年报补丁研究综述与展望——基于中美不同制度背景

年报补丁是证券市场信息披露过程中出现的一类特殊现象,是上市公司对已披露的财务报告发生重大错报的补充更正,国外会计实务界称之为财务重述.本文结合在中美两种不同制度背景下学者的研究成果,对年报补丁的动因、经济影响和发布年报补丁的公司特点进行评述并对今后的研究做出展望.     

我国上市公司财务重述的动因研究

财务报告重新表述是对存在错误或误导性信息的历史财务报告进行事后补救的公告行为.财务报告重新表述,表明前财务报告的低质量和不可信,会造成严重的经济后果.上市公司财务重述的内因是资本市场带来的压力和高管薪酬契约的不正当激动;其外因是信息不对称和造价成本低廉.但深层次原因是公司治理机制存在缺陷.要注重在上市公司信息披露与监管的框架下对上市公司的财务重述进行考察,并分析财务重述现象频发的原因,并针对其动因找出对策,尽量避免上市公司发生财务重述.     

上市公司财务重述内在动因分析及建议

近年来,上市公司财务重述现象屡见不鲜,有一定数量的公司在披露公司年报后不久对披露年报又进行补救和更正,对市场产生了一定的影响。本文通过分析上市公司财务重述的动因,并针对其动因提出自己的建议和观点。     

上市公司年报披露及时性:基于自由裁量权视角的分析

及时性是上市公司信息披露的重要质量特征要求.文章以年报披露制度为起点,通过对年报披露时滞形成机理的理论分析,揭示了在时间维度上年报披露自由裁量权产生的内在逻辑和对信息及时性的影响,并对影响年报披露裁量权的因素进行了实证检验.研究结果表明,在研究期间内,上市公司自由裁量年报披露的区间分布为[0,84]天,占年报披露限定期的70%.其中审计意见和盈余消息是影响裁量权大小的重要因素,而董事会内部治理对管理者裁量权的监督作用未得到全面的发挥.因此,为规避年报披露自由裁量的滥用危机,监管部门应进一步加强信息披露制度建设和董事会治理机制的完善,同时呼唤公司管理者的德性崇高,强化信息的及时披露.     

我国上市公司财务重述的动机和经济后果分析

财务报告是上市公司对外披露信息的载体，财务重述意味着上市公司公布的财务报告不够真实可靠。本文首先分析了财务重述产生的原因，其次深入阐述了财务重述造成的经济后果，最后提出相关政策建议。     

上市公司年报监管探索

年度报告是上市公司最常见最重要的信息披露形式，财务报告又是公司经营业绩最终、最直接的体现，无论在国内还是海外资本市场，如何利用年报这一最重要的信息载体都是监管工作的核心之一。笔者围绕现状，讨论了近期国内年报披露状况和年度财务报告监管动态，试图从年报监管重点出发探索新的监管思路，为科学、高效地开展上市公司年报特别是财务报告的监管作出一些启迪。     

财务重述与经济后果

随着我国经济的快速发展,资本市场越来越成熟,市场的监管制度进一步得到完善,对会计信息披露质量的要求也越来越高,而上市公司对外披露的最主要也是最重要的方式就是财务报告。但是,近年来,上市公司的财务报告重述现象日趋频繁。据此,主要分析了财务重述的动因和经济后果,以期对我国上市公司财务报告重述行为有一个较为深入的认识。     

上市公司财务重述对债务融资影响的实证研究分析

文章重点研究上市公司财务重述对债务融资产生的影响,财务重述属于资本市场中的现象,针对上市公司财务报告中存在的虚假信息以及误导性信息展开补救,该种工作方式已经广泛应用在我国上市公司中。     

内控实施视角下的房地产上市公司年报

转眼岁末,又进入到了上市公司年度财务报告编制期.年度报告是上市公司信息披露最重要的环节与核心,在上市公司不断优化信息环境、制度环境、经营环境和外部风险环境的今天,监管部门和投资者对上市公司年报信息质量、披露深度等方面都提出了更高、更新的要求. 今年适逢我公司内控制度具体实施的第一年,公司在接受历年通常的财务年报审计的同时还须面临全面的内控实施"体检",即内部控制的审计.由于控制审计制度的确立,改变了企业只有在上市或再融资时才委托注册会计师对内部控制进行审计的局面.今后,与财务报告审计一样,企业内部控制审计将成为经常性、周期性业务,上市公司每年要与年报一同公布公司内部控制审计报告.     

