The sample covers 2001–2005 and, for the last of these fiscal years, only accounting periods ending 31 December 2005; EU firms with non-calendar year-ends are therefore excluded for fiscal year 2005. Hence the paper provides only ‘early evidence’ on mandatory IFRS adoption. The tests include comparisons between the two years 2004 and 2005. Firms from non-IFRS countries and firms from IFRS countries whose first IFRS year-ends were after 31 December 2005 provide control samples.