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The impact of financial reporting quality on debt maturity: the case of private firms

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  • Michiel De Meyere
  • Heidi Vander Bauwhede
  • Philippe Van Cauwenberge

Abstract

We examine whether the debt maturity structure of privately held firms is associated with the quality of their earnings numbers. We argue that earnings numbers that are better able to predict future cash flows lower information asymmetry between privately held firms and their creditors, improving privately held firms’ access to long-term debt. Furthermore, we examine whether the relationship between privately held firms’ earnings quality and their debt maturity differs between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and larger privately held firms. Using detailed financial statement information from a sample of privately held Belgian firms, we find that earnings quality is positively associated with the likelihood of having long-term debt and with the proportion of long-term debt in total debt. Further, we report evidence that these associations are more pronounced for SMEs than for larger privately held firms, which is consistent with smaller firms entailing more fundamental risk for creditors.

Suggested Citation

  • Michiel De Meyere & Heidi Vander Bauwhede & Philippe Van Cauwenberge, 2018. "The impact of financial reporting quality on debt maturity: the case of private firms," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 48(7), pages 759-781, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:acctbr:v:48:y:2018:i:7:p:759-781
    DOI: 10.1080/00014788.2018.1431103
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    3. Pappas, Kostas & Walsh, Eamonn & Xu, Alice Liang, 2019. "Real earnings management and loan contract terms," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(4), pages 373-401.
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    5. Atawnah, Nader & Zaman, Rashid & Liu, Jia & Atawna, Thaer & Maghyereh, Aktham, 2023. "Does foreign competition affect corporate debt maturity structure? Evidence from import penetration," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
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    7. Riccardo Palumbo & Pierangelo Rosati, 2022. "Exploring the Relationship between New Bank Debt and Earnings Management: Evidence from Italian SMEs," Economies, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-17, May.
    8. Wu, Julia Yonghua & Opare, Solomon & Bhuiyan, Md. Borhan Uddin & Habib, Ahsan, 2022. "Determinants and consequences of debt maturity structure: A systematic review of the international literature," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    9. Farah Saerens & Stefanie Ceustermans, 2021. "Abbreviated or Micro-Entity Accounts? Effect of Financial Reporting Format on the Availability of Trade Credit," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-18, July.
    10. Tran, Ly Thi Hai, 2022. "Reporting quality and financial leverage: Are qualitative characteristics or earnings quality more important? Evidence from an emerging bank-based economy," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).

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