Results and discussion
Table II reports the mean values, standard
deviation and t-tests of ratios for non-FFS and
FFS firms. The univariate tests suggest
several variables may by helpful in detecting
FFS. The large differences in average values of ratios between FFS and non-FFS firms and
the high statistical significance (p < 0:000)
indicate that the above ratios may indeed be
related to FFS. The ratios NP/TA, WC/TA,
GP/TA, TD/TA and Z score are statistically
significant. The very low values for NP/TA
and NP/SAL for the FFS firms compared to
the corresponding ones for non-FFS indicate
that the companies facing difficulties of low
returns in relation to assets and sales try to
manipulate the financial statements either
by increasing revenue or by reducing
expenditure so as to improve the profit and
loss account. The same holds for the GP/TA
ratio where FFS companies show on average
half the gross profit of that of non-FFS firms
with respect to total assets. The ratio WC/TA
shows that FFS firms have a very low WC
and present liquidity problems such that
they cannot meet their obligations. Low WC
is associated with financial distress
according to the bibliography (Bonner et al.,
1998).