Determinants of Restatements in Financial Statements of Brazilian Publicly Traded Companies

Abstract

Objective: Under the context of the importance accounting information quality for its users, this study aimed to point out possible determinants for the Standardized Financial Statements (SFS) restatement of Brazilian publicly traded companies. Method: From 2010 to 2016, we used correlation test, mean difference test and logistic regression with panel data. Originality/Relevance: The study opportunity considered the existence of contradictory results in national and international studies, which present not recent temporal analysis, observation of too few determinants concomitantly, and methods of descriptive character for analysis. Results: The results showed that the main determinants of the restatement of SFS are: being audit by Big Four; companies with debt; audit rotation; industry; size and tenure. It was also found that older companies have lower chances of restatement. There are indications of a negative relationship between restatement and the issuance of ADRs, but positive with the listing at the differentiated levels of corporate governance. Theoretical/Methodological contributions: In general, it was observed that the possible controls that might be adopted by companies to reduce conflicts of interest, information asymmetry and agency costs are not presented as able of preventing the restatement of SFS. These findings help in the indication of variables that can be included in valuation, so that the market can incorporate in its estimates factors that indicate companies more likely to restatement, therefore with uncertainty in the reliability of their results disclosed, and also assist in monitoring policies by regulatory bodies regarding the restatement of SFS.

O Efeito Moderador da Internacionalização na Relação entre Governança Corporativa e Republicação das Demonstrações Financeiras

“…In other terms, accounting information must be opportune and meet the assumption of accurate representation of facts. Otherwise, the chances for the demand of republishing financial demonstrations will be higher, as well as information asymmetry between companies and users (Huang & Nardi, 2020).…”

“…The study becomes relevant as it is a synergy among the constructs of governance and internationalization based on national research (Santos, Almeida, & Bezerra, 2013;Santos, Vasconcelos, & Luca, 2015), foreign research (Singh & Gaur, 2013;Xiao, Jeong, Moon, Chung, & Chung, 2013) and its liaison with republishing of financial reports (Huang & Nardi, 2020). In this sense, the act of republishing accounting reports represents the poor quality of previously disclosed financial information (Bills, Swanquist, & Whited, 2015), which can impact organizational transparency once it induces incorrect stakeholders' decision making when using defective statements (Flanagan, Muse, & O'Shaughnessy, 2008).…”