The Role of Privatisation in Sustaining Auditor Independence: Evidence from the Developing Markets

Abstract

This paper investigates the role of structural ownership reforms in sustaining auditor independence through split-share structure reform (SSSR). Studying a sample of 1826 Chinese listed firms over the SSSR period in China, the results showed that auditor independence sustainability was less pronounced in local state-owned enterprises (LSOEs) compared with non-state-owned Enterprises (NSOEs). Nevertheless, after the SSSR, there is a significant enhancement in sustaining auditor independence. In particular, auditor independence sustainability is pronounced by providing an unqualified audit opinion, including an ‘emphasis of matter paragraph’ instead of issuing a modified audit opinion. This study contributes to the literature in two ways. First, it gives an empirical investigation into auditor independence sustainability efforts by the Chinese government through the SSSR. Second, it helps regulators and policy-makers in China and other emerging markets in evaluating the SSSR efforts to improve auditor independence.