The primary purpose of our study is to shed light on a second motive to withhold
segment data—namely, the agency cost motive. Recent studies provide evidence that man-
agers may also face agency costs of segment disclosure, which arise when segment data
provide information that is indicative of unresolved agency problems. In particular, Berger
and Hann (2003) and Sanzhar (2003) examine the impact of more disaggregated segment
disclosure under SFAS No. 131 and find that the more disaggregated reporting under SFAS
No. 131 creates a greater diversification discount. These findings are suggestive of managers
concealing information about agency problems under SFAS No. 14, although they are also