Does Target Firm’s Earnings Management Affect Shareholder’s Gains? Evidence from China
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Does Target Firm’s Earnings Management Affect Shareholder’s Gains? Evidence from China
Mughal, Azhar | Haque, Abdul | Zahid, Zohaib | Ali, Furman | Li, Zheng
Credit and Capital Markets – Kredit und Kapital, Vol. 55 (2022), Iss. 2 : pp. 203–226
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Dr. Azhar Mughal, Assistant Professor, The Institute of Management Sciences, Lahore Pakistan, Postcode 54000, and Researcher, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, China Postcode 611130, +86 137 39499643, +92 320 4511678.
Dr. Abdul Haque, Associate Professor, COMSATS University Islamabad Lahore Campus, Lahore Pakistan, Postcode 54000, +92 333 4203330.
Zohaib Zahid, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, China Postcode 611130, +86 137 39499247.
Furman Ali, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, China Postcode 611130, +86 155 28384305.
Zheng Li (Corresponding Author), Sichuan Industrial Revitalization Development Investment Fund Co. Ltd, Chengdu, China, Postcode 610095, +86 28 85323231.
Cited By
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The Chinese Financial System and China’s Role in the Financial World
Chen, Carl R.
Tao, Qizhi
Credit and Capital Markets – Kredit und Kapital, Vol. 55 (2022), Iss. 2 P.149
https://doi.org/10.3790/ccm.55.2.149 [Citations: 1]
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Abstract
This study tests the hypothesis that the target firms are involved in earnings management activities in quarters leading to a takeover announcement. Using a sample of 3,455 Chinese listed firms that are targets of successful acquisitions over the period 2007–2020, and for a matched sample of non-targets, we find that target firms manipulate earnings in quarters leading to the announcement date. Further, we find evidence of a negative relationship between earnings management and short-term gains to shareholders. Our result remains robust after controlling for various deal characteristics. The study also suggests that pre-merger earnings management in target firms is not fully anticipated by the market before the takeover announcement. We find no evidence of earnings management immediately after the announcement quarter.