Earnings Management in Malaysian IPOs: The East Asian Crisis, Ownership Control and Post-IPO Performance

Abstract

The paper provides general evidence of income-increasing earnings management in Malaysian IPOs but this occurs primarily during a period of severe economic stress (the East Asian crisis). The requirement to provide a profit guarantee appears to reduce rather than encourage earnings management. Within this high ownership concentration market, ownership concerns also appear to constrain IPO earnings management. Owners are willing to forego 'opportunistic' earnings management and signalling opportunities to increase their likelihood of retaining control of the company post-IPO. IPO companies engaging in aggressive earnings management have significantly worse market-based performance than their more conservative counterparts, but only during the economic crisis period.

Keywords: initial public offerings, earnings management, ownership structure, long run stock market performance

JEL Classification: G32