Stergios Leventis

Timeliness of financial reporting: applicability of disclosure theories in an emerging capital market

Abstract This study examines the timeliness with which financial statements are issued by companies in an emerging capital market (Greece). We find that, while all companies meet the regulatory deadline, there is a wide variation between the financial year end and the date of first issue of the financial statements. Significant factors identified by regression analysis are linked to disclosure theories of proprietary costs (using surrogate variables of barriers to entry and industry competition), information cost savings (using surrogate variables of trading volume and public issue) and relative good news or bad news (using surrogate variables of comment in the audit report, and annual change in return on equity). Our results support the predictions of Diamond (1985) and Verrecchia (1983, 1990).

Timeliness of corporate annual financial reporting in Greece

Abstract This paper reports on the results of an empirical investigation of the factors that affect timely annual financial reporting practices by 95 non-financial, group companies listed on the Athens Stock Exchange. A descriptive analysis indicates that 92% of the companies reported early (relative to the 161-day regulatory deadline), 3% reported on the 161st day and 5% reported late. A multivariate regression analysis suggests that large companies, service companies and companies audited by the former Big-5 audit firms have shorter final reporting lead-time. Our tests provide strong empirical evidence to suggest, however, that companies in the construction sector, companies whose audit reports were qualified and companies that had a greater proportion of their equity shares directly and indirectly held by insiders do not promptly release their audited financial statements. No empirical evidence was found in support of the monitoring cost theory. Policy implications of the results for the regulatory agency of the stock market are suggested.

VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURES IN AN EMERGING CAPITAL MARKET: SOME EVIDENCE FROM THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

Abstract Prior research has pointed to the need to subdivide aspects of voluntary disclosure rather than treat this as an amorphous mix. However, questions about the relative reasons for the variations observed across categories of voluntary disclosure remain open to investigation. This paper contributes to that investigation in the context of a European emerging capital market. Three categories of voluntary disclosure are developed (namely, corporate environment, social responsibility and finance-related disclosures) and each category is tested for association with seven company-specific variables (corporate size, gearing, profitability, liquidity, industry, share return and listing status) in the annual reports of 87 companies listed on the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE). The extent of voluntary disclosure is relatively low. Using linear regression analysis, different explanations are found for the separate categories of disclosure based on prior evidence. Interpretation and analysis are offered in the context of the operation of the ASE.

Impression management: dual language reporting and voluntary disclosure

Abstract The presentation of corporate disclosure may be explained by impression management. The relative extent of corporate disclosure may be related to information costs. This paper links these two theoretical perspectives by comparing the extent of voluntary disclosure in companies that have chosen to present a dual language approach to reporting, relative to the disclosure provided by companies choosing to report only in one language. The analysis shows that voluntary disclosure is higher in companies that have higher visibility through dual language reporting and whose investors face higher information costs. The analysis also shows that voluntary disclosure by companies reporting only in one language is associated with domestic visibility in market listing and type of industry, while that of companies reporting in two languages is associated with responding to market pressures.

Determinants of audit time as a proxy of audit quality

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine auditor‐ and auditee‐related factors that determine audit time, as a proxy of audit quality. The issue of audit quality is of particular significance, while companies in Europe move towards adoption of international accounting standards.Design/methodology/approach – The paper compares the actual audit hours for corporate audits of listed companies with a minimum prescribed by the Supervisory Council of the Hellenic Institute of Certified Auditors (known in Greek with the acronym SOEL). The data used are from the period immediately preceding the implementation of SOELs minimum audit time criteria.Findings – An “audit effort” ratio calculated as actual hours to minimum hours prescribed is found to bear a positive correlation with company size and gearing, and is also significantly higher for companies audited by large multinational audit firms and for companies that seek equity finance. A proportion of audits is found to have been conducted at less than the...

The role of corporate governance in earnings management: experience from US banks

Purpose - The purpose of this research paper is to investigate the role of corporate governance in earnings management behaviour by US listed banks during the era of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (2003-2008). Design/methodology/approach - The paper examines the issue of accounting quality and corporate governance within banking corporations through the use of two different measures of earnings management, namely small positive net income and the difference between discretionary realized security gains and losses and discretionary loan loss provisions (LLPs), by applying a corporate governance index estimated from 63 governance provisions. Findings - The research found convincing evidence that banks with efficient corporate governance mechanisms report small positive income to a lesser extent than banks with weak governance efficiency. Also well-governed banks engage less in aggressive earnings management behaviour through the use of discretionary loan loss provisions and realized security gains and losses. Practical implications - The findings could prove to be valuable to investors since they must take into consideration the efficiency of each banks corporate governance and demand supplementary information in order to reach a better investment decision when earnings are not highly informative. Social implications - The findings could prove to be useful for regulators since they are responsible for the acceptable level of corporate governance standards. Thus, they must consider strengthening governance mechanisms either though new legislation or stronger enforcement where earnings management is of such magnitude to that serious impedes information transparency and quality. Originality/value - The present study aims to bridge a gap in the literature by investigating corporate governance and earnings management behaviour during a period of transition to an intensively legalized governance environment (SOX Act). The results contribute further evidence to the ongoing debate about the effectiveness of established corporate governance mechanisms.

