Zombie firms and disclosures in the expanded audit report

Nora Muñoz-Izquierdo (), José Manuel Jiménez Mazarío () and María-del-Mar Camacho-Miñano ()
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Nora Muñoz-Izquierdo: CUNEF University
José Manuel Jiménez Mazarío: Complutense University of Madrid
María-del-Mar Camacho-Miñano: Complutense University of Madrid

Review of Managerial Science, 2024, vol. 18, issue 6, No 1, 1519-1555

Abstract: Abstract We examine whether expanded audit report (EAR) disclosures classified as the audit opinion, going concern uncertainty paragraphs (GCUPs), emphasis of matter paragraphs (EMPs) and key audit matters (KAMs) are associated with the determinants of zombie firms. Theoretically, zombies are inefficient, unprofitable and highly leveraged firms that receive subsidized credit and consume resources that should be allocated to more efficient firms, reducing productivity growth in the economy. Using a sample of Spanish firms during 2017, the period in which the expanded audit standards were implemented, univariate analysis produces support for our expectations, suggesting that zombies are smaller and more indebted, tend to report losses and have EARs that include more disclosures than non-zombies. Our regression results indicate that GCUPs, EMPs, going concern KAMs and KAMs related to the valuation of current assets are more likely to be reported for zombies. Furthermore, the economic significance of GCUPs allows us to offer a new classification of zombies, contributing to zombie theory. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on the identification of zombie firms using external audit data and the first to analyze other EAR disclosures apart from KAMs. Our findings may have relevant implications for financial statement users, audit firms, standard setters, financial institutions and governments regarding the usefulness and zombie explanatory ability of EARs.

Keywords: Zombie companies; Expanded audit report (EAR); Audit disclosure; Key audit matters (KAMs); Emphasis of matter paragraphs (EMPs); Going concern uncertainty paragraphs (GCUPs); 62P25; 91C99 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1007/s11846-023-00666-5

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