上市公司财务重述行为动因分析

上市公司财务重述行为与管理层的盈余操纵动机紧密相关,意味着上市公司会计系统薄弱,并暗藏着可能发生的管理层及董事会的操纵利润行为。上市公司财务重述行为,从内部动因看,主要是高管薪酬契约引发的自利行为;从外部动因看,来自于资本市场的融资需求及监督部门对公司虚假信息陈述惩罚力度不够。只有从根本上准备把握上市公司财务重述行为产生的真正原因,才能更好地加强对上市公司财务重述行为的监管,防范上市公司操纵盈余,提高财务报告信息披露质量。     

Determinants of Speed of Adjustment (SOA) toward Optimum Capital Structure: Evidence from Listed Firms in Sri Lanka

This research article aims at examining the determinants of speed of adjustment (SOA) toward the optimum capital structure (OCS). Particularly, this study focuses the impact of firm-specific factors and corporate governance factors on the capital structure adjustment in the Sri Lankan context. The methodology utilizes the benefits of the partial (stock) adjustment model, namely, two-step panel framework using generalised method of moments (GMM) to determine the SOA to OCS. The results indicate that Sri Lankan firms are found to have an OCS and do rapidly adjust toward their target structures. Further this study reveals that profitability, size, tangibility, nondebt tax shields, and governance factors such as directors’ compensation and CEO duality significantly affect the SOA to OCS. The past studies in the emerging market context hardly go into corporate governance factors, leaving a large space for research in the area of capital structure. This study of the listed firms in Sri Lanka contributes to the literature, by examining the determinants of SOA to OCS decision.     

The Determinants of Regulatory Compliance: An Analysis of Insider Trading Disclosures in Italy

This paper investigates the determinants of regulatory compliance in corporate organizations. Exploiting a unique enforcement and reporting framework for insider trading in Italy, we present three main findings. First, board governance, such as chief executive–chairman duality and the proportion of non-executive directors, does not increase the propensity of firms to comply with regulation. Second, family firms and firms with a high degree of separation of ownership from control are most likely to comply with regulation. Third, corporate ethos is more important in predicting regulatory compliance than explicit corporate governance structures.     

At the intersection of corporate governance and performance in family business settings: Extant knowledge and future research

Despite the proliferation of research on governance and performance of family firms over the past decades, the extant empirical evidence remains inconclusive. Acknowledging multiple sources of family firm variation, scholars started explaining the observed differences in governance structures and performance outcomes by taking into consideration the heterogeneity among family firms. In this paper, we undertake a review of the literature at the intersection of governance and performance in family firms to elucidate (a) the role of various governance attributes as performance drivers; and (b) the variability of governance effects across different performance indicators. By taking stock of what is already known and discussing avenues for further investigation, we seek to contribute to a more fine‐grained understanding of the intricate governance–performance relationship in light of the heterogeneous nature of family firms. The key priorities for future inquiry consist in: the identification of missing mediating and moderating variables; the inclusion of currently underexplored governance determinants of family firm performance; and the analysis of complementarity and substitution effects among multiple attributes of monitoring and their changing dynamics over time to secure an optimal governance–performance alignment in family firms.     

Corporate governance in publicly traded small firms: A study of Canadian venture exchange companies

Most evidence regarding the determinants and effects of corporate governance practices is based on large firms. Herein, we explore these issues in the context of small publicly traded Canadian companies. We exploit the fact that such firms were not subject to corporate governance guidelines prior to 2005 and thus analyze the determinants of voluntary governance practice choices, as well as the effects of those practices on firm performance. Using a unique data set, we construct a corporate governance index for each firm. We measure performance by two variables: quality of accounting earnings and financial performance. The results indicate that corporate governance does matter for smaller traded Canadian firms. We find that both accounting and financial performance are positively related to corporate governance; however, their underlying mechanisms may differ somewhat. Given this result, it would be natural to expect all firms to choose higher levels of governance. However, our results also suggest small firms face resource constraints that limit their choices. We conclude that good governance is an important driver of small firm performance that cannot be neglected by the owners and managers of these firms.     

