Value relevance of proportionate consolidation versus the equity method: Evidence from Hong Kong

Whether proportionate consolidation (PC) or the equity method (EM) provides more informative financial statements is a controversial issue. This study uses data from listed companies in Hong Kong to investigate the value relevance of the EM compared with PC during 2005–2008 when the local word-for-w...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Stella So, Kar Shun Wong, Feida (Frank) Zhang, Xu Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2018-12-01
Series:China Journal of Accounting Research
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1755309118301321
Description
Summary:Whether proportionate consolidation (PC) or the equity method (EM) provides more informative financial statements is a controversial issue. This study uses data from listed companies in Hong Kong to investigate the value relevance of the EM compared with PC during 2005–2008 when the local word-for-word equivalent HKAS 31 offered the same options. The results of this study provide evidence that PC does not offer higher value relevance than the EM. PC’s horizontal aggregation of a portion of the operations, assets and liabilities of the jointly controlled entities with those of the venturer is less informative to investors than the EM’s vertical aggregation. Keywords: Value relevance, Proportional consolidation method, Equity method, Financial statements
ISSN:1755-3091