Can Auditors Mitigate Information Asymmetry in M&As? An Empirical Analysis of the Method of Payment in Belgian Transactions

2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathieu Luypaert ◽  
Tom Van Caneghem
Keyword(s):  
Information Asymmetry ◽  
Private Information ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Financial Statement ◽  
Firm Characteristics ◽  
Target Level ◽  
Financial Statement Audit ◽  
Method Of Payment ◽  
The Relationship

SUMMARY In this paper, we empirically examine the relationship between the external financial statement audit and the method of payment across a sample of Belgian mergers and acquisitions between listed and private firms over the period 1997–2009. We investigate whether a Big N audit (at the target level) reduces the need for a contingent payment resulting from information asymmetry about the target's value. In addition, we analyze whether a Big N audit (at the bidder level) limits incentives for bidders to exploit private information about their own value. Using multivariate ordered probit and binary regression models, we determine that contingent payments are less common when the target is audited by a Big N auditor after controlling for several other deal and firm characteristics. Furthermore, we find that the incentive to use stock payments in periods of stock market overvaluation is lower for acquirers with a Big N auditor. Finally, target shareholders are more likely to accept a contingent offer if the acquirer's financial statements are certified by a Big N auditor. JEL Classifications: G34; M4.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Financial Reporting Quality:Evidence from Restatements

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi-Hung Lin ◽  
Hua-Wei (Solomon) Huang ◽  
Mark E. Riley ◽  
Chih-Chen Lee
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Reporting Quality ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Financial Statement ◽  
Financial Reporting Quality ◽  
Csr Reporting ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Reporting Environment ◽  
The Relationship

We find a negative relationship between aggregate CSR scores and the probability that firms restated financial statements over the period 1991-2012. We then break that period into three sub-periods in order to determine whether the relationship holds for all three sub-periods. During the sub-periods of 1991-2001 and 2002-2005, the negative CSR score - restatement probability relationship holds. The negative relationship disappears in the 2006-2012 sub-period. Additional analyses indicate CSR scores are significantly higher in the 2006-2012 sub-period, suggesting the disappearance of the relationship between aggregate CSR scores and financial statement quality may relate to changes in CSR assessments and the CSR reporting environment. Our findings update the literature linking CSR scores and financial reporting quality and identify the need for further research as to the reasons the link between these constructs disappeared.

Amtek Auto debacle: financial statement analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Asheesh Pandey
Keyword(s):  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Financial Statement ◽  
Financial Statement Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Academic Level ◽  
Reserve Bank ◽  
Financial Decision ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
A Company

Learning outcomes The learning outcomes are as follows: developing an understanding of financial statement analysis among students; students would be able to calculate various ratios, understand their meaning and interpret them to take a financial decision; and exploring the relationship between financial leverage and risk. Case overview/synopsis Amtek Auto is a leading auto-components manufacturer established in 1988 which entered into bankruptcy in through the order of Reserve Bank of India in 2017. The company started with a humble beginning and later on the promoter decided to expand exponentially both through organic as well as inorganic growth in past 15 years. To grow a company kept on taking debt which made it riskier and deteriorated its financial position over a period. The case covers a 10-year timeline from 2008 to 2017. It gives an opportunity to analyze its financial statements to understand how its decisions shaped its performance Complexity academic level The case aims for students to take a comprehensive view of the financial statement analysis of Amtek Auto including the following: vertical and horizontal analysis; comprehensive ratio analysis including liquidity, profitability, leverage and turnover ratios with special emphasis on debt as a double-edged sword; analysis of Armtek Auto’s financial performance over a period of 10 years. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 1: Accounting and Finance.

ABC Electronics: An Instructional Case Illustrating Auditors' Use of Preliminary Analytical Procedures

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. I1-I10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul M. Clikeman ◽  
Jamie Diaz
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Consumer Electronics ◽  
Financial Statement ◽  
Planning Stage ◽  
Excel Spreadsheet ◽  
Financial Statement Audit ◽  
Analytical Procedures

SUMMARY This instructional case demonstrates auditors' use of analytical procedures during the planning/risk assessment phase of a financial statement audit. An Excel spreadsheet enables instructors to embed up to seven operating problems or potential accounting issues into a fictitious consumer electronics manufacturer's current year financial statements. Questionnaires from students at two universities indicate that the case is effective at helping undergraduate auditing students understand (1) auditors' use of analytical procedures during the planning stage of the audit, and (2) the types of accounting issues and operating problems that might be identified using analytical procedures.

