Financial reporting and firm valuation: relevance lost or relevance regained?

In this study, I examine whether balance sheet and income statement numbers have lost or regained their relevance over the last 30 years. Institutional and macroeconomic factors like the global trend towards strengthening regulation and harmonising financial reporting, the extended use of fair values over historical cost, and the recurring occurrence of accounting scandals, market bubbles, and financial crises make it likely that the role of financial reporting for firm valuation has changed. Following prior research, I estimate four models for the concurrent relation between market value and accounting numbers, and then examine the pattern in explanatory power over time. I find that the loss in relevance of the income statement continues in recent years and is present in a large international sample, in particular in countries with strong institutions. While the overall relevance of the balance sheet remains stable, I find a downward trend during the first sample half, which reverses in the second half, especially in common law countries with strong investor protection, strict disclosure requirements, and integrated markets. Even though several caveats apply, the results suggest that changes in the economy, the institutional environment, and in how firms operate affect the relative importance of accounting information for the use in firm valuation by outside stakeholders.     

Prioritising disclosures in the annual report

Drawing upon information economics, this paper presents a relative assessment of 24 of the most common disclosure items in the management commentary and notes sections of the annual report. We design and conduct an Internet survey using a large representative sample of users with an investment focus (n?=?288) and preparers of annual reports (n?=?89). Using cost-effectiveness analysis, an evaluation method widely used in healthcare economics, the balance between preparation costs and user satisfaction, relative to user demand is assessed. Our main findings show that corporate social responsibility and corporate governance, the least demanded disclosure items in the management commentary, are also costly items to prepare. Further, preparers do not consider indirect costs (i.e. competitive position costs and potential litigation costs) of information provided in the management commentary to be a major concern. With regard to the notes, we find that business combinations (IFRS 3), financial instruments (IFRS 7) and impairment tests (IAS 36) are highly demanded but are also among the items most costly to prepare, and users are less satisfied with these notes. The findings have important implications for practitioners and policy-makers and can be used for setting priorities.     

Derivatives use and financial instrument disclosure in the extractives industry

This article documents the use and disclosure of derivatives in the Australian extractives industry. We find that derivatives are used by 23 per cent of our sample, with mitigation of commodity risk and foreign exchange risk being the most common purposes for which derivatives are used. The most common types of derivatives used in the sector for hedging purposes are forward rate agreements and options. Results indicate that derivative use is positively associated with financial risk and firm size. We also examine the relation between firm characteristics and the extent of financial instrument disclosure, using a disclosure index based on the additional requirements in IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures. Empirical results reveal that large firms with higher leverage, which use derivatives, and are audited by a Big 4 auditor provide more extensive disclosure of financial instruments.     

Measuring the impact of international reporting standards on market performance of publicly traded companies

The decision whether to require publicly traded companies to adopt International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) remains in flux. In 2008, the US Securities and Exchange Commission proposed a roadmap leading to complete acceptance of IFRS in the US. With the potential replacement of US GAAP with IFRS in the near future, understanding the impact of IFRS on corporate financial reporting is more important than ever. This study examines two factors which are critical considerations in the decision to accept or not to accept IFRS in the US: How different is financial statement information derived under IFRS from information derived under US generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP); and how much incremental information value, if any, is provided by IFRS over US GAAP? The present study extends prior research by examining concurrently both differences and their impact on market performance. Findings of this study support the view that differences on financial statement results between IFRS and US GAAP are not significant, thus, supporting proponents of adoption of IFRS in the US, after which all US publicly traded companies would use IFRS and not US GAAP.     

Old wine in new bottles: IFRS adoption in NHS foundation trusts

UK public sector organizations, including NHS foundation trusts, have changed to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Treasury aims were ‘to bring benefits in consistency and comparability between financial reports in the global economy and to follow private sector best practice’. This comparative analysis of foundation trusts' financial statements under IFRS shows worse financial results and lower surpluses for the year, higher values of fixed (non-current) assets and more indebtedness than under UK GAAP. Implications of the new accounting regime on comparability and transparency of NHS organizations are discussed—some wine shows improvement, while other wine looks worse in the new bottles.     

The Impact of IFRS Convergence on the Effectiveness of Accounting Information for Share Valuation: Evidence from the Mainland of China

This study examines whether the reconciliation amounts between IFRS and PRC GAAP provide additional incremental value-relevant information. More specifically, it investigates whether firms applying IFRS experience an increase in the quality of accounting information in the post-IFRS convergence period. Results show that IFRS convergence increases the values of balance-sheet items and enlarges variation across firms. Moreover, there is no difference in the explanatory power of value relevance of accounting information under IFRS and PRC GAAP for share prices and returns of A-shares. The incremental value relevance analysis suggests that the IFRS adjustments to earnings are value relevant, whereas the adjustments to book values are not. The IFRS adjustments to change in inventory are value relevant for predicting future operating cash flows. Finally, accounting quality improved in post-convergence period. These results are robust after controlling for the unique characteristics of Chinese firms.     

The Evolving Economic Role of Accounting Standards： Evidence from Bilateral Cross-Border M＆A Flows

Cross-border M＆As are important to the participating countries. I posit that mandatory International Financial Reporting Standards （IFRS） adoption lowers the systemic information noise embedded in countries＇ accounting standards. This reduces the associated information processing costs and enhances the economic role accounting standards play on cross-border M＆A flows. After mandatory IFRS adoption, a 1% increase in accounting standards disparity suppresses bilateral M＆A flows by around 2%; a decrease in accounting standards disparity helps promote bilateral M＆A flows when paired countries＇ governance infrastructure gaps are relatively wider. I do not find that these associations were significant prior to mandatory IFRS adoption. Overall, this paper documents an evolving economic role accounting standards play on bilateral cross-border M＆A flows and sheds light on the economic benefits of adopting IFRS for policy makers.     

Benchmark Management During Australia's Transition to International Accounting Standards

Practitioners and commentators have raised concerns that Australian companies exploited opportunities to benchmark manage during the transition to international financial reporting standards (IFRS). However, as yet, no paper has explored this possibility. This study analyses the reconciliations of AGAAP into AIFRS for 457 companies listed on the ASX 500. Results show that 16.85% of companies provided erroneous information of a material nature in their reconciliations and that, on the balance of probabilities, 5.03% of companies in the sample managed their prior year's earnings benchmarks. This has implications for countries considering whether to adopt IFRS and countries which have already established timetables for their transitions.     

对简化金融工具会计处理的几点思考

公允价值计量并非金融危机的根源.但在此次大规模的危机中,公允价值暴露了其不足及应用的限制.如:在出现金融危机等特殊市场条件下,公允价值更容易加剧经营业绩的波动性;在市场不活跃的情况下,针对同一金融产品,不同机构会给出不同的评级标准,从而极易引发市场定价体系混乱.因此有必要针对我国经济发展现状,从多个方面入手,完善公允价值在我国的应用.     

Debt Financing and Voluntary Adoption of the International Financial Reporting Standards: Evidence from Korean Unlisted Firms

We investigate the effect of debt financing on the voluntary adoption of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) by unlisted firms and such adoption’s effect on bond credit rating. We find that unlisted firms with public debts are more likely to voluntarily adopt IFRS. Subsequent to the voluntary application of IFRS, the unlisted firms exhibit, on average, enhanced credit ratings. These findings suggest that the public debt market’s demand for high-quality financial reporting may drive those unlisted firms to voluntarily adopt IFRS. Furthermore, rating agencies seem to reward such firms by elevating their bond credit ratings.