Segment Disclosures Research Articles

Examining the Impact of Capital Redeployment on Strategic Business Segment Disclosures

Examining the Impact of Capital Redeployment on Strategic Business Segment Disclosures

From IAS 14 to IFRS 8: the role of proprietary and agency costs in shaping financial reporting

ABSTRACT The relevance of segment reporting has prompted regulatory bodies to place significant efforts in refining the existent segment reporting regulation. The introduction of the IFRS 8 ‘management approach’ in the segment reporting regulation was anticipated to facilitate a better understanding of the company’s diverse businesses and regions, providing an opportunity to improve segment reporting disclosures. However, the effectiveness of segment reporting regulation is heavily influenced by the country regulatory environment and the characteristics of the firms. We exploit the Spanish institutional setting to provide further evidence on the real impact of IFRS 8 adoptions. Our findings support the notion that the adoption of IFRS 8 has yielded few benefits to segment reporting. Importantly, our research reveals that segment disclosures have not exhibited heightened responsiveness to proprietary costs and have shown only a moderate response to agency costs after the adoption of IFRS 8.M41, M48

Segment disaggregation and equity‐based pay contracts

AbstractWe study the role of segment disaggregation in equity‐based pay contracts in diversified firms. Disaggregated segment disclosures can improve the observability of managerial actions in internal capital markets and thus increase implicit incentives for managers to allocate resources as desired by shareholders, substituting for explicit incentives provided to CEOs. We use the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131 as an identification strategy and find that firms affected by this segment reporting mandate significantly decreased the provision of equity‐based incentives in the post‐adoption period, especially for firms with higher operating volatilities. This effect is also more pronounced for firms with weaker board monitoring in the pre‐adoption period but with stronger external monitoring in the post‐adoption period. Overall, our results suggest that disaggregated segment disclosures reduce the use of equity‐based pay contracts in diversified firms by enhancing the monitoring of managers.

The Relationship Between Industry Concentration and the Level of Operating Segment Disclosure: The Moderating Effect of Audit Quality

This study aimed to examine the relationship between the degree of industry concentration which the company belongs and the level of operating segment disclosure. The study also aimed to test the impact of audit quality on the previous relationship, using a sample of 40 non-financial companies listed on the Egyptian stock exchange for five-year period 2016-2020.Using regression analysis, the results of the study showed a low level of operating segment disclosure in Egyptian companies in general. The results of the study also showed that there is a significant negative relationship between the degree of industry concentration and the level of operating segment disclosure. While the results showed an insignificant negative effect of audit quality on the relationship between the degree of industry concentration and the level of disclosure of the operating segments. The previous results were supported by robustness tests conducted by including additional control variables that include the board of directors’ characteristics, as well as using an alternative measure to measure the degree of industry concentration.

Segment Reporting Practices of Select Indian and Global Pharmaceutical Companies: A Comparative Study

Segment reporting is a financial reporting practice through which business entities disclose financial information about several business segments or divisions. It provides stakeholders with information on the performance and risks associated with each segment, helping them to have a better knowledge of the company’s entire operations. Segment reporting often entails identifying operational segments based on criteria such as products or services, geographic areas, or client categories. Revenues, costs, assets, liabilities, and other pertinent data associated with segments are reported. This disclosure assists investors, analysts, and other stakeholders in assessing the financial health and performance of a company’s various business segments. In this study, the geographic, business, and therapeutic segments of top 40 Indian pharmaceutical companies and top 10 global pharmaceutical companies have been analyzed to capture segment disclosures, as well as to identify similarities and differences in their segment reporting.