Abnormal Audit Fees and Restatements

2012 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan I. Blankley ◽  
David N. Hurtt ◽  
Jason E. MacGregor
Keyword(s):  
Internal Control ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Audit Fees ◽  
Financial Statement ◽  
Prior Work ◽  
Audit Risk ◽  
Negatively Associated ◽  
Control Quality ◽  
Sarbanes Oxley ◽  
The Relationship

SUMMARY We investigate the relationship between audit fees and subsequent financial statement restatements in the years following the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX). After controlling for internal control quality, we find that abnormal audit fees are negatively associated with the likelihood that financial statements are subsequently restated. This result conflicts with prior work that finds that audit fees are positively associated with future restatements. Overall, our evidence is consistent with the notion that restatements reflect low audit effort or underestimated audit risk in the periods leading up to the restatement year.

scholarly journals The relationship between key audit matters in the new auditor's report and the risks reported in the management report and the estimates and judgments in the notes to the financial statements

2016 ◽  
Vol 90 (12) ◽  
pp. 580-613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arjan Brouwer ◽  
Peter Eimers ◽  
Henk Langendijk
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Balance Sheet ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Internal Controls ◽  
Financial Statement ◽  
It Systems ◽  
Strong Focus ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Management Report

For decades, auditors have communicated their opinion on financial statements with standard wordings in the auditor’s report. However, stakeholders expect more information from the auditor. The limited transparency regarding an auditor’s actual activities, has contributed to the dissatisfaction concerning the functioning of auditors. The new (extended) auditor’s report is an answer to the information needs of stakeholders. The key audit matters reported by the auditor provide new insights to financial statement users with respect to significant estimates and risks reported in the financial statements. It may be expected from the auditor that he pays extra attention to the most significant estimates and risks. This article contains an examination of the degree to which reported key audit matters match with the significant risks presented in the directors’ reports, and with the significant accounting policies and estimates in the notes. We have studied management reports, financial statements and auditor’s reports of 50 companies listed in the Netherlands (at the AEX and Midkap index) in 2015. Our study shows that the key audit matters in the new auditor’s report often correspond with the significant accounting policies and estimates as they are reported by management in the notes. However, only in ten percent of the cases, the risks presented in the directors’ reports are mentioned as key audit matters in the new auditor’s report. Auditors have a strong focus on balance sheet items as key audit matters. Many companies recognize the riskiness of issues like reliability and continuity of IT systems and complying with regulation, but these are hardly mentioned as key audit matters. This is also a general finding of our study for issues related to the internal controls of the audited companies.

scholarly journals KEY PREDICTORS OF INTERNAL SUPERVISION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

2018 ◽  
pp. 029
Author(s):  
Sunčica Milutinović ◽  
Ivana Medved ◽  
Dragomir Dimitrijević
Keyword(s):  
Regression Models ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Direct Impact ◽  
External Stakeholders ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Internal Supervision

Investors and other external stakeholders have more confidence in the reliability and quality of financial statements if they have information that entities continuously carry out preventive and comprehensive internal supervision of financial statements. The research was carried out with the aim of identifying factors that have a direct impact on the internal supervision of financial statements. As the key predictors of the internal supervision of financial statements in the Republic of Serbia, the category of entity, the internal supervision of the compliance of financial statements with the regulations, and the internal supervision of the preparation of financial statements have been identified. Two regression models are also defined that best describe the relationship between the observed phenomena.

USING DISCRIMINANT MODELS TO ASSESS THE LIKELIHOOD OF FINANCIAL STATEMENT FALSIFICATION ON THE EXAMPLE OF OIL-ENERGY COMPLEX ORGANIZATIONS

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-153
Author(s):  
I.A. Merkulina ◽  
◽  
A.A. Gorbachev ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Regression Models ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Financial Statement ◽  
Board Members ◽  
Economic Sectors ◽  
Complex Organizations ◽  
Energy Complex ◽  
Discriminant Models

Using discriminant models to assess the likelihood of financial statement falsification is actual nowadays. Organizations in different economic sectors can make misstatements in their financial statements. Such actions from management of organization may lead to confusion of audit workers, board members. Moreover, this actions don’t allow to assess their tendency for a possible bankruptcy adequately, using special models. To solve these problems, models to assess the likelihood of financial statement falsification were created. In this article demonstrates the use of Beneish, Roxsas and Safonova – Silchenko regression models. Subject of analysis is financial statements of 6 oil-energy complex organizations, including oil and gas, electricity and coal industries. As a result of this analysis, conclusions are drawn on the use of these models.

