Are IFRS and U.S. GAAP converging? : Some evidence from People's Republic of China companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange

This research investigates the comparability and convergence of two sets of accounting standards from 1996 to 2002: United States’ Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The investigation involves a sample of companies from the People's Republic of China (PRC) that are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). PRC companies traded on the NYSE generally prepare IFRS financial statements and provide a limited reconciliation to U.S. GAAP, creating a unique quasi-experimental opportunity to examine differences between two sets of accounting numbers produced by two different sets of accounting standards while holding the company constant. Comparability is measured by using Gray's index of comparability, and a set of measures are introduced to capture several dimensions of convergence over time in reported net income, net assets, return on net assets, and earnings per share. The evidence shows lack of comparability, caused largely by the revaluations of property, plant and equipment permitted under IFRS, but not permitted under U.S. GAAP. There is, however, substantial evidence of convergence over time.     

The value-relevance of adopting IFRS: Evidence from 145 NGAAP restatements

Firms listed on stock exchanges within the European Economic Area are required to report consolidated financial statements according to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) since 2005. The firms that adopted IFRS in 2005 were also required to restate their 2004 financial statements from national GAAP to provide comparable accounting figures. These two sets of financial statements for 2004 are thus based on identical underlying economic activities and are fully specified according to two different reporting regimes. Our sample consists of 145 restatements from Norwegian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (NGAAP) to IFRS for firms listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange in Norway. We test whether the IFRS accounting figures correlate more strongly with stock market values than the corresponding NGAAP figures. We find little evidence of increased value-relevance after adopting IFRS when comparing and evaluating the two regimes unconditionally. On the other hand, when evaluating the change in the accounting figures from NGAAP to IFRS, we find evidence that the reconcilement adjustments to IFRS are marginally value-relevant due to increased relevance of the balance sheet and the normalized net operating income. By weighting our sample by firm size, intangible asset intensity and profitability, we learn that the increased value-relevance of the net operating income stems from different reporting of intangible assets. Since more intangible assets are capitalized according to IFRS than NGAAP, our finding is consistent with the view that capitalizing intangible assets is more value-relevant than expensing them as incurred or through goodwill amortization.     

新会计准则实施后营业利润的信息质量研究

以新会计准则实施对营业利润信息质量的影响为研究对象,利用2001～2010年A股上市公司数据,从会计信息的持续性、稳健性和相关性三个方面综合评价新会计准则实施对营业利润信息质量的影响,同时分析了资产减值损失、公允价值变动收益和投资收益的并入对营业利润信息质量的影响。实证结果显示新准则对营业利润的综合影响结果是价值相关性提高,但持续性和稳健性下降。     

Intangible assets and value relevance: Evidence from the Portuguese stock exchange

We assess the value relevance of the amounts for identifiable intangible assets and goodwill reported in the financial statements of all non-finance companies listed on the main market of the Portuguese Stock Exchange from 1998 to 2008. Additionally, we use panel data to explore the impact on value relevance of Portugal’s formal adoption of International Accounting Standards [IAS] and International Financial Reporting Standards [IFRS] in 2005. A distinctive feature of the accounting by our sample companies is that when they adopted IAS 38 and IFRS 3 in 2005, they were no longer required to recognise some intangible assets (such as start-up costs and research expenditures) and were no longer required to amortise goodwill.We find that net earnings, reported goodwill and other intangible assets are highly significantly associated with stock price. However, whereas earnings are related positively to stock prices when Portuguese Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) were applied prior to 2005, the value relevance of earnings appears to have declined after the adoption of IAS/IFRS in 2005. Although the change to IAS/IFRS had no impact on the value relevance of identifiable intangibles as a whole, the evidence suggests that there was a positive effect on the value relevance of goodwill. When the subclasses of identifiable intangible assets are considered, we found evidence of an increase in value relevance of goodwill, other intangible assets, and research and development expenditures.     