Effect of Segment Reporting Practice on Investors Decision Making: A Comparative Analysis of Nigeria and South Africa

Aim: Segment disclosure is expected to present essential information to meet the increased need of demand for published corporate disclosure of firms by stakeholders worldwide. This study examined the effect of Segment Reporting Practises on Investors’ Decision Making: A Comparative analysis of Nigeria and South Africa. Methodology: The research design was ex post facto. As of the end of 2023, the study’s population included 66 firms from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and 46 multinational corporations listed on the Nigeria Exchange Group.15 businesses from each of the two stock exchanges were chosen using the purposive sampling method. Data were obtained from the audited annual reports of the companies from the period 2015 to 2022 and analyzed using Panel regression analysis. Results: Findings revealed that segment reporting practices have an insignificant effect on investors’ decision-making of multinational firms in Nigeria while on the decision-making of investors for multinational companies in South Africa, segment reporting practice can be argued to have a considerable impact.it can be said that segment reporting practice has a significant effect on investors’ decision-making of multinational firms in South Africa. Conclusion: This comprehensive panel regression analysis delved into the intricate relationship between segment reporting practice, leverage, firm size, and investors’ decision-making for multinational organisations in both Nigeria and South Africa. Recommendation: The findings offer nuanced insights into how these factors contribute to shaping investment decisions, as measured by share prices, in the respective countries. While the results vary between the two nations, they collectively underline the complexity of factors influencing investors’ choices and highlight the need for a tailored approach to decision-making frameworks.

Audits of Non-GAAP Earnings: Evidence from Adjusted EBITDA in Segment Disclosures

Audits of Non-GAAP Earnings: Evidence from Adjusted EBITDA in Segment Disclosures

Does Segment Disclosure Constrain Corporate Pollution?

Does Segment Disclosure Constrain Corporate Pollution?

Revisiting the relation between geographical diversification and corporate social responsibility: the role of segment disclosure (SFAS 131) and institutional environment

Revisiting the relation between geographical diversification and corporate social responsibility: the role of segment disclosure (SFAS 131) and institutional environment

Revisiting the impact of ASC 280: Liquidity, operating performance, and market value

AbstractThe Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) enacted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131 (now Accounting Standards Codification 280) to improve the valuation of firms’ future growth opportunities through changes to segment disclosures. Prior research on foreign investment relies primarily on levels analyses. Using both changes and levels analyses, we provide evidence that investments in foreign fixed assets by US firms is significantly and positively related to operating income and net cash flows from operations. Foreign fixed assets are also significantly and positively related to stock prices, returns, and stock liquidity. Generally, our results suggest that increases in international diversification are related to increased operating performance and liquidity, while our price and returns results suggest that investors incorporate geographic asset data in their valuation models.

Does Managerial Ability Affect Segment Disclosure? Evidence From Indonesia

Research aims: While prior study around segment disclosure has mainly focused on firm characteristics, there is little study on whether managerial characteristics are associated with segment disclosure. This study, therefore, aims to examine the effect of managerial ability on the level of segment disclosure.Design/Methodology/Approach: This study used panel data regression with 556 firm-year observations of Indonesian manufacturing firms during 2017-2020. This study employed the checklist based on PSAK 5 (2015 edition) and adopted a content analysis approach. To measure managerial ability, this study utilized the managerial ability score developed by Demerjian, Lev, McVay (2012) for Indonesian firms. Research findings: The results of this study revealed that managerial ability significantly and positively affected the level of segment disclosure. Higher-ability managers also tended to disclose their segment information more extensively.Theoretical contribution/Originality: This study contributes to the managerial ability literature and the disclosure literature (specifically for segment disclosure). This study is also the first to provide empirical evidence about the effect of managerial ability on the level of segment disclosure.Practitioner/Policy implication: This study results can be used by the Financial Accounting Standards Board of the Institute of Indonesia Chartered Accountants regarding the effectiveness of management approach implementation in Indonesia. Furthermore, the result of this study suggests that managers need to improve their capabilities to accommodate a dynamic business environment.Research limitation/Implication: This study used content analysis to measure segment disclosure, including subjectivity. Nevertheless, this study only investigated manufacturing firms. Further research may expand the industry sample to get a better understanding.

