The Role of Similar Accounting Standards on Cross-Border Mergers and Acquistions

• In Event: International Accounting

Abstract

This study investigates whether differences in accounting standards across countries inhibit firms from investing in foreign markets. Using the frequency and dollar magnitude of cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A) from 32 countries over the period 1998-2004, we find that the volume of M&A activity across country pairs is larger for pairs of countries with similar Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and that this increased volume of M&A activity is driven by target countries that also have strong enforcement. We also find that the 2005 mandatory adoption of IFRS attracted more cross-border M&As among IFRS adopting countries, and that this increase in M&A activity within the IFRS countries is more pronounced for country pairs with low similarity in GAAP in the pre-IFRS adoption period. Overall, our results highlight the role of accounting standards and enforcement in shaping cross-border M&A activity.

Authors

• Inder K Khurana, University of Missouri-Columbia

• Jere Francis, univ. of missouri

• shawn huang, Arizona State university