Impairment of intangible assets and disclosure by Italian banks

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 311-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Grazia Quaranta ◽  
Nico Di Gabriele ◽  
Ermanno Zigiotti

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the methods used to perform impairment test for intangible assets from a business combination and the information provided by the consolidated financial statements of a Group of Italian banks in the period 2009-2014. The purpose is to verify if, as assumed in literature, there is a positive link between profitability and the tendency of manager’s to post the impairment losses of intangible assets promptly and accurately. Design/methodology/approach The existence of a link between profitability and the quality of disclosure was verified by constructing correlation indices, and then ascertaining not only the reliability but also the strength and direction of the statistical connection between the above two aspects. A multivariate linear regression reconfirmed the results obtained by the previous bivariate analysis. Findings The results confirm the basic assumption, showing that the link between the aspects considered is statistically significant and positive in all the years in question. Originality/value This study fills a gap, given that no papers were found in literature specifically pertaining to banks and other financial institutions. Moreover, the decision to focus the study on Italian banks seems to be particularly appropriate for a number of different reasons: before the financial crisis, Italian banks made numerous acquisitions, posting high amounts for intangible assets; the financial crisis made the stock market prices plummet, thus making it necessary to write-off intangible assets from business combinations; and even before the ESMA, the Bank of Italy intervened on several occasions on the question of reporting, urging Italian banks to comply with disclosure requirements and impairment criteria.

TEME ◽  
2018 ◽  
pp. 167
Author(s):  
Dejan Spasić ◽  
Anton Vorina

The aim of the research is to achieve a conclusion what is the level of the reporting practice on intangible assets in two countries - in the Republic of Serbia and in the Republic of Slovenia trough a comparative descriptive statistics. Consolidated financial statements of listed companies in these two countries were used from the Belgrade Stock Exchange (Serbia) and the Ljubljana Stock Exchange (Slovenia). The reason for the use of consolidated financial statements lies in the fact that they can contain unconsolidated intangible assets already recognized in the separate financial statements of the companies included in the group, as well as internally generated intangible assets that meet the conditions for recognition in a business combination (including Goodwill). The general assessment is that the survey results indicate a very low level of reporting practice of intangible assets in Serbia and relatively satisfactory level of reporting practice in Slovenia. Individual results are given in the fourth part of the paper. 


2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Grover

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review the issues involved in the implementation of mass valuation systems and the conditions needed for doing so. Design/methodology/approach – The method makes use of case studies of and fieldwork in countries that have either recently introduced mass valuations, brought about major changes in their systems or have been working towards introducing mass valuations. Findings – Mass valuation depends upon a degree of development and transparency in property markets and an institutional structure capable of collecting and maintaining up-to-date price data and attributes of properties. Countries introducing mass valuation may need to undertake work on improving the institutional basis for this as a pre-condition for successful implementation of mass valuation. Practical implications – Although much of the literature is concerned with how to improve the statistical modelling of market prices, there are significant issues concerned with the type and quality of the data used in mass valuation models and the requirements for successful use of mass valuations. Originality/value – Much of the literature on mass valuation takes the form of the development of statistical models of value. There has been much less attention given to the issues involved in the implementation of mass valuation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-207
Author(s):  
James G.S. Yang ◽  
Frank J. Aquilino

Purpose The accounting standards for consolidated financial statements have been updated recently. The change involves the measurement of goodwill and noncontrolling interest. Under the new accounting standards, goodwill consists of not only the parent company’s portion but also the noncontrolling interest’s share. The noncontrolling interest comprises both the subsidiary’s identifiable net assets and goodwill. In addition, it further changes the treatment of noncontrolling interest from liability to equity. The change indeed has far-reaching consequences on financial statements. This paper formulates an equation to measure goodwill and noncontrolling interest. It also provides some examples for illustrative purposes. The purpose of this paper is to update the financial reporting to the current standards. Design/methodology/approach New accounting standards under FASB #141R and 160. Findings New accounting standards in measuring goodwill and noncontrolling interest in financial reporting. Research limitations/implications The knowledge is useful for accountants and financial analysts. Practical implications Improve the quality of financial statements. Social implications Investors will be better informed. Originality/value This new accounting standard was not explored before.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anju Goswami