Nowhere to hide: Response of corporate restructuring activities to mandatory segment disclosure

We examine the effect of mandatory financial disclosures, specifically SFAS 131, on corporate restructuring activities by using difference-in-differences (DiD) and regression discontinuity design (RDD) settings. After the adoption of SFAS 131, firms are less likely to engage in acquisitions than are the control firms. Furthermore, conditional on firms' engagement in acquisition activities, acquirers are less likely to complete their initiated acquisition deals, especially for those value-destroying deals. After the implementation of SFAS 131, we find that the equity market reacts positively to large and diversifying deals that are subject to mandatory segment disclosures. Overall, our results suggest that the segment disclosure standard helped prevent managers from undertaking new, value-destroying M&As post-SFAS 131. Finally, these SFAS 131–induced corporate restructuring activities are shown to help reduce the risk of a stock price crash.

The impact of IFRS-8, segment reporting, on the disclosure practices of Polish listed companies

Segment-reporting standards are an important element of financial reporting for public companies and require that a company’s segment disclosures be consistent with that of management’s internal reporting structure. While studies have examined the impact of International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS)-8 in a number of different countries, none have focused on Poland. We focus on the benefits articulated in the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB)’s Basis-for-Conclusion and provide comprehensive evidence concerning the impact of IFRS-8 on the quality of segment information disclosed in the annual reports of 275 of the largest companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. We then extend our research by analyzing segment disclosure changes post-adoption for a subset of companies following clarifications issued by the IASB to IFRS-8 arising from the post-implementation review. Findings indicate that although the overall implementation of IFRS-8 resulted in several improvements in segment disclosures by Polish companies, disclosure rates are persistently low, particularly in the areas of reconciliations and geographic segments, indicating there are still areas that need further improvement. Our results have significant implications for both policy makers (i.e., IASB, US Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and Polish standard setters) and other stakeholders interested in assessing the impact of the principle-based IFRS-8 standard and the measurement of segment information quality.

The effect of IFRS 8 on segments disclosure practices in South East Asia

Purpose This paper analyzes and compares segments disclosure practices of listed companies of Pakistan and Bangladesh under International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 8 with companies from India under Accounting Standard 17 over three-year period from 2013 to 2015. Furthermore, the purpose of this paper was to investigate that how the selection of chief operating decision-maker (CODM) by management, industry type, governance and firm characteristics affects segments disclosure practices in South East Asia. Finally, how the relationship among segment disclosure, firm characteristics and corporate governance is moderated through the big 4 audit firm. Design/methodology/approach To achieve these objectives, data were collected from annual reports of the top 100 companies of each country and selected based on market capitalization for three years period 2013–2015. Findings Results state that majority of companies in South East Asia are using business class for defining operating/primary segments. Regarding reporting of operating/primary segments and geographic/secondary segments along with geographic fineness score, Indian companies are continuously on the lower side as compared to companies from Pakistan and Bangladesh. Furthermore, it was found that industry type and selection of CODM have a highly significant effect on segments disclosure practices. Finally, results of regression analysis found that the application of IFRS 8 in Pakistan and Bangladesh has a significant positive effect on disclosure of operating/primary as well as geographic/secondary segments as compared to India. Further, the role of corporate governance mechanism in influencing segments disclosure was found as least in South East Asia. Further appointment of big 4 audit firm as external auditor has only significant positive effect on disclosure of segments items. Finally, based on additional analysis, it was found that big 4 auditor moderates the relationship only in the case of reporting of operating/primary segments. Research limitations/implications Based on these results, the performance of Indian companies regarding disclosure of operating/primary segments, geographic/secondary segments along geographic fineness score is quite low despite the fastest growing economy in the world. This raises concerns about the quality of segment reporting in India, the world’s fastest expanding economy. Originality/value These results imply that there is a need of an effective role by the external auditor to improve the quality of segment reporting in developing countries, which is principle based.

Cutting Through Complexity: Segment Disclosure and Pricing Efficiency

In 1997, Statement of Financial Reporting Standards (SFAS) 131 introduced a substantial change in how segment information is reported in US-GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) financial statements. We seek to examine whether this change in financial reporting policy increases investors’ ability to process information relevant to conglomerate firms (i.e., those operating in multiple industries) more quickly, and whether this increased efficiency in information processing varies cross-sectionally based on firm complexity and the direction of industry news. Our results indicate that SFAS 131 has increased the speed with which stock prices capture information about conglomerates, relative to focused firms, although we find that some frictions remain with regard to disclosing bad news. This study documents an example of how a change in disclosure policy can enhance pricing efficiency, and hence, it may be of interest to the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) in its ongoing initiative to consider potential changes to SFAS 131.

