ABSTRACT: This study examines the relation between the composition of financially
distressed firms’ audit committees and the likelihood of receiving going-concern reports.
For firms experiencing financial distress during 1994, we find that the greater the
percentage of affiliated directors on the audit committee, the lower the probability the
auditor will issue a going-concern report. These results support regulators’ concern about
financial reporting quality and the recent calls for more independent audit committees.
distress