Search results

1 – 10 of 20
Open Access
Article
Publication date: 31 May 2018

Wenzhou Qu, Udomsak Wongchoti, Fei Wu and Yanming Chen

The purpose of this paper is to test an implication of the pecking order theory to explain capital structure decisions among Chinese listed companies during the 2005-2007 NTS

6654

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test an implication of the pecking order theory to explain capital structure decisions among Chinese listed companies during the 2005-2007 NTS Reform transition period.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors utilize direct proxies for information asymmetry based on microstructure models including Probability of the arrival of informed trades (PIN), Adverse selection component of the bid-ask spread (λ), Illiquidity ratio (ILLIQ) and liquidity ratio, and Information asymmetry index (InfoAsy) to examine their relation with firms’ debt financing.

Findings

Consistent with the prediction of Pecking Order Theory, the authors find that companies for which stock investors are challenged with more severe informational disadvantages are associated with higher degree of leverage use.

Originality/value

The study provides a more direct test on the positive relation between information asymmetry and financial leverage of Chinese firms. In contrast to previous findings by Chen (2004), the results suggest that capital structure choices among Chinese firms progressively conform to conventional finance theories (e.g. Pecking Order Theory) with the decline of non-tradable shares.

Details

Journal of Asian Business and Economic Studies, vol. 25 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2515-964X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 August 2023

Alfred Bu, Masoud Azizkhani and Alicia Jiang

This study aims to investigate whether and how auditors responded to the documented increases in earnings management after split-share structure reform (SSSR) in China, as…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate whether and how auditors responded to the documented increases in earnings management after split-share structure reform (SSSR) in China, as manifested in auditors’ propensity to issue modified audit opinions (MAOs) after the SSSR. This study further investigates how client importance and auditor size influence auditors’ response to earnings management after the SSSR.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts logit regression models to investigate auditors’ propensity to issue MAOs to their clients that appear to manage earnings after the SSSR. Initially, including all Chinese publicly listed firms from the CSMAR database, the sample for final analyses consists of 21,904 firm-year observations for 1,290 unique listed firms during the period 2001–2020. The sample period surrounds the implementation of the SSSR, which started in 2005, allowing the examination of auditors’ propensity to issue MAOs after vis-à-vis before the SSSR.

Findings

The authors find that non-Big10 auditors in China were less likely to issue MAOs to their economically important clients who appear to manage earnings after SSSR. However, in the years of non-tradeable shares being released to the markets, both Big10 and non-Big10 auditors were less likely to issue MAOs to their economically important clients who appear to manage earnings. The findings suggest that auditors may have compromised auditor independence in response to earnings management after the SSSR, likely due to the pressure from their economically important clients.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the literature, specifically the practice and theory in auditing, by shedding light on ever-changing auditors’ reporting behaviour, especially with regard to auditor independence. It also adds to the growing body of literature on the impact of institutional changes on auditing practices worldwide. The findings of this study further suggest that the recently documented declining demand for high-quality audits after the SSSR may be motivated by the clients’ intention to manage earnings after the SSSR.

Details

Pacific Accounting Review, vol. 35 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0114-0582

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 February 2013

Fei Peng, Lili Kang and Jun Jiang

This paper aims to investigate the role that institutional shareholders play in acquisition decisions using micro data in the Chinese stock market during 2003‐2008.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the role that institutional shareholders play in acquisition decisions using micro data in the Chinese stock market during 2003‐2008.

Design/methodology/approach

Acquisition decision is the selection and coordination process of shareholders as strategic alliances, which is determined by corporate acquisition ability, composition of institutional shareholders and concentration of tradable share (TS) in China. The paper uses the Heckman selection model to surmount the selection biases in acquisition decision.

Findings

The paper finds that institutional shareholders, including qualified foreign institutional investors (QFII), social security funds (SSF), security firms (SF) and security investment funds (SIF), as well as TS concentration, affect acquisition probability rather than annual acquisition scale. SSF, SIF and TS concentration can increase acquisition probability while QFII decreases it.

Research limitations/implications

This paper suggests a strategic alliance model in which institutional shareholders choose whether to collaborate with controlling shareholders and management. However, detailed information of the selection and coordination process is unavailable in the authors' data. Future research need provide more evidence of this postulate.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the published literature in three ways. First, it offers a model to understand the selection and coordination process of acquisition decision. Second, it investigates whether institutional shareholders could effectively monitor annual acquisition scale. Third, it identifies the Heckman selection problem that institutional shareholders could affect PLCs' acquisition decision on whether to acquire rather than how much to acquire.