PurposeThis study aims to capture the “persistence effect” of credit risk in Indian banking industry using the bank-level data spanning over the period of 19 years from 1998/1999 to 2016/17. Alongside, the study explored how the bank-specific, industry-specific, macroeconomic variables alongside regulatory reforms, ownership changes and financial crisis affect the bank's asset quality in India.Design/methodology/approachUsing two-step system generalized method of moment (GMM) approach, the study derives key factors that affect the bank's asset quality in India.FindingsThe empirical results confirm the time persistence of credit risk among Indian banks during study period. This reflects that bank defaults are expected to increase in the current year, if it had increased past year due to time lag involved in the process of recovery of past dues. Further, higher profitability, better managerial efficiency, more diversified income from nontraditional activities, optimal size of banks, proper credit screening and monitoring and adherence regulatory norms would help in improving the credit quality of Indian banks.Practical implicationsThe practical implication drawn from the study is that nonaccumulation of nonperforming loans (NPLs), higher profitability, better managerial efficiency, more diversified income from nontraditional activities, optimal size of banks, proper credit screening and monitoring and adherence regulatory norms would help in improving the credit quality of Indian banks.Originality/valueThis study is probably the first one that identifies in addition to the current year, whether lag of bank industry-macroeconomic affects the level of NPLs of Indian banks. So far, such an analysis has received less attention with respect to Indian banking industry, especially immediate aftermath of the global financial crisis.


2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 110-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minyoung Noh ◽  
Hyunyoung Park ◽  
Moonkyung Cho

Purpose This paper aims to examine the effect of audit quality of consolidated financial statements on the accuracy of analysts’ earnings forecasts from the viewpoint of users of financial statements. Design/methodology/approach This paper investigates the effect of dependence on the work of other auditors on error in analysts’ earnings forecasts based on samples from 2011 to 2012 (the period since implementation of the International Financial Reporting Standards in Korea). In addition, this paper examines the effects of use of Big 4 auditors, use of auditors with industry expertise and the proportion of overseas subsidiaries in relation to all subsidiaries on the association between dependence on the work of other auditors and error in analysts’ earnings forecasts. Findings This paper finds a positive relation between dependence on the work of other auditors and error in analysts’ earnings forecasts, suggesting that more dependence on the work of other auditors decreases the quality of the audit of consolidated financial statements; thus, to the extent that low-quality audits decrease reporting reliability, analysts’ forecasts are less likely to be accurate. This paper also finds that the positive relationship between dependence on the work of other auditors and error in analysts’ earnings forecasts is weakened when the principal auditor is a Big 4 auditor or one with industry expertise, because such auditors provide higher-quality audit services. However, the positive relationship between dependence on the work of other auditors and error in analysts’ earnings forecasts is further strengthened in cases where the proportion of overseas subsidiaries to all subsidiaries is higher. These results suggest that the complexity of the consolidation process increases as the proportion of overseas subsidiaries increases. Originality/value The findings are useful in analyzing the effects of adoption of the New ISA, implemented in 2014, which does not allow the division of audit responsibilities between principal auditors and other auditors. This paper also provides insights for regulators and practitioners to improve the auditor appointment system in the future.


2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (4/5) ◽  
pp. 615-633
Author(s):  
Fragiskos K. Gonidakis ◽  
Andreas G. Koutoupis ◽  
Anastasios D. Tsamis ◽  
Maria-Eleni K. Agoraki

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate risk disclosure in listed Greek companies. The effects of the financial crisis were also considered. Design/methodology/approach This study aimed to determine the risk-reporting practices of Greek’s non-financial companies listed on the Athens Stock Exchange through a content analysis of their annual reports. Findings Risk identification and anticipation protect businesses and create shareholder value. In recent years, particularly since the economic crisis, risk has become one of the most important business issues. This study concluded that during the crisis, there was an increase in disclosure. Financial, personnel and legal risks were the most reported types of risk. This study also found liquidity to be a very important issue. Research limitations/implications Content analysis has limitations because subjectivity cannot be eliminated. This study measured only the quantity, not the quality, of risk disclosure. The quality of risk reporting will be examined in future research. Originality/value This is the first study on risk disclosure in the non-financial companies listed on the Athens Stock Exchange to conduct a content analysis of the corporate annual reports.


