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Are Modified Audit Opinions Related to the Availability of Credit? Evidence from Finnish SMEs

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  • Lasse Niemi
  • Stefan Sundgren

Abstract

We study the association between credit availability and modified audit opinions using a sample of more than 50,000 observations for small- and medium-sized companies. Studies in finance suggest that companies use trade-credit as a source of financing when institutional debt is not available (e.g. Petersen and Rajan, 1994; Danielsson and Scott, 2004). Building on these studies, we study whether modified audit opinions are associated with an increased use of trade credit relative to bank debt. We find no association between modified audit opinions and our measure of credit rationing. Our archival evidence focusing on SMEs is contrary to much of the earlier research finding that modified audit opinions provide incremental information for lenders. Our study adds to the scarce literature on the role of audit reports as a source of information in SME finance.

Suggested Citation

  • Lasse Niemi & Stefan Sundgren, 2012. "Are Modified Audit Opinions Related to the Availability of Credit? Evidence from Finnish SMEs," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(4), pages 767-796, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:euract:v:21:y:2012:i:4:p:767-796
    DOI: 10.1080/09638180.2012.671465
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. David Abad & Juan P. Sánchez-Ballesta & José Yagüe, 2017. "Audit opinions and information asymmetry in the stock market," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 57(2), pages 565-595, June.
    2. Estefanía Palazuelos & Ángel Herrero Crespo & Javier Montoya Corte, 2018. "Accounting information quality and trust as determinants of credit granting to SMEs: the role of external audit," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 51(4), pages 861-877, December.
    3. Briozzo, Anahi & Albanese, Diana, 2020. "Voluntary audit, investment, and financing decisions in Latin American small and medium enterprises," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 38(C).
    4. Stefanie Ceustermans & Diane Breesch & Joël Branson, 2017. "Voluntary Disclosure of Sales and the Extent of Trade Credit in Small Private Companies," Accounting in Europe, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(3), pages 388-406, September.
    5. Michiel De Meyere & Heidi Vander Bauwhede & Philippe Van Cauwenberge, 2018. "The impact of financial reporting quality on debt maturity: the case of private firms," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 48(7), pages 759-781, November.
    6. Radeef Chundakkadan & Subash Sasidharan, 2022. "Gender gap and access to finance: A cross‐country analysis," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(1), pages 180-207, February.
    7. María J. Palacín‐Sánchez & Francisco J. Canto‐Cuevas & Filippo di Pietro, 2022. "Examining the effects of the quality of financial reports on SME trade credit: An innovative approach," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 22(4), pages 662-668, December.
    8. Farah Saerens & Stefanie Ceustermans, 2021. "Abbreviated or Micro-Entity Accounts? Effect of Financial Reporting Format on the Availability of Trade Credit," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-18, July.

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