exhibits a significant positive correlation between IA and losses, audit resignation, and
dismissal (auditor changes) as well as significant negative correlation between IA, ROA,
assets, and liquidity. The previous correlations suggest that firms with good financial
performance as measured by ROA, big size firms as measured by total assets, firms with
higher liquidity, and firms that involve Big 6 in the audit process are correlated with lower
IA. Similarly, firms with losses and that experience auditor changes are associated with
higher IA. Table 4 also suggests a significant positive correlation between liquidity and
assets, ICDs_404 and post-section 302 periods, ICDs and post-section 302 periods, indicating
a possible multicollinearity among ICDs variables. This multicollinearity limited
our research models from using models with ICDs interaction terms. The correlation
between loan specific-characteristics and either ICDs or ICMWs are as predicted. It is negative significant between ICDs (ICMWs) and syndication and the existence of loan
credit rating. However, we observe a positive significant correlation between ICDs (ICMWs)
and financial debt covenants.