This study extends the line of inquiry into the role of appearance in analyst performance, shifting the focus from innate features such as physical attractiveness to deliberate choices analysts make in presenting themselves within professional contexts. We find based on a sample of Chinese sell-side analysts that those with online photo IDs that present a more professional image exhibit a lower forecast accuracy, cover firms with high earnings predictability, issue more optimistic forecasts, herd to other analysts, release more favourable recommendations, and are less likely to become a star-analyst. Subsequent analysis reveals that experience and education further condition the relation between professionalism in appearance and analysts’ professional outcomes. Our evidence highlights that such choices can be interpreted through the lens of symbolic self-completion theory as informative about the quality of analysts’ output.

In this study, we revisit the relation between ownership type (public versus private) and the cost of public debt. Based on the literature, we seek insights into the conditions under which private firms should expect to pay a premium and when, alternatively, they might expect to enjoy a cost benefit on issues of public debt relative to public firms. Using an international sample of 630,959 traded bond issues from 2001 to 2017, we initially confirm a higher cost of public debt for the private U.S. firms in our sample. Following, we alternatively confirm a lower cost of public debt for the private non-U.S. firms. Finally, we confirm that, for non-U.S. issuers, the benefit is reduced in jurisdictions with stronger institutional and regulatory frames. Additional tests (alternative econometric approaches, alternative partitions, and firms undertaking an IPO) provide further support.

This study investigates the asset return co-movement with the same issuer and examines the relationship between the correlation and agency conflicts. This study constructs a large unique panel dataset that consists of 2,089 firms from 2001 to 2019 across 50 countries. This research reveals a compelling positive correlation between the monthly returns of bonds and equities. Moreover, lower conflict of interest among stakeholders corresponds to a higher degree of co-movement between these financial instruments. This insightful discovery underscores the pivotal role of corporate governance and regulatory safeguards in harmonizing the interests of debtholders and equity holders. Notably, these results maintain their robustness when employing the rigorous two-stage least squares instrumental variable approach and conducting supplementary sub-sample tests. This study stands as a pioneering investigation into bond–equity co-movement from the same issuer, shedding light on its intricate connections to agency conflicts and regulatory influences.

In this study, we examine how achievement-related tendencies are expressed in the professional auditing context, particularly through the interplay between the CEO and the audit partner. We use the facial width-to-height ratio (fWHR), a stable morphological trait widely applied in prior research, as a proxy for achievement drive. Using a sample of US audit partners from 2016 to 2019, we find that higher achievement drive is associated with enhanced audit quality, evidenced by fewer restatements and lower abnormal accruals. Auditors with higher achievement drive are also more likely to become industry experts, attain leadership positions, and achieve partnership status more quickly. Importantly, we find that high-achievement-drive audit partners are more inclined to assert dominance in negotiations, particularly when working with equally driven CEOs, leading to improved audit quality. Overall, our findings suggest that, when activated in auditing contexts, achievement-oriented tendencies, as proxied by fWHR, are linked to higher audit quality.

We examine the value-relevance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenditure utilizing the Indian setting of mandatory CSR spending regulation which commenced in 2014. India is the only country where regulators mandate both CSR reporting and spending. Our interest is in two types of firms that meet the minimum specified thresholds: firms that voluntarily made CSR expenditures pre-regulation (voluntary spenders) and firms that did not (forced spenders). This separation in revealed preference allows researchers and investors to observe, at least on average, a firm's true CSR strategy type (proactive/leader versus reactive/follower) through their pre-regulation expenditure strategy. This unique quasi-experimental setting allows us to investigate whether CSR spending is positively associated with shareholders' value, both when spending was voluntary pre-regulation (for voluntary spenders) and after it became mandatory post-regulation (for voluntary and forced spenders). We find that for voluntary spenders, the markets assess CSR expenditure as valuation-enhancing pre-regulation, but post-regulation the valuation benefits are significantly weakened. The market's assessment is that a forced spender's (imposed) CSR expenditure is, on average, less valuable than that of voluntary spenders, consistent with such spending being viewed as a form of corporate taxation. Further, we find that shortfalls from the required spending amount are penalized by the market for voluntary spenders but rewarded for forced spenders. We also find that advertising appears to play an important communication role both pre- and post-regulation. We view the results as being consistent with the notion that mandated expenditures are viewed differently than those made voluntarily.

