5. Conclusion
In this study I examine how the balance sheet approach in financial reporting has influenced the use of accounting
information in debt contracts. Analyzing a large sample of private debt agreements, I find that the use of balance sheet
covenants (such as net worth) has decreased over time, while inclusion of income statement covenants (such as interest
coverage) has remained constant. I examine how the balance sheet approach, with its increase in fair value and estimated
asset and liability values, has contributed to the decline in use of balance sheet covenants. Using the Volatility Ratio (VR), a
proxy for exposure to balance sheet-based accounting rules, I find a negative association between the balance sheet
approach and use of balance sheet covenants.
Although the empirical evidence shows a significant association between the VR and covenant inclusion, several
important caveats apply in interpreting the results. First, while the VR appears to capture the cross-sectional variation in
the effects of the balance sheet approach, it is likely measured with error. Specifically, it is difficult to separate balance
sheet adjustments from non-adjustment items using Compustat data. Second, there are a variety of reasons other than
accounting standards that could lead to changes in covenant use. I have tried to control for these alternative explanations
in the empirical tests. However, to the extent that the alternatives are difficult to measure empirically (e.g. scarce data on
which loans are sold in the secondary market or securitized), there may be additional factors driving the change in
covenant use. On this basis, I conclude that the long-term shift in standard setting related to the balance sheet approach
has contributed to, but is not the sole reason for, the change in use of balance sheet covenants
5. ConclusionIn this study I examine how the balance sheet approach in financial reporting has influenced the use of accountinginformation in debt contracts. Analyzing a large sample of private debt agreements, I find that the use of balance sheetcovenants (such as net worth) has decreased over time, while inclusion of income statement covenants (such as interestcoverage) has remained constant. I examine how the balance sheet approach, with its increase in fair value and estimatedasset and liability values, has contributed to the decline in use of balance sheet covenants. Using the Volatility Ratio (VR), aproxy for exposure to balance sheet-based accounting rules, I find a negative association between the balance sheetapproach and use of balance sheet covenants.Although the empirical evidence shows a significant association between the VR and covenant inclusion, severalimportant caveats apply in interpreting the results. First, while the VR appears to capture the cross-sectional variation inthe effects of the balance sheet approach, it is likely measured with error. Specifically, it is difficult to separate balancesheet adjustments from non-adjustment items using Compustat data. Second, there are a variety of reasons other thanaccounting standards that could lead to changes in covenant use. I have tried to control for these alternative explanationsin the empirical tests. However, to the extent that the alternatives are difficult to measure empirically (e.g. scarce data onwhich loans are sold in the secondary market or securitized), there may be additional factors driving the change incovenant use. On this basis, I conclude that the long-term shift in standard setting related to the balance sheet approachhas contributed to, but is not the sole reason for, the change in use of balance sheet covenants
การแปล กรุณารอสักครู่..