Audit Committee Characteristics and Segment Disclosures of Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria

Audit Committee Characteristics and Segment Disclosures of Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria

Pengungkapan Kuantitatif dan Kualitatif Segmen Operasi Berdasarkan PSAK 5 Revisi 2009 (Penyesuaian 2015) di Indonesia

Reporting of operating segments has become an important concern, therefore there is a PSAK 5 regulation which is continuously updated based on IFRS 8 to improve operating segment reporting. This study aims to examine the application of operating segment disclosure and its determinants in public companies in Indonesia.This research method is quantitative method. The operating segment in the financial statements of the LQ 45 Index’s Company in 2016 is analyzed by scoring to the items required by PSAK 5 Revised 2009 (Amandement 2015). The results showed that the majority cozmpany's compliance level of quantitative information is medium level of compliance,. Quantitative disclosure shows the most reported items are profit loss and total assets, meanwhile the least reported item is other non current assets and main customer information . Meanwhile, the most reported item of qualitative disclosure is the main products and services which generate revenues for the operating segments. This study shows that companies disclose more quantitative information than qualitative. In addition, the good corporate governance mechanism that determines the extent of disclosure of operating segments is institutional ownership and the board of directors. This research has implications for operating segment regulators to do better and contribute to the agency theory and signaling theory.

Under What Conditions Does the Manager Withhold Segment Information?

This paper considers how a manager decides to disclose or withhold segment information in a capital market setting. In particular, we develop a multi-period model in which a manager in each period decides how to allocate her effort between two businesses. The profit earned in each segment is determined by the manager’s effort and ability as well as each segment’s market profitability and inherent uncertainty. In this setting, in contrast to the expectation of segment disclosure being withheld due to conflicts of interest between managers and shareholders, we identify the conditions under which the manager rationally withholds segment information and achieves higher social welfare. In a setting where the manager is concerned about the current stock price, disclosing more disaggregated information to the stock market does not necessarily lead to more efficient monitoring. The capital market values various segment earnings differently, and in response to this valuation, a rational manager may greatly alter her behavior, leading to inefficient outcomes.

Financial Analysis in Banking: The Challenge of Segment Reporting*

ABSTRACTAn equity analyst at Q&M Independent Research Corporation is assessing the financial and business prospects of two Canadian banks: Bank of Montréal and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. Relying on recent information provided in the financial statements and proxy circulars from both banks, the analyst faces some challenges in performing a prospective analysis, a key input to any valuation model. The case highlights the cost‐benefit analysis of disclosure that banks may perform when applying IFRS 8 – Operating Segments. The case also illustrates the challenges that segment disclosure poses to financial analysts and investors as they attempt to forecast a bank's earnings and to perform a valuation. Furthermore, the case develops the process by which a bank's business model is linked with its financial reporting and, ultimately, its valuation.

Do the specific countries in which a multinational corporation operates affect its private loan contracts?

Previous research has shown that higher levels of firm globalization lead to a lower cost of private debt. However, this research generally treats globalization as a homogeneous attribute ignoring the specific countries in which a multinational corporation (MNC) operates. Using a sample of U.S. MNCs from 1999 through 2017, we relax this assumption and find that while the results from prior research hold with regards to the level of an MNC’s operations in segments reported at the regional or continent-wide level, the level of an MNC’s operations in countries with low institutional quality is associated with a higher cost of bank debt. Our results are robust to controlling for firms’ choice to operate in countries with low institutional quality using self-selection models and propensity score matching. In additional testing we find that the level of MNCs operations in countries with low institutional quality is negatively associated with the inclusion of collateral requirements in private lending agreements, but is not associated with the maturity of the loan or the number of covenants included in the lending agreement. Finally, we find that firms’ segment disclosure choices vary around new loan issuances in a manner consistent with management being aware that operations in low institutional quality are perceived by lenders to indicate higher credit risk.