The aim of this paper is to provide insights into the capital market's role in incentivizing firms to engage meaningfully in the transition to a net zero carbon emissions economy. We investigate whether capital markets negatively value a broader concept of carbon risk exposure in addition to its historic carbon footprint and offset assessed penalties by considering carbon mitigation activities undertaken by the firm. We develop a conceptual framework of a firm's 'carbon risk profile' from the literature comprising: (a) carbon risk exposure (current emissions and broader risk notions of fossil fuel dependency and carbon visibility); and (b) carbon mitigation activities (realized emissions reductions and anticipatory proactive activities). We confirm and operationalize this framework using interviews with managers and environmental, social, and governance analysts. Based on a sample of 310 firm-year observations for ASX200 firms from 2014-2020 in high-carbon sectors, our results suggest material valuation penalties for the broader carbon risk exposure concept. Further, we find that capital markets attach value to a firm's intangible capability to proactively mitigate its carbon risk exposure. Building on these results, to further mobilize capital markets in the push towards net zero emissions, policymakers and regulators may wish to undertake initiatives to increase carbon-related disclosures on both risks and mitigation activities.

This chapter presents a selected review of studies that speak to the two related questions of whether capital markets view a firm’s carbon emissions as value relevant and if so, the importance of mandated carbon disclosure in facilitating investors’ assessment. The empirical literature consistently documents an inverse relation between the volume of carbon emissions and firm value, suggesting that markets assess a latent carbon liability commensurate with the firm’s carbon emissions. Importantly, the more recent literature confirms significant benefits to mandated carbon emissions disclosures, largely related to the enhanced ability to benchmark a firm’s carbon performance relative to its industry or sector peers. These studies reveal that the assessed latent carbon liability is related to a firm’s relative carbon intensity rank and that both internal discovery and external pressure effects resulting from enhanced benchmarking, lead to reductions in carbon emissions.

We hypothesize that an auditor partner’s facial structure (facial width-to-height ratios, fWHR) is a visible ex-ante cue to substantive evaluation of their ethical behaviors and consequential outcomes on audit quality. Using a large pictorial sample of U.S. audit partners from 2016 to 2019, we find that high fWHR is positively associated with various audit quality measures and validate this finding through several robustness checks. Further, the positive association between fWHR and audit quality is more pronounced for small accounting firms, when partners face high competition, and for more complex audit jobs. High-fWHR partners are less likely to compromise their independence for economically important clients and are more likely to become industry experts and charge higher audit fees. Moreover, high-fWHR audit partners can curb high-fWHR CEOs’ aggressive reporting behavior, specifically, lengthening the negotiation process, but leading to low probability of misreporting. Overall, the results suggest that facial appearance can provide rapid attribution of auditor’s professional ethics in terms of their competence, due care, independence, and integrity.

We employ computer‐based textual analysis to examine disclosure patterns for a sample of US corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports from the period 2002–2016. Starting from 466 features commonly used in computational linguistics, our results show that the linguistics or disclosure patterns in CSR reports can be used to accurately predict the actual CSR performance type of CSR reporters. Specifically, we find that the two most commonly used disclosure characteristics, number of words and number of sentences, alone can be used to predict reporting firms’ CSR performance type with 81% accuracy. The accuracy of prediction increases to 96% when the top 50 linguistics features most relevant to firms’ CSR performance are included in the prediction model. In addition, we find that the linguistic features of CSR disclosure identified by our study are incrementally value relevant to investors even after controlling for the actual CSR performance score from the professional CSR rating agencies. This finding suggests that the linguistic features of CSR disclosure can be an important venue for capital market participants in evaluating firms’ CSR performance type, especially when professional CSR performance ratings are not available.

This paper reveals that in addition to fundamental factors, the 52-week high price and recent investor sentiment play an important role in analysts' target price formation. Analysts' forecasts of short-term earnings and long-term earnings growth are shown to be important explanatory variables for target prices; equally, the 52-week high price and recent investor sentiment are also shown to explain target price levels and especially target price biases. Our analysis additionally reveals that analysts place greater weight on these two non-fundamental factors in settings with greater task complexity and to some extent in those with greater resource constraints. Conversely, on balance, the results suggest that this increased reliance does not translate into an increased impact per unit of each non-fundamental factor on forecast bias. Finally, our results show that target prices are useful in predicting future stock returns beyond earnings forecasts and commonly used risk proxies. However, in an internally consistent fashion, the informativeness of target prices for future returns is significantly reduced when greater weight is placed on either the 52-week high or recent investor sentiment in the target price formation process.

This study directly investigates the relationship between the firm’s information environment and its cash holding decision using two separate country-level events as proxies for a general improvement of the information environment: the initial enforcement of new insider trading laws and the mandatory adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards. Analysing a large international sample, we find that firms reduce their cash holdings after both exogenous information shocks. We also find that the reductions are greater for firms facing greater financing constraints and agency issues, and for those for which the informational shocks are stronger. Further analyses reveal a reduction in firms’ average cash savings rate, an increase in performance, an increase in the use of external debt, a decrease in abnormal investment, and an increase in the value of cash holdings. Taken together, our results suggest that an improvement in the information environment mitigates both the adverse selection and moral hazard problems thereby, leading to a reduction in cash reserves held for transaction and precautionary motives, and the likelihood of entrenched managers building large cash balances for private benefit.