Details

Management Decision, vol. 51 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0025-1747

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 18 May 2020

Tanveer Ahsan, Sultan Sikandar Mirza, Bakr Al-Gamrh and Muhammad Zubair Tauni

The purpose of this study is to explain the adjustment rate toward the target capital structure of Chinese nonfinancial listed firms and to investigate the impacts of the…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explain the adjustment rate toward the target capital structure of Chinese nonfinancial listed firms and to investigate the impacts of the split-share reforms (2005–2006) on the capital structure adjustment rate.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors control for the unobserved heterogeneity and the fractional nature of the adjustment rate by applying an unbiased dynamic panel fractional estimator on the unbalanced panel data of 27,545 firm-year observations of Chinese nonfinancial firms listed during 1998–2015.

Findings

The authors find that Chinese firms adjust at an annual rate of 19–27% to reach their capital structure targets. The authors also find a positive impact of the split-share reforms on the adjustment rates of Chinese nonfinancial firms toward their target capital structure. Split-share reforms also helped Chinese firms to increase the use of equity financing in their capital structure.

Practical implications

The authors argue that the government should strengthen capital markets to enable easy access to more financing options so that Chinese firms can acquire cheaper external financing.

Originality/value

To the best of authors' knowledge, this is the first study that applies an unbiased dynamic panel fractional estimator on an extended data set of 27,545 firm-year observations of Chinese nonfinancial firms listed during 1998–2015.

Details

Journal of Economic Studies, vol. 47 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-3585

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 March 2018

Dongming Kong

The purpose of this paper is to test a catering theory by examining impacts of minority shareholders’ pressures on earnings management (EM), and attempt to answer: what is the…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test a catering theory by examining impacts of minority shareholders’ pressures on earnings management (EM), and attempt to answer: what is the role of minority shareholders participation (MSP) in corporate governance? and does MSP serve as an external monitor to managers, or does it put excessive pressure on them?

Design/methodology/approach

Using a novel online voting data set in China’s stock market, the author constructs the measure of MSP, and regress the EM on MSP. To address the endogeneity, the author introduces propensity score matching and difference-in-difference methods, instrumental variables, and Heckman estimation to show that the results are robust to different specifications and alternative measures.

Findings

The author documents that: MSP plays limited role in external monitoring; and firms facing high MSP levels tend to manage earnings more actively. In addition, information asymmetry, proposals’ importance, managerial incentives, and CEO financial expertise significantly affect firms’ catering behaviors.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to different strands of the literature. First, the finding significantly supports the catering hypothesis from a new perspective of EM. Second, the author contributes to a hotly debated issue in corporate governance: whether minority shareholders should be granted increased participation in corporate decisions? The results also provide timely empirical evidence for government regulators who are concerned about the costs and benefits of granting minority shareholders direct control over corporate decisions.

Details

China Finance Review International, vol. 9 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2044-1398

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 November 2016

Junaid Haider and Hong-Xing Fang

The purpose of this paper was first to find out whether the negative relationship between board size and future firm risk persists in China while contemplating all sorts of…

1210

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper was first to find out whether the negative relationship between board size and future firm risk persists in China while contemplating all sorts of endogeneity. Second, the authors have investigated the role of large shareholders in influencing the managerial decisions concerning future firm risk via board size. Finally, the authors examined whether the moderating role of large shareholders is any different in state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and non-state-owned enterprises (NSOEs) in China.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample included all the A-listed firms listed on the Shanghai and the Shenzhen stock exchanges over a sample period from 2008 to 2013. The authors used fixed effects regression and the generalized method of moments (GMM) to test the three hypotheses.

Findings

The authors found that board size is negatively associated with future firm risk when measured as volatility in future stock prices and future cash flows. Second, large shareholders directly influence managerial decisions about future firm risk, irrespective of board size. Third, the moderating role of ownership concentration is insignificant in both SOEs and NSOEs.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study which has analyzed the role of large shareholders in the relationship between board size and future firm risk. This study provides valuable insights, particularly in the context of a developing country, into the role played by large shareholders in influencing managerial decisions concerning future firm risk.