财务重述中关联股东网络的传染机制研究

从关联股东的角度研究财务重述在股东社会网络中传染的可能性。结果表明,曾经持有财务重述公司股份的股东,在持有下一家公司股份时,再次发生财务重述行为的概率会降低。但是,如果关联发生在重述公司重述前,关联公司重述的可能性则会显著增加,并且上述关系会受到关联股东地位的调节影响。本文从所有权网络的行为层面为财务重述研究提供了新的角度,也为应对上市公司财务重述提供了新的思路。     

签字会计师个人经验与财务重述

文章用累计签发报告数、签发报告年数度量签字会计师一般个人经验,进而考察其对客户公司财务重述的影响,结果发现,在控制了公司及事务所层面因素后,随着签字会计师一般经验的提高,客户财务报告发生重述的可能性显著降低。进一步研究发现,签字会计师的客户特定经验(任期)也对财务重述具有抑制作用,并且在客户特定经验较少时,一般经验的作用更为明显;就一般经验而言,无论是行业经验还是非行业经验均有助于降低财务重述;签字会计师一般经验对财务重述的影响主要来自于复核合伙人。研究还发现,事务所规模、签字会计师性别会弱化一般经验的作用。这一研究提供了签字会计师个人经验与公司财务重述关系的经验证据,进一步拓展了审计师个人特质与审计质量之间关系的文献。     

The influence of firm and executive characteristics on performance-vested stock option grants

Motivated by the considerable changes over the last two decades in the form and composition of executive remuneration schemes and the increasing use of performance-vested stock options (PVSOs), this study examines the determinants of PVSO grants. Using data on 4193 executive-year observations of 1373 executive directors in 243 FTSE 350 non-financial companies from 1999 to 2004, I examine the factors that influence PVSO grants at both the firm and the executive level. While controlling for unobservable industry, firm, and executive level fixed effects, the evidence shows that the PVSO grants awarded to individual executives are associated with observable features of corporate governance and indicators of managerial power. More specifically, the results support the following statements: (1) good corporate governance structures facilitate the use of PVSO plans; (2) the proportion of PVSO grants in the total compensation package is smaller for top mangers with more controlling power; (3) PVSO plans are less frequently used to compensate managers who are approaching their retirement and/or have a large equity stake in the firm; (4) relative to non-CEO executives, CEOs are more likely to be rewarded with PVSOs.     

Impact of Post-restatement Actions Taken by a Firm on Non-professional Investors’ Credibility Perceptions

The frequency of earnings restatements has been increasing over the last decade. Restating previous earnings erodes perceived trustworthiness and competence of management, giving firms strong incentives to take actions to enhance perceived credibility of future financial reports [Farber, D. B.: 2005, The Accounting Review 80(2), 539–561.]. Using an experimental case, we examine the ability of post-restatement actions taken by a firm to positively influence non-professional investors’ perceptions of management’s financial reporting credibility. Our examination considers credibility judgments following two types of restatements – those resulting from fraud in which the character, ethics, and values of an organization may be called into question [cf. Copeland, Jr., J. E.: 2005, Accounting Horizons 19(1), 35–43.], and those resulting from non-fraud (i.e., aggressive accounting). Based on the information in the experimental case, non-professional investors take the role of potential equity investors and make a judgment about management’s financial reporting credibility after reviewing a set of post-restatement actions taken by a firm. The possible actions include changes in four corporate governance mechanisms (i.e., internal audit function, external audit firm, board of directors, CFO) and a buyback of company stock. Our results provide an important contribution to the literature by demonstrating that among non-professional investors, perceptions of management’s financial reporting credibility are affected both by the post-restatement action taken and the nature of the restatement. These results offer insight into the formation of a key credibility judgment made by non-professional investors following a trust-destroying event, an earnings restatement. Data Availability: The data are available upon request.     

Corporate governance in emerging markets: A survey

This paper reviews recent research on corporate governance, with a special focus on emerging markets. It finds that better corporate governance benefit firms through greater access to financing, lower cost of capital, better performance, and more favorable treatment of all stakeholders. Numerous studies show these channels to operate at the level of firms, sectors and countries—with causality increasingly often clearly identified. Evidence also shows that voluntary and market corporate governance mechanisms have less effect when a country's governance system is weak. Importantly, how corporate governance regimes change over time and how this impacts firms are receiving more attention recently. Less evidence is available on the direct links between corporate governance and social and environmental performance. The paper concludes by identifying issues requiring further study, including the special corporate governance issues of banks, and family-owned and state-owned firms, and the nature and determinants of public and private enforcement.