Financial statement audit: An investigation into laws and regulations

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 141-427
Author(s):  
S.V. Kozmenkova ◽  
V.I. Tsyganov
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Financial Statement ◽  
International Standard ◽  
Legal Documents ◽  
Financial Statement Audit ◽  
The Russian Federation

Subject. This article deals with the matters related to the audit of financial statements. Objectives. The article aims to analyze the procedure for the study of financial and economic transactions in order to ensure compliance with legal documents regulating accounting and financial reporting. Methods. For the study, we used a comparative analysis, systematization, induction and deduction. Results. The article clarifies the objectives of financial statement audit, including verification of compliance of financial and economic transactions with the relevant regulations of the Russian Federation, as well as procedures for planning and documenting audit of financial statements based on the requirements of the International Standard on Auditing 250 (ISA 250) (revised). It also identifies problematic issues in the content of ISA 250 and formulates certain proposals to clarify it. Conclusions and Relevance. The article concludes that both the global and Russian audit practices require a thorough review of compliance of activities and financial reporting with the regulations in order to achieve the audit goal. The results presented can be applied in both audit theory and practice.

The Relationship between Audit Report Lags and Future Restatements

2014 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 27-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan I. Blankley ◽  
David N. Hurtt ◽  
Jason E. MacGregor
Keyword(s):  
Time Pressure ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Financial Statement ◽  
Fiscal Year ◽  
Audit Report ◽  
Two Stage ◽  
Number Of Factors ◽  
Financial Restatements ◽  
Ex Ante ◽  
The Relationship

SUMMARY: We investigate the relationship between future financial statement restatements and audit report lags. Audit report lags are defined as the number of days between the fiscal year-end and the date of the audit report. Ex ante, it is not clear whether there should be a relationship and, if there is, whether that relationship would be negative or positive. We first discuss the underlying conceptual rationale for both negative and positive associations, then we use a two-stage approach to empirically examine the relationship. We find that compared to non-restating firms, firms that eventually restate their financial statements have longer abnormal audit report lags. In subsequent testing, we consider a number of factors that may undermine additional audit effort and, thus, influence the association between audit report lag and subsequent restatements. Of the factors examined, we find that time pressure appears to be associated with increased probability of financial restatements.

Auditors’ quality, footnotes, and earnings persistence

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-282
Author(s):  
Mohammad A. Karim ◽  
Sayan Sarkar
Keyword(s):  
Financial Statements ◽  
Financial Statement ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Earnings Persistence ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Big 4 ◽  
Auditor Quality ◽  
One Year ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of auditors in financial statement readability. Using a simple proxy for financial statement obfuscation (number of footnotes), the authors examine the relationship between auditor quality, financial statement readability and earnings persistence. Design/methodology/approach The authors use regression analysis to test two hypotheses. In the first hypothesis, the authors investigate whether firms audited by Big 4 auditors have a lower number of footnotes than firms audited by non-Big 4 auditors. In the second hypothesis, the authors show that the firms with more footnotes have less earning persistence in comparison to the firms with less footnotes. Findings The authors find that firms audited by Big 4 auditors have fewer footnotes than firms audited by non-Big 4 auditors, and a larger number of footnotes reduces earnings persistence one-year and two-years ahead of the financial statement, although a larger number of footnotes does not reduce earning persistence when firms use Big 4 auditors. Overall, firms that use non-Big 4 auditors tend to obfuscate annual reports by using more footnotes and, in turn, reduce earnings persistence. Originality/value This is the first paper that has used number of footnotes in 10Ks as a proxy for financial statement readability. This paper shows how auditors’ reputation plays a key role in the readability of the financial statement. Prior studies related to readability have ignored the importance of auditors’ quality with respect to the readability of financial statements.

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