Details

Chinese Management Studies, vol. 10 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1750-614X

Keywords

Content available
Article
Publication date: 7 August 2017

Jing Liao and Jing Chi

403

Abstract

Details

Pacific Accounting Review, vol. 29 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0114-0582

Article
Publication date: 4 March 2019

Wei Huang

This paper aims to investigate the interconnections between corporate ownership, tax system and controlling shareholder tunneling through intercorporate loans in an emerging market

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the interconnections between corporate ownership, tax system and controlling shareholder tunneling through intercorporate loans in an emerging market setting.

Design/methodology/approach

China’s Enterprises Income Tax reform in 2008 abolished its previous multiple-tiers tax system under which foreign direct investment (FDI) firms enjoyed preferential tax rates than domestic firms by introducing a new unified-rate tax system. Using difference-in-differences tests, the author analyzes changes of controlling shareholders tunneling through intercorporate loans among Chinese listed companies around this reform.

Findings

The author documents significant reductions of intercorporate loans after the reform. More importantly, the author reveals that foreign-invested firms experienced larger reductions of intercorporate loans than domestic firms. The author also shows that state association matters for domestic firms’ response to the reform. In addition, the author documents positive stock market reaction to the tax reform announcement for firms that exhibited higher level of tunneling prior to the reform, indicating market expectation of reduced principal-principal conflict post-reform.

Research limitations/implications

The findings suggest effective corporate governance system is warranted to constrain intercorporate fund transfers in emerging markets where tax incentives are used for attracting inward foreign direct investments. Institutional reforms in emerging markets aimed at removing market frictions can alleviate the problem of controlling shareholder expropriations of minority interests or tunneling.

Originality/value

This is a pioneering study that reveals the role of tax as a public governance mechanism in weak minority investor protection environment.

Details

International Journal of Accounting & Information Management, vol. 27 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1834-7649

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 4 December 2023

Bilkisu Maijamaa, M.U. Adehi, Babagana Modu and Muhammad Idris Umar

This book chapter focuses on firstly social innovation and tools used to address the social needs and foster social innovation initiatives. Looking at the world economic forum and…

Abstract

This book chapter focuses on firstly social innovation and tools used to address the social needs and foster social innovation initiatives. Looking at the world economic forum and how it supports the social innovations, currency swings, low paying jobs growing rapidly, rapid change and growth as a result of high volatility and high returns, respectively. Secondly looking at the emerging market brought about by the social innovations and how they interconnect. Leading innovation emerging market has three main industries semiconductors, fin-tech, and electric cars. It also looks at the significance of technology in the development of business emerging markets, the role of technology in the emerging market and activities over the decades. Small firms in emerging areas face three major challenges which technology might help overcome. The challenges are trust, sustainability, and network. The role of technology replacing analog chip used for power supply, sensors, wideband signal make up the large semiconductors in the United States replaced with digital chip such as logical operations, data storage, computer information management all this have given birth to artificial intelligence, autonomous machines, self-driving cars, supply-chain management, cloud computing, and software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications are all made possible by digital chips. These are also used for e-commerce, mobile payment, fine-tech, 5G telecom, health-care advancement, remote learning, online entertainment, and cloud computing. Technical advancements that has sparked a revolution that would be especially advantageous for emerging market and small-cap enterprises are the causes of these benefits of how it has affected countries such as Europe, the United States, China, and India to mention a few.

Details

Fostering Sustainable Businesses in Emerging Economies
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80455-640-5

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 September 2022

Feng Xie, Hamish D. Anderson, Jing Chi and Jing Liao

This paper examines the impact of state control on stock price crash risk given whether and how ownership structure affects stock price crash risk is relatively underexplored.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper examines the impact of state control on stock price crash risk given whether and how ownership structure affects stock price crash risk is relatively underexplored.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample includes 2,285 Chinese firms listed in the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges. Panel data is used for conducting the analysis and endogeneity is addressed with instrumental variable estimation and by testing how stock price crash risk is affected when the ultimate controller changes from a private-owned company to a state-owned enterprise.

Findings

The authors find that state control is negatively associated with future stock price crash risk. The mechanism analysis shows that state control reduces stock price crash risk through the implementation of conservative corporate policies. Furthermore, the impact of state control is more pronounced with more intensive state involvement, e.g. in strategic industries and when a company's ultimate controller is a non-corporate government agency or the central government.

Originality/value

This paper enriches the literature on the controversy of the role of state control and the results of this study highlight the importance of the conservatism of state control on reducing stock return tail risk. The authors also add to the literature on the importance of the policy-risk sharing effect of state ownership.

Details

International Journal of Managerial Finance, vol. 19 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1743-9132

Keywords

1 – 10 of 20