Kenneth J. Hunsader, Christopher M. Lawrey and James Rich
This paper aims to examine the impact on firm financial distress by industry of one of the most recent accounting changes in the treatment of operating leases, Financial…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the impact on firm financial distress by industry of one of the most recent accounting changes in the treatment of operating leases, Financial Accounting Standard Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016–02, Leases released February 25, 2016. ASU 2016–02, also known as ASC 842, considerably changed how firms account for operating leases.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors use the Black–Scholes–Merton (BSM) option pricing methodology to estimate the change in default likelihood (DL) of nine different industries surrounding the adoption of ASC 842. In addition, the authors use univariate and multivariate analysis to test the statistical significance of firm-related factors.
Findings
The authors provide evidence that numerous industry’s DL increased following the FASB’s announcement of the new standard (ASC 842) regarding increased transparency in lease recognition. The effect is especially significant within the energy industry, although it is also shown in the consumer durables, manufacturing, hi-tech equipment, telecom, retail and wholesale and transportation industries. In addition, the authors find the effect is more pronounced for firms with high leverage, low financial slack, low operating return on assets, small market value and accounting for non-balance sheet recorded leases.
Practical implications
By investigating different industries, this study’s findings provide crucial insight to managers seeking lease financing as an operational strategy in a post-implementation environment and help them understand the impact of this new standard on their firm. Furthermore, this study answers the call of policy makers and academics to provide insight into the impact of updated leasing standards.
Originality/value
This is the only empirical study that examines the impact of ASC 842 on the DL of publicly traded firms by industry.
Details
Keywords
Kenneth J. Hunsader and Gwendolyn Pennywell
Conventional wisdom implies that firms manage earnings to maximize the wealth of the manager, the value of the firm and/or the amount of information in the market. The purpose of…
Abstract
Purpose
Conventional wisdom implies that firms manage earnings to maximize the wealth of the manager, the value of the firm and/or the amount of information in the market. The purpose of this paper is to offer an additional explanation.
Design/methodology/approach
Using companies from the Standard & Poor's 500 index and an annual report disclosure ranking, the authors employ a standard t‐test of means across groups to check for differences in disclosure based on a competitive strategy measure (CSM). The CSM classifies industry rivals into strategic complements or substitutes. The authors also test for differences in earnings management using discretionary accruals and using event study methodology examine how stock returns respond to the Sarbanes‐Oxley Act.
Findings
The authors show that earnings management is a tool used by firms based on the level of competitive strategy within the industry. It was found that firms competing as strategic substitutes are more likely to actively engage in earnings management through discretionary accruals when the informational environment permits. It was also found that substitute firms suffer greater negative wealth effects than complement firms in response to the Sarbanes‐Oxley Act.
Originality/value
This is one of the first empirical articles to examine how competitive strategy affects earnings management and the stock market response to the Sarbanes‐Oxley Act of 2002.
Details
Keywords
Ying Huang, Xiankui Hu, Kenneth Hunsader and Steven Xiaofan Zheng
The authors of this study aim to investigate possible explanations of the prevalence of price clustering in the final offer prices of mergers and acquisitions (M&A).
Abstract
Purpose
The authors of this study aim to investigate possible explanations of the prevalence of price clustering in the final offer prices of mergers and acquisitions (M&A).
Design/methodology/approach
The authors use final offer price in M&A deals to investigate the price clustering phenomena. The authors used regressions and logistic regressions to examine potential factors that might affect pricing strategy by looking into one-time acquirers and experienced serial acquirers.
Findings
Price clustering increases with negotiation uncertainties characterized as competitive bidding, number of bidders, challenged deals and duration. Moreover, the authors find persistent price clustering in experienced serial acquirers that are more experienced and better equipped with handling uncertainties, suggesting a preference of using round numbers regardless of levels of uncertainties. The authors' evidence shows that price clustering results from a combination of Harris' (1991) costly negotiation hypothesis where round prices may be used to lower search costs and psychological bias and preference.
Originality/value
The authors appear to be the first to investigate alternative theories that support M&A offer price clustering behavior, finding that both the costly negotiation and psychological bias and preference theories apply to M&A final price formation. Thus, the authors' major contribution, specific to the M&A process, is a clarification of physical and psychological factors associated with bidding and negotiation behavior. The authors are confident that the authors' study impacts conventional knowledge regarding M&A deal negotiation strategies, including bidding behavior, contract negotiation, financial analysis, management practices and risk management.
Details
Keywords
Kenneth Hunsader, Natalya Delcoure and Gwendolyn Pennywell
– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of bankruptcy announcements on the bankrupt firm's competitors' stock returns.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of bankruptcy announcements on the bankrupt firm's competitors' stock returns.
Design/methodology/approach
Starting with a sample of Chapter 11 bankruptcies from 1980 through 2008, the authors use event study methodology to examine the returns of bankrupt firm's rivals around the filing date. The authors employ a t-test of means across groups to check for differences in returns based on a competitive strategy measure (CSM). The CSM classifies industry rivals into strategic complements or substitutes. The authors also separate the sample based on traditional or non-traditional bankruptcies and conduct explanatory regressions on the abnormal returns using economically important independent variables such as the CSM, leverage and the Herfindahl index.
Findings
Similar to previous research, the paper finds that less concentrated industries and industries with high leverage suffer greater negative wealth effects when a firm within the industry announces a bankruptcy. Extending current research, the paper finds strategic interaction within the industry is an important factor in determining industry portfolio returns. Rivals characterized as strategic complements exhibit significant negative valuation effects while rivals characterized as strategic substitutes do not. Finally, the paper finds that this strategic effect is dominant when the future cash flows and outcome of the reorganization is more uncertain as substantiated by the difference between traditional and non-traditional bankruptcy filings.
Originality/value
This is believed to be the first empirical article to examine how the CSM affects the returns of bankrupt firms' rivals.