Canadian Evidence on the Constructive Capitalization of Operating Leases*

One type of relevant ex ante research supporting the accounting standard‐setting process is the study of a proposed standard's impact on reported figures. The International Accounting Standards Board recently decided to review the lease accounting standard, which will naturally involve consideration of the G4 + 1 recommendation to capitalize all noncancellable lease contracts, including operating leases. National evidence of the impact of the G4 + 1 proposals provides feedback for the international standard‐setter. This study developed and used a refined constructive capitalization method, in which company‐specific assumptions — interest rate, total/expired/remaining lives of leased assets, and tax rate — were used to compute the impact of operating‐lease capitalization on key financial indicators for a sample of Canadian public companies. The results indicate that capitalizing operating leases would lead to the recognition of important additional assets and liabilities on the balance sheet. It would therefore significantly increase the debt‐to‐asset ratio and significantly decrease the current ratio. These results were noted across all industry segments in the sample. Income statement effects were generally less material. Significant impacts on return on assets, return on equity, and / or earnings per share were noted in only three industry segments: merchandising and lodging, oil and gas, and financial services. Intercompany comparability would not be affected overall nor within industries, because of similar rankings for each financial indicator before and after operating‐lease capitalization.     

An Empirical Investigation of Accounting Methods for Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets: 1985 to 1989

Accounting for intangible assets represents one of the more controversial accounting standards issues. This study examines the accounting policies adopted for goodwill and for identifiable intangible assets by a sample of 150 Australian Stock Exchange listed companies over the five-year period 1985 to 1989 inclusive. Findings reveal a general decrease in the diversity of goodwill accounting policies over the study period but the converse for identifiable intangible policies. In particular, an increase in the percentage of companies electing not to amortize identifiable intangibles was found. The study provides evidence to support claims that companies have been recognizing identifiable intangibles to reduce the impact on reported operating profits of the requirement of accounting standards for the amortization of goodwill.     

基于财务数据的农业股票投资价值研究

在农业板块股票市场中,采用灰色关联度法找出与股票价格相关联的财务指标,并分别建立了对数线性模型与截面数据回归模型检验了每股净资产对股票价格的基础作用。研究结果表明：股票价格与业绩关联性显著,公司财务因素对于股价有着极强的解释能力,每股净资产是股票价格的价值基础。     

长期资产减值:公允价值的体现还是盈余管理行为

长期资产与流动资产相比,由于其使用期限长,公允价值更难寻觅,因此其减值政策的应用不仅对公司业绩的影响深远,而且主观性更强。那么《企业会计制度》出台后长期资产减值政策的执行状况如何,其追溯调整政策给公司减值行为会产生什么样的影响,公司长期资产减值是真实反映了长期资产未来收益能力的变化,还是盈余管理的行为,本文对此进行了研究。研究结果发现,我国上市公司在长期资产减值政策实施当年,普遍进行了长期资产的减值,并且证实不仅减值总额真实反映了长期资产未来收益能力的下降,而且追溯调整后计入当年损益的减值数额也真实反映了长期资产未来收益能力的下降。这一研究结果说明追溯调整政策为公司夯实长期资产,如实反映长期资产的公允价值提供了政策途径,并未演化成公司盈余管理的工具。     

Discretionary accounting choices: the case of IAS 19 pension accounting

Based on a sample of 3207 firm-year observations for the years 2005–2013, we investigate how stock-listed companies in France, Germany and the UK use two discretionary choices in their accounting for defined benefit pension plans under International Accounting Standard (IAS) 19 Employee Benefits. We first analyse companies’ decision whether to voluntarily early adopt the equity method of accounting for actuarial gains and losses. Second, we analyse companies’ choice to present pension interest cost and expected return on plan assets, or, in 2013, net pension interest cost, in operating or financial income. Our findings provide evidence that companies’ decisions to early adopt the equity method in 2005, the first year this accounting choice was available, were motivated by short-term effects on equity. Our analyses also indicate that the choice regarding where to present interest cost and expected return on plan assets in the income statement is associated with the resulting effect on Earnings before Interest and Tax. Finally, we document country-specific differences in the use of the discretion provided under IAS 19, suggesting that discretionary pension accounting choices may impede comparability.     

