This study aims to examine the effect of corporate attributes and corporate governance mechanisms on accounting conservatism in politically connected firms. This study uses 806 company-year observations consisting of large companies registered for 13 years from 2005-2017. Moderation regression analysis panel data is used for the analysis. Using two conservatism measurements, namely accrual and book-market, the results of the study show that the two models are inconsistent in producing tests for the influence of company attributes but are consistent in producing tests of corporate governance mechanisms. Firm size, profitability, audit committee, independent board, and audit litigation are the determinants of accounting conservatism in large companies. Independent Commissioners and audit committees as an internal mechanism of corporate governance negatively affects the application of accounting conservatism. The results of this study are also consistent with testing the interaction of political connections that strengthen the audit committee’s negative influence on the level of corporate conservatism. These results provide empirical evidence that the existence of an independent commissioner or audit committee weakens the influence of corporate governance mechanisms on the application of accounting conservatism in politically connected companies. Looking at the educational background and work experience and free from political elements, so that the existence of the board of commissioners and the audit committee are no longer considered a rubber stamp for the policies that have been made by management. This study is the first to investigate the moderation of political connections on corporate attributes and GCG mechanisms towards comprehensive accounting conservatism.
The banking and finance sector is one of the most dynamic sectors that is continuously experiencing most of structural changes. Fast consolidation and concentration of banks globally has evoked active discussions on behalf of scientists and practitioners on the effect gained from concentrating on the efficiency and competitiveness of the banking system, financial and microeconomic stability of countries and economic development. Mergers and acquisitions of the banking sector are mostly encouraged by the target to get more authority in the international banking environment, to eliminate competitors from profitable activity and to strive for additional financial benefit for shareholders, to increase the range of the services provided, to use the resources efficiently, i. e. to create the value for shareholders and to contribute to the development of the financial sector. Therefore, the article analyses the bank mergers and acquisitions of the Lithuanian banking sector; it is assessed whether the bank mergers have created the value for shareholders and (or) the financial system. The research that has been carried out shows that mergers and acquisitions of the banking sector are take placing in order to increase the benefit for shareholders and to strive for the economy; the aspect of financial stability of such transactions appears in a short term and is most commonly inspired by the government. Modern Lithuanian banking sector has been formed by means of mergers and acquisitions; strategic investors helped transitive economy countries to guarantee the stability of the banking sector and to achieve the benefit of the economy of scale. Restructuring of the banking activities, i. e. the performance distribution can be a useful measure in ensuring stable activities of both the financial system and the accepting bank – to acquire a market share and to optimise its performance.