2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 156-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian (Jerry) Liang ◽  
Zhi Dong

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate how the 2007 global financial crisis (GFC) changed financial disclosure behavior using a sample of US equity real estate investment trusts (REITs) from 2000 to 2015.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use panel data spanning from 2000 to 2015 to examine the impact of the GFC on REITs’ earnings management (EM) after controlling for other factors (including the market shock in 2007 and 2008). The measurements of EM are estimated by using the models developed from literature such as modified Jones models. The static panel data regression models are used to estimate the impact of GFC on the REITs’ EM.FindingsThe authors find that REITs are more likely to engage in income-increasing EM to embellish their financial reports during the GFC. However, the magnitude of the use of EM to manipulate disclosed financial information decreased following the GFC, indicating an improvement in the quality of financial disclosure as a consequence of the enhancement of the regulatory environment. REITs also changed the manner in which their EM behavior responded to the main factors in the market following the outbreak of GFC.Research limitations/implicationsThis study contributes to the finance and accounting literature by providing the first empirical test results concerning how the financial disclosure behavior and quality of listed portfolios and companies such as REITs have changed corresponding to the enhancement of the regulatory environment and adverse market conditions brought by GFC.Practical implicationsThis study provides references for investors, auditors, and regulators to help them make adjustments for and improve the interpretation of the disclosed financial information.Originality/valueThis is one of the first empirical study testing the impact of the GFC on EM. It is also the first empirical study investigating the impact of GFC on the financial disclosure behavior of REITs.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 232-253
Author(s):  
Maria Krambia-Kapardis ◽  
Colin Clark ◽  
Anastasios Zopiatis

Purpose – Public information disclosure is a manifestation of transparency and contributes to governance-by-disclosure. Also, better financial reporting can improve the credibility and integrity of public finances and contribute to a better management of public resources. A survey was carried out in Cyprus of users’ of public financial reports concerning an expectation gap about the types of information included in such reports (information needs expectation gap) as well as the quality of such information (information quality satisfaction gap). The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – Two focus groups of users and preparers of public financial reports were used to construct the questionnaire. Users of such reports, who belonged to all three categories of public sector financial reporting identified by IPSASB, were surveyed. The quantitative data obtained was analysed using SPSS and quadrant analysis to answer the research questions posed. Findings – Data from 101 respondents confirmed that each of the information needs identified in the IPSASB Consultation Paper (2008) was rated as being a significant information need. Data analysis also showed that both types of expectation gap exist, especially as far as local authority and semi-public organisations are concerned. Research limitations/implications – The response rate in the self-administered survey was admittedly rather low but it was not unexpected mainly due to the survey’s very specialised nature and the tendency by people in Cyprus not to critique public bodies. Practical implications – Deficient financial public sector reporting means the auditor general is not able to adequately express an opinion on public spending at the local government level. This, in turn, means taxpayers do not get the quality of services they pay for. At the same time, the lack of information transparency means corrupt practices are not eradicated. One answer to the problem would be legislating the content of public financial reports. Social implications – The lack of governance-by-public exposure means that services to the local community cost a lot more, due to corruption and inefficiency. In addition, it contributes to lowering market confidence and eventually contributes to financial crisis at the national level. Originality/value – The survey conducted was the first of its kind in Cyprus to investigate financial public sector reporting and document both manifestations of the expectation gap. In addition, information needs identified in the IPSASB Consultation Paper (2008) was rated as significantly needed and this is the first time it has been done in Eurozone member state and in a country facing a financial crisis.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 316-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenling Lu ◽  
David A. Whidbee

Purpose This paper aims to examine the characteristics of banks that were the target of intervention in the form of bailout or failure during the financial crisis and, of those subjected to intervention, what characteristics distinguish those that received bailout funds from those that were deemed failures. Design/methodology/approach The study estimates a series of logit regressions in an effort to identify the causes of regulatory intervention while controlling for bank-level characteristics and the economic and regulatory environment. Findings The empirical results indicate that many of the same characteristics associated with banks receiving bailout funds are similar to the characteristics associated with failed banks. However, non-performing loans increased the likelihood of failure, but reduced the likelihood of a bank receiving Capital Purchase Program (CPP) funds, suggesting that regulatory authorities discriminated in their use of CPP funds based on the quality of a bank’s asset portfolio. Further, those banks located in states with limits on de novo branching and those banks that are part of a multi-bank holding company structure were less likely to fail but were more likely to receive CPP funds. Originality/value This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of regulatory intervention in the banking industry during the late 2000s financial crisis and the impact of different banking organizational structures, economic circumstances, and financial fragility on the likelihood of a bank failing or receiving bailout funds.


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