中国非金融企业金融化的影响因素分析

作为经济金融化微观层面的重要表现,非金融企业金融化现象日益凸显.以2001-2014年我国A股上市的非金融企业为研究对象,借助Eviews6.0软件,运用最小二乘法,从宏观和微观两个层面实证分析我国非金融企业金融化的影响因素.研究表明:企业的金融化程度随着其股东价值最大化观念的增强而加深,企业金融资产持有比例与其主营业务利润率呈U型关系,稳定的宏观经济环境会弱化企业的金融投资行为.     

资产减值计提动机的实证研究

基于A股上市公司在2006年以及2007年所披露资产减值的计提以及其它相关数据进行的实证研究结果表明:行业类别的实质性经济因素与资产减值率存在一定的负向关系;实施新会计准则的2007年与2006年相比较,高管变动、迎合预期以及洗澡动机、收益平滑动机与资产减值计提具有了显著关系;资产减值计提具有正向关系的报告动机被明显地观察到了,成为解释资产减值计提的关键因素,相反,负向的关系并不显著.     

资产减值与盈余管理——基于长期资产减值转回的实证研究

2006年2月15日《企业会计准则第8号：资产减值》的颁布，作为我国会计准则与国际会计准则的实质性差异之一，长期资产减值能否转回问题又成为人们瞩目的焦点。本文试图利用实证研究论证我国上市公司确实有利于资产减值转回（尤其是长期资产减值转回）进行盈余管理的行为，旨在为《资产减值》准则的制定与实施提供一些经验数据。同时重点关注上市公司2006年对于以前年度计提的长期资产减值准备的处理方式，以观测新准则的发布和实施对于上市公司的影响程度，以及是否的确出现了部分学者预言的“最后的疯狂”——上市公司资产减值转回的“赶集”现象。     

China's Convergence with IFRS: Analysis of Dual-listed Companies

This study investigates China's convergence towards International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) using generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) differences data disclosed in AH-share companies’ annual reports from 2006 to 2017. We firstly find that 92% of AH-share companies disclosed GAAP differences in 2006, immediately prior to implementation of converged Chinese accounting standards (CAS). This ratio decreased to 88% in 2007, 58% in 2010, and 38% in 2011, respectively. After 2011, less than one third of AH companies disclosed GAAP differences. Secondly, an increasing number of AH companies (35%) have published CAS-based financial statements in Hong Kong from 2014. Thirdly, except for the first few years after 2007, the disclosed GAAP differences have dropped to a very low level; since 2010 the net profit and net assets GAAP differences ratios have been below 0.5%. Fourthly, reduction of the disclosed GAAP differences appears to be the result of efforts by Chinese standard setters and regulators, work related to the International Accounting Standards Board, or changes in China's special socio-economic environment. Distinct from word-by-word comparison between CAS and IFRS, this research shows that China has achieved its original goal, namely an enterprise applying CAS should produce financial statements that are the same as those of an enterprise that applies IFRS. Our findings provide insights regarding China's institutional evolution in terms of the country's IFRS convergence effort, which are useful for further empirical study.     

我国退市制度与亏损公司财务能力研究

本文以我国2001-2010年的连续亏损上市公司为研究对象,分析了这些公司连续亏损期间财务能力的持续性和差异性。研究发现：连续亏损期间,公司财务能力持续恶化,但那些最终扭亏为盈公司的财务能力较强;亏损公司均有利用非经常性损益操纵会计盈余以规避退市监管的倾向。研究证实,以亏损持续时间为标准制定退市政策具有一定的逻辑合理性,但存在容易被规避的缺陷。     

Recognition versus Disclosure of Stock Option Compensation: An Analysis of Judgements and Decisions of Nonprofessional Investors*/CONSTATER OU PRÉSENTER PAR VOIE DE NOTE LA RÉMUNÉRATION SOUS FORME D'OPTIONS D'ACHAT D'ACTIONS: UNE ANALYSE DES JUGEMENTS ET DES DÉCISIONS DES INVESTISSEURS NON PROFESSIONNELS

