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The effect of the interest coverage covenants on classification shifting of revenues

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  • Kamran Malikov
  • Jerry Coakley
  • Stuart Manson

Abstract

While prior studies focus on real/accrual-based earnings management and expense misclassification to investigate earnings manipulation in avoiding covenant violations, this paper extends such research in a new direction. In particular, it examines whether firms employ classification shifting of revenues when they are subject to interest coverage EBITDA-based covenants close to their threshold values or limits. This earnings management tool allows firms to increase reported EBITDA by misclassifying non-operating revenues as operating revenues to remain within covenant limits that include EBITDA. Using a sample of 559 UK listed firm-years for the period 2005–2014, it establishes that the use of classification shifting of revenues is high when interest coverage covenants are close to their limits. Further analysis suggests that firms also employ revenue shifting when all their loan covenants are EBITDA-related.

Suggested Citation

  • Kamran Malikov & Jerry Coakley & Stuart Manson, 2019. "The effect of the interest coverage covenants on classification shifting of revenues," The European Journal of Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(16), pages 1572-1590, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:eurjfi:v:25:y:2019:i:16:p:1572-1590
    DOI: 10.1080/1351847X.2019.1618888
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    Cited by:

    1. Haeyoung Shin & Michael Lacina & Shanshan Pan, 2024. "The order in a series of continuous special items and the likelihood of income classification shifting," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 63(3), pages 829-862, October.
    2. Manish Bansal, 2024. "Unpacking the drivers of earnings management in CSR firms: influence of investor risk perception," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 21(1), pages 127-142, March.
    3. Mattia Iotti & Giuseppe Bonazzi, 2023. "Financial Sustainability in Agri-Food Companies: The Case of Members of the PDO Parma Ham Consortium," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-31, February.
    4. Manish Bansal, 2024. "Do shifting practices vary across the firm life cycle?," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 49(2), pages 142-169, May.
    5. Bansal, Manish & Kumar, Ashish & Bhattacharyya, Asit & Bashir, Hajam Abid, 2023. "Predictors of revenue shifting and expense shifting: Evidence from an emerging economy," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 19(1).
    6. Junwei Lu & Xiaoxia Bu & Jing Chen, 2021. "Do inflowing sophisticated investors induce classification shifting? New evidence from market liberalisation in China," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 61(5), pages 6193-6223, December.

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