In this study, we investigate whether firms recognised as superior sustainability performers respond differently to climate change regulatory , physical and other risks/opportunities and examine whether such differences predict sustainability performance in subsequent years. Further, we seek to gain insights from climate change programs and strategies of both superior and inferior sustainability performers. Adopting mixed methods, we use a merged sample from the Top500 world’s largest firms and the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations. Our quantitative analyses show that greater awareness of physical and other climate change opportunities is what sets superior performers apart, and that superior future sustainability performance is related to a firm’s stated awareness of these two types of opportunities. Qualitative content analysis of narrative disclosures confirm that superior performers provide more detailed description of climate change strategies that go beyond managing climate change risks. Our study contributes to the limited amount of research highlighting the value of proactively seeking opportunities rather than merely focussing on risk management.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is twofold. First, the authors investigate a firm’s decision to provide a CSR report, and if so, whether to have the report assured and to seek higher quality assurance as reflected through the choices of the scope of the assurance and type of assurer, Big 4 accounting firm vs specialist consultant. Second, the authors investigate the impact of voluntary assurance of CSR reports, assurance scope and type of assurer on the likelihood of inclusion in the DJSI and on market valuation.Design/methodology/approachThe study’s sample consists of 17,050 firm-year observations from 40 countries with CSR reports available from Corporate Register and ESG metrics available from ASSET4 over the period 2009–2015. The study first empirically examines the associations between CSR commitment and each of CSR report provision, CSR report assurance, assurance scope and type of assurer. It then examines that association between both inclusion in the DJSI and market valuation with each of CSR report assurance, assurance scope and type of assurer, using inclusion in the DJSI as an objective measure of a firm’s reputation for sustainability given its recognition as a leading indicator for corporate sustainability and market valuation as a reflection of the broader set of capital market participants.FindingsThe authors establish two key findings consistent with the predictions of signaling theory. First, we show that high CSR commitment firms are more likely to: provide standalone CSR reports; obtain assurance; obtain assurance from a Big 4 accounting firm; and, adopt higher assurance scope. Second, the authors find that both CSR report assurance and assurance scope increase the likelihood of inclusion in the DJSI, but that the type of assurance provider does not. Alternatively, the authors find that capital market participants appear to value the provision of a CSR report only when it is assured by a Big 4 accounting firm.Originality/valueThe results in the existing literature exploring the capital market benefits to CSR Assurance have been mixed. Firms that voluntarily obtain CSR Assurance incur a cost in doing so and must perceive a net benefit from obtaining such assurance. Despite the limited guidance currently provided by existing CSR standards, we establish the existence of benefits to obtaining CSR Assurance in terms of enhanced likelihood of DJSI inclusion and, more generally, enhanced market valuation. The discussions with DJSI analysts indicate that CSR assurance does enhance the perceived reliability of CSR data, thus improving user confidence.

Banks face a dilemma in choosing between maximising profits and facilitating the sustainable use of resources within a carbon-constrained future. This study provides empirical evidence on this dilemma, investigating whether a bank loan announcement for a firm with high carbon risk conveys information to investors about the firm’s carbon risk exposure collected through a bank’s pre-loan screening and ongoing monitoring. We use a sample of 120 bank loan announcements for ASX-listed firms over the period 2009–2015. We measure high (low) carbon risk exposure based on whether firms meet (do not meet) the reporting threshold of the NGER scheme. We document positive and significant excess loan announcement returns for loan renewals for high carbon risk firms, but not for loan initiations. Further, we document a more significant loan announcement return for renewals with favourable term revisions. Finally, we find no evidence that the market differentiates between domestic and foreign lenders. Taken together, our results suggest that investors perceive that banks incorporate carbon risk considerations into their lending decisions. Our results highlight the value of banks as financial intermediaries given the information asymmetry surrounding firms’ carbon risk exposure, and more generally the need to extend modern banking theory to consider issues such as the impact of banks’ CSR reputation on lending decisions.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate whether biotechnology and health-care firms in Australia have poorer continuous disclosure (CD) practices as reflected in Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) queries relative to other firms. Design/methodology/approach Univariate tests and multivariate logit regressions are used to examine whether the frequency and nature of ASX queries and firms’ replies to price queries differ between biotechnology/health-care firms and the control firms. Findings Results suggest that biotechnology/health-care firms are more likely to receive volume queries and ASX Listing Rule 4.10 queries. They are also more likely to respond to price queries with new information relative to the control firms. However, biotechnology/health-care firms do not otherwise have statistically significantly different CD practice compared to the control firms, as reflected by the frequency and attributes of various types of ASX queries and by the way firms reply to price queries. Practical implications Evidence from this study can help evaluate the adequacy and enforcement of CD requirements and the need for further improvement. Investors can also use the evidence to better understand the information risks associated with investment in the biotechnology/health-care industry. Originality/value Prior research has not used multivariate methods to examine biotechnology/health-care firms’ CD practice in Australia or to examine accounting determinants of different types of ASX queries and firms’ responses to price queries.