Given the importance of stock options in the aggregate compensation of chief executive officers and other firm employees in the 1990s and early 2000s, the International Accounting Standards Board issued an International Financial Reporting Standard on stock‐based payments on February 19, 2004, requiring that all share‐based payment transactions be recognized at fair value in entities' financial statements. The Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants' Accounting Standards Board had already agreed to this principle and amended section 3870 of the CICA Handbook (stock‐based compensation) for financial periods beginning on or after January 1, 2004, making Canada the first major jurisdiction to require all public companies to expense employee stock‐based compensation awards. The revised section eliminated the possibility of disclosing pro forma net income and earnings per share only by way of a note. This research, conducted as a between‐subjects experiment with executive MBA students as nonprofessional investors, examines whether changes in the way stock option compensation is reported (recognition as an expense in the income statement or note disclosure of pro forma net income and earnings per share) affect financial statement users' judgements and investment decisions. Our results indicate that, consistent with the functional fixation hypothesis, the reporting method does indeed significantly influence subjects' judgement of the expected stock price direction, but has no material influence on their investment decisions.     

公允价值具有价值相关性吗?基于金融资产的研究

本文以构成我国证券市场主体的A股上市公司为研究样本,考察了公允价值相对于历史成本以及公允价值自身变动产生的未实现收益的价值相关性问题。实证结果发现:相对于历史成本,公允价值具有增量的价值相关性;金融资产公允价值变动产生的未实现收益具有价值相关性;两种金融资产中,只有可供出售金融资产产生的未实现收益具有价值相关性,交易性金融资产不具有价值相关性。此研究结果不仅为国际会计准则在中国证券市场的应用和实施效果提供了经验证据,同时也能够帮助监管层和实务界正确认识公允价值在股票市场上信息传递方面所起的作用。     

对新《企业会计准则——基本准则》中关键问题的思考

新《企业会计准则-基本准则》于2007年1月1日起在上市公司执行。该准则对现行基本准则进行了重大修改和多方面完善,广泛采用了国际上通用的概念和原则,无论在形式上还是在实质上都实现了与国际财务报告准则的趋向,并更能适用我国的会计现状和未来的发展趋势,为中国的会计职业界致力于提高透明度和执行高水准的执业准则奠定了基础。本文首先简要的分析了新基本准则对原基本准则的一些改进,然后就新基本准则某些关键问题来看仍有值得进一步思考和推敲的地方,给出了自己的建议,以期对新基本准则的完善有所助益。     

The association between ISO 9000 certification and financial performance

This study explores the association between ISO 9000 certification and financial performance at the organizational level in a mature quality initiative market. It extends the limited literature on quality initiatives and objective measures of financial performance. The study hypothesizes that ISO 9000 certification is associated with improvements across three dimensions of financial performance. These dimensions are operating efficiency, growth in sales, and overall financial performance. These dimensions of performance are measured using profit margin, growth in sales, and earnings per share, respectively. Based on data for a sample of 70 companies listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange over a 6-year period, the results of the study are consistent with the hypothesized effects. In particular, the results show that the extent of improvement is driven largely by operating efficiencies and suggests that firms can benefit from ISO 9000 certification if they are genuinely interested in the quality philosophy by improving their internal business processes.     

新会计准则对企业所得税的影响

2007年1月1日,我国上市公司率先实行新的会计准则,不久的将来则有更多的非上市公司也将实行新的会计准则。这套新会计准则体系起点高、范围大、创新多,标志着我国的会计准则与国际会计准则实现了实质性的趋同。新会计准则的实施,不仅影响企业的财务状况和经营成果,而且对企业的申报纳税也产生重大影响。本文以现行税法和新会计准则体系为依据,重点研究探讨新会计准则对企业所得税的影响。     

我国上市公司管理层收购财务绩效的实证研究

管理层收购(MBO)是优化公司治理结构、降低代理成本、充分发挥企业家才能,从而提高公司财务绩效的有效途径。本文以我国深、沪两市中具有代表性的24家上市公司为样本,采用合成数据(Panel Date)截面回归的计量模型,对我国上市公司MBO的财务绩效问题进行了实证研究,结果表明:(1)在比较低的管理层持股比例下,MBO并未提高我国上市公司的财务绩效,且管理层持股比例与公司财务绩效成反向关系;(2)管理层收购前后,公司每股净资产均呈向上的凸性;每股收益随着管理层持股比例的扩大而呈递减趋势。