observed period. For 2008-2010, the relation between CSP and bank dependency increases the cost of debt; however, the positive influence of bank dependency on the cost of debt dilutes during 2010-2013 as the shift to a more market-oriented financial market in Japan occurs. Practical implications Although bank borrowing is important, especially for small firms, non-financial disclosure makes external financing more flexible. Institutional investors concerned about the non-financial aspects of business, therefore, play an important role in mitigating the information asymmetry that exists in the capital market. Originality/value This study extends research on the CSP–cost of capital link by considering structural changes in financial systems (e.g. capital market perception of CSP and banks as delegated monitors).

IFRS adoption/reporting and auditor fees: the conditional effect of audit firm size and tenure

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 639-666
Author(s):  
Medhat N. El Guindy ◽  
Nadia Sbei Trabelsi
Keyword(s):  
Audit Fees ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Ifrs Adoption ◽  
Audit Firms ◽  
Conditional Effect ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Cost ◽  
First Time ◽  
Big Four

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the impact of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) adoption on audit and non-audit fees in the UK setting. The study investigates whether UK firms adopting IFRS for the first time or reporting under IFRS, in general, are being charged higher audit and non-audit fees and whether this impact is conditional on audit firm size and tenure. Design/methodology/approach Using empirical data for UK listed firms from 2003-2007, the paper uses a regression model that explains audit and non-audit fees by independent variables measuring auditors’ and auditees’ characteristics including IFRS adoption and reporting. Additional regressions with interaction terms were performed to test the hypothetical conditional impact of auditor size and audit firm tenure on the above-mentioned association. Findings Audit and non-audit fees increase significantly for companies adopting IFRS for the first time and this increase is persistent during later years. In addition, results suggest that both Big four and non-Big four auditors charge higher audit and non-audit fees to their clients adopting or reporting under IFRS in a similar manner. Furthermore, findings indicate that audit firms increase audit and non-audit fees for old and new clients using IFRS which suggests no low-balling effect is detected. Research limitations/implications Results reported in this study provide insights to regulators in jurisdictions similar to the UK regarding the cost of IFRS adoption which includes higher audit and non-audit fees imposed by both Big four and non-Big four audit firms. In addition, this study argues, to some extent, against the notion that auditors may charge lower fees in the early years of the audit engagement to win new audit clients. Originality/value To the best of the knowledge, the findings are unique at two levels. First, the paper provides evidence on the cost of using IFRS in the UK jurisdiction which was not explored by previous research. Second, the paper investigates the potential conditional effect of auditor size and audit tenure on the association between IFRS adoption and auditors’ fees.

A Precisely Practical Measure of the Total Cost of Debt for Determining the Optimal Capital Structure and the Weighted Average Cost of Capital

GIS Business ◽  
1970 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 31-40
Author(s):  
Austin Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Financial Distress ◽  
Default Risk ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Cost Of Debt ◽  
Total Cost ◽  
Optimal Capital Structure ◽  
Optimal Capital ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Practical Measure

This paper develops a precise method of estimating the cost of debt to a firm that is based on standard financial theories and empirical evidence on default risk and financial distress costs. An analysis with current data on the S&P 500 demonstrates that the capital structures of large firms are consistent with the model’s simple implications.

Leaving a joint audit system: conditional fee reductions

2014 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claus Holm ◽  
Frank Thinggaard
Keyword(s):  
Audit Quality ◽  
Theory Development ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Audit System ◽  
Interaction Terms ◽  
Audit Firms ◽  
Audit Fee

Purpose – The authors aim to exploit a natural experiment in which voluntary replace mandatory joint audits for Danish listed companies and analyse audit fee implications of using one or two audit firms. Design/methodology/approach – Regression analysis is used. The authors apply both a core audit fee determinants model and an audit fee change model and include interaction terms. Findings – The authors find short-term fee reductions in companies switching to single audits, but only where the former joint audit contained a dominant auditor. The authors argue that in this situation bargaining power is more with the auditors than in an equally shared joint audit, and that the auditors' incentives to offer an initial fee discount are bigger. Research limitations/implications – The number of observations is constrained by the small Danish capital market. Future research could take a more qualitative research approach, to examine whether the use of a single audit firm rather than two has an effect on audit quality. The area calls for further theory development covering audit fee and audit quality in joint audit settings. Practical implications – Companies should consider their relationship with their auditors before deciding to switch to single auditors. Fee discounts do not seem to reflect long-lasting efficiency gains on the part of the audit firm. Originality/value – Denmark is the first country to leave a mandatory joint audit system, so this is the first time that it is possible to study fee effects related to this.

scholarly journals A Scorecard to Detect Financial Leverage Profitability

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 244
Author(s):  
Laura Broccardo ◽  
Luisa Tibiletti ◽  
Pertti Vilpas
Keyword(s):  
Net Present Value ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Cost Of Debt ◽  
Corporate Management ◽  
External Financing ◽  
Present Value ◽  
Financial Decisions ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
The Cost

This study investigates how balancing internal and external financing sources can create economic value. We set a financial scorecard, consisting of the Cost of Debt (COD), Return on Investment (ROI), and the Cost of Equity (COE). We show that COE should be a cap for COD and a floor for ROI in order to increase the Net Present Value at Weighted Average Cost of Capital and the Adjusted Present Value of the levered investment. However, leverage should be carefully monitored if COD and ROI go off the grid. Situations where leverage has the opposite effect on value creation and the Equity Internal Rate of Return are also discussed. Illustrative examples are given. The proposed model aims to help corporate management in financial decisions.