Purpose This study aims to examine the interplay between ownership structure (organisational form) and management control system (MCS) design as governance structures within Australian primary health-care organisations (PHOs), seeking support for the suggestion that professional services will be most efficiently and effectively provided in organisations that have internal governance that is matched to their ownership form. Design/methodology/approach The analysis is based on a series of in-depth investigations into the MCS choices made by seven Australian PHOs. Arguing that the degree of information impactedness is inversely related to the level of general practitioner (GP) ownership, organisations where more than 50 per cent of the GPs working within the practice are owners are classified as “high ownership” (“low information impactedness”). The adoption by high-performing organisations of their predicted MCS archetype according to Speklé’s development is then interpreted as representing empirical support. Findings The findings provide uniform support for the importance of the match between ownership structure and internal governance mechanisms. As predicted, the two high-performing, high member-owned organisations reported MCS resembling exploratory archetypes, the three high-performing, low member-owned organisations reported MCS consistent with a boundary archetype and the two low-performing organisations reported little emphasis on any control. Research limitations/implications This study provides evidence of the importance of the appropriate match between ownership structure and internal governance mechanisms for PHOs. Practical implications This study has potential to assist managers, owners and advisors to optimise MCS design in professional services organisations where there is heterogeneous ownership by professionals. Originality/value This study is one of the few attempts to provide empirical support for the assertion of the importance of a match between ownership structure and MCS design. It also represents one of the few attempts to provide empirical support for Speklé’s (2001) control archetypes, here the boundary and exploratory archetypes, archetypes that are applicable within important sectors of the economy, notably the professional services sector.

This study investigates lobbying behaviour over the two phases of the 2009 Productivity Commission Inquiry into executive remuneration within Australia. Consistent with expectations, behaviours appeared related to preference for change, the costs of regulatory change relative to those of lobbying, and the need for reputational capital. Industry participants, and those from the Representative and Professional bodies emerge as key opponents. Industry presented in a conciliatory manner during the first phase, revealing a preference for the status quo, but then directly targeted specific recommendations of concern, notably the 'two strike' and 'no vacancy' rules in the second phase. Respondents from the Representative and Professional Bodies were broadly and consistently supportive of change and the Inquiry's final recommendations. We also find that these recommendations largely align with the views of the Representative Bodies, but conflict with those expressed by Industry in their second phase submissions. Finally, we find no evidence to suggest the motivation behind Industry lobbying related to poor remuneration practices.

This study provides further evidence on the cross-listing valuation premium using a sample of Asian firms from 2000 to 2010. First, following Doidge etal. (2004), we document a premium, but it disappears when we incorporate firm fixed effects. Second, consistent with Gozzi etal. (2008), we find that the premium arises immediately preceding the cross-listing year and disappears shortly thereafter. Of central interest, consistent with our proposition that the listing is strategically timed like an SEO, we document a similar pattern in operating performance, and increased financing activity in the listing year and the following 2years.

We seek insights into potential benefits for firms adopting strategies to improve business sustainability in a carbon-constrained future. We investigate whether lenders incorporate a firm’s exposure to carbon-related risk into lending decisions through the cost of financing, and if so, importantly whether firms can mitigate the penalty by demonstrating an awareness of their carbon risks. We use a sample of 255 firm-year observations from eight industries over the period 2009–2013. We measure carbon-related risk exposure as the firm’s historical carbon emissions and our primary measure of carbon risk awareness is based on the firm’s willingness to respond to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) survey. We document a positive association between cost of debt and carbon risk for firms failing to respond to the CDP. Further, this association is economically meaningful, with a one standard deviation increase in carbon risk mapping into between a 38 and 62 basis point increase in the cost of debt. Equally, we find that this penalty is effectively negated for firms exhibiting carbon risk awareness. Our results are robust when we consider alternate measures of carbon awareness—disclosure through alternative medium to the CDP and firms’ annual cash investment in new capital assets using “cleaner” technology. Our results highlight not only the importance of carbon awareness as a business strategy for polluting firms, but also its importance to lenders exposed to their clients’ default and reputational risk. The debt market appears to incorporate historical carbon emissions and forward-looking indicators of carbon performance.