Corporate Governance and Accounting Conservatism: Evidence from the Banking Industry

Research Question/Issue: In this paper, we empirically investigate whether US listed commercial banks with effective corporate governance structures engage in higher levels of conservative financial accounting and reporting. Research Findings/Insights: Using both market- and accrual-based measures of conservatism and both composite and disaggregated governance indices, we document convincing evidence that well-governed banks engage in significantly higher levels of conditional conservatism in their financial reporting practices. For example, we find that banks with effective governance structures, particularly those with effective board and audit governance structures, recognize loan loss provisions that are larger relative to changes in nonperforming loans compared to their counterparts with ineffective governance structures. Theoretical/Academic Implications: We contribute to the extant literature on the relationship between corporate governance and quality of accounting information by providing evidence that banks with effective governance structures practice higher levels of accounting conservatism. Practitioner/Policy Implications: The findings of this study would be useful to US bank regulators/supervisors in improving the existing regulatory framework by focusing on accounting conservatism as a complement to corporate governance in mitigating the opaqueness and intense information asymmetry that plague banks.

Corporate social responsibility and earnings management in U.S. banks

Highlights • Reverse causality between EM and CSR is explored in the U.S. banking sector.• Banks actively engaged in EM practices are found to be deeply involved in CSR.• CSR seen as part of legitimation strategies aimed at deflecting attention from EM.• Banks engagement in CSR activities is found to have no significant impact on EM.• Extreme caution should be exhibited when factoring CSR commitment in firm analyses. Abstract Business decision making depends on financial reporting quality. In identifying the drivers of financial reporting quality, proxied by earnings management (EM), prior literature has drawn attention to the association between corporate EM practices and commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR). Empirical evidence, however, provides inconclusive results regarding the direction of this association. Using simultaneous equations, we examine the bi-directional CSR–EM relationship in U.S. commercial banks. We demonstrate that, although banks that engage in EM practices are also actively involved in CSR, the reverse relationship is not significant. We provide implications for investors, analysts, business participants and regulators.

Signalling by banks using loan loss provisions: the case of the European Union

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether bank managers of countries within the European Union (EU) engage in signalling, especially after implementation of international financial reporting standards (IFRS) commencing 2005. Design/methodology/approach – “Signaling” is the use of loan loss provisions (LLPs) to convey signals of fiscal prudence and future profitability to investors. The authors use data from 18 countries across the EU covering the pre and post IFRS regimes and apply univariate and multivariate tests in order to test signaling behavior under both accounting regimes. Findings – The findings indicate insufficient evidence that financially healthy banks engage in signaling behavior. However, banks facing financial distress appear to engage in aggressive signaling relative to healthy banks. Finally, the propensity to engage in signaling behavior is more pronounced for financially distressed banks in the post IFRS regime. While IFRS, under IAS 39 sort to mitigate the discretionary component of LLPs, our finding may be attributable to lax enforcement of IFRS. Practical implications – The findings have implications for both investors and regulators. Investors should be aware that troubled banks engage in signaling to convey positive information about their future prospects. Regulators should be aware that financially stressed banks have a greater propensity to engage in signaling and need to ensure that the provisions of IFRS (which attempts to limit discretion in estimating LLPs) are enforced more stringently. Originality/value – The paper contributes to the growing literature on bank signaling in a number of ways. First, the authors use a sample from 18 countries within the EU which has not been done before. Second, unlike prior studies which only examined healthy banks, the authors also include financially distressed banks in the sample. Third, the authors examine signaling behavior in the pre and post IFRS regimes to understand the influence of IFRS on the propensity to engage in signaling by bank managers.

Effects of municipal, auditing and political factors on audit delay

Abstract We examine audit delay for financial statements prepared by Greek municipalities. Greece is an interesting setting because, despite the rigid regulatory framework that governs reporting, the penalties imposed in cases of non-compliance with regulatory deadlines are almost non-existent. We investigate specifications indicated by previous research but also municipal and political factors. Our results suggest a considerable variation in audit delay which is influenced by the political process under which municipalities operate and make decisions. We analyse further determinants of non-compliance and we analyse the characteristics of non-compliers separately. Political variables persist in explaining audit delay in terms of non-compliance.