Audit firms and industry specialization in an emerging economy

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 338-362
Author(s):  
Karim Hegazy ◽  
Mohamed Hegazy
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Capital Investment ◽  
Emerging Economy ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Brand Name ◽  
Industry Specialization ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Big 4 ◽  
Audit Firms

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the implications of audit industry specialization on auditor’s retention and growth within an emerging economy. Factors such as whether the firm is a Big 4, a firm with international affiliation, a local firm and the type of industry were studied to analyse the reasons behind audit firm retention and growth.Design/methodology/approachThis research is based on a field study related to audit firms providing services to listed companies in an emerging economy. The sample includes the top 100 publicly held companies’ in the Egyptian stock market during 2006-2011 for which their annual reports are analysed to determine the audit firms’ retention and growth. An assessment of the continuity of the auditors and the increase in the number of audit clients were also measured.FindingsThe results confirm that industry specialization has an important effect on the auditor’s retention, especially for industries where capital investment is significant such as buildings, construction, financial services, housing and real estate. Big 4 audit firms retained their clients because of their industry specialization and brand name. Evidence was found that good knowledge of accounting and auditing standards resulted in audit firms with international affiliation competing with the Big 4 for clients’ retention and growth.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the existing literature, as it is among the first to provide empirical evidence on auditor retention, growth and auditor’s dominance in an emerging economy such as Egypt.

scholarly journals Media Coverage and the Cost of Debt

2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 429-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haoyu Gao ◽  
Junbo Wang ◽  
Yanchu Wang ◽  
Chunchi Wu ◽  
Xi Dong
Keyword(s):  
Information Asymmetry ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
Default Risk ◽  
Cost Of Debt ◽  
Yield Spreads ◽  
Negatively Associated ◽  
Economic Mechanisms ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Yield Determinants ◽  
Firm Attributes

This paper investigates the relation between media coverage and offering yield spreads using a comprehensive dataset of 5,338 industrial bonds issued from 1990 to 2011. We find that media coverage is negatively associated with firms’ cost of debt. This association is robust to controlling for standard yield determinants, different model specifications, and endogeneity. We identify 4 economic channels through which media coverage influences the cost of debt: Information asymmetry, governance, liquidity, and default risk. Importantly, media coverage has an independent influence beyond the effects of these economic mechanisms and is not a proxy for other firm attributes.

Does opening high-speed railways affect the cost of debt financing? A quasi-natural experiment

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 473-496
Author(s):  
Hongling Guo ◽  
Keping Wu
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Debt Financing ◽  
Cost Of Debt ◽  
High Speed Railway ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Financing Cost ◽  
Debt Market ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis study aims to investigate how opening high-speed railways affects the cost of debt financing based on China's background.Design/methodology/approachUsing panel data on Chinese listed firms from 2008 to 2017, this study constructs a quasi-natural experiment and adopts a difference-in-difference model with multiple time periods to empirically examine the relation between the high-speed railway openings and debt financing cost.FindingsOur results show that opening high-speed railways reduces the cost of debt financing, and this negative correlation is more significant in non-state firms, firms with weaker internal control, and firms that hire non-Big Four auditors. Besides, we explore the impact mechanisms and find that opening high-speed railways improves analyst attention, institutional investor participation, and information disclosure quality, which in turn lowers the cost of debt financing.Research limitations/implicationsThe results imply that the opening of high-speed railways helps to alleviate the information asymmetry and adverse selection between firms and creditors and ultimately reduces the cost of corporate debt financing.Practical implicationsThis paper can inform firms and stakeholders about the impact of opening high-speed railways on debt financing cost: it improves the information environment, reduces the geographical location restrictions of debt financing, ensures the reasonable pricing of corporate debt, and thus promotes the healthy and sound development of the debt market.Originality/valueThis paper provides theoretical support and empirical evidence for the impact of infrastructure construction on the information environment of the debt market in China, which enriches the research on the “high-speed railway economy.” In addition, as an exogenous event, the opening of high-speed railways instantly shortens the time distance between firms and external stakeholders, which gives us a natural environment to conduct empirical research, thus providing a new perspective for financial research on firms' geographical location.

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