This thesis induces a theory for the pre-measurement phase of the asset recognition process in the financial reporting domain centred upon the use of the induced artefact-based asset recognition criteria which are applicable to all assets. In common with standard-setting bodies, such as the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), I adopt a social constructionist stance (Miller, 1994). It is one that is constructed from a process of consultation. I consult in order to, first, explore the accounting asset recognition process from a conceptual point of view and, second, so that my social construction in that regard can be legitimised, for the most part, on the basis of a consensus of those consulted. However, unlike the standard setters‘ regulatory process, my analysis is structured using a grounded theory approach. The target audience comprises those experts who have been and/or who are currently involved in some way with the development of the IASB‘s conceptual framework (CF) project, including IASB board members. Different data collection methods were adopted combing both qualitative and quantitative data. In respect of the qualitative research, I carried out two sets of interviews. The first set was conducted with Canadian Accounting Standards Board members in May 2008 and International Accounting Standard Board members in June, 2008. The second set was conducted with more International Accounting Standard Board members, UK-Accounting Standard Baord members and other experts within the area being studied. These two sets of interviews were useful for determining the preliminary concepts and categories in the open coding and axial coding structure. In respect of the quantitative research, the concepts and categories raised from the first two sets of interviews were then used to construct an on line questionnaire. The questionnaires were emailed to national standard setters in Canada, the USA, Australia, Germany and the United Kingdom. This has been followed up with an interview with UK ASB director to help in finalising the theory saturation and to validate the reliability of the generated theory. The generated theory demonstrates a three-circled set of criteria for the pre-measurement phase of an asset recognition process. The three-circled set of asset recognition criteria presented in this thesis breaks free from the narrow definitional and rule based perspective of accounting epistemology to offer an alternative view based on the recognition of artefacts.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The project accounting function is not adequately defined in project management and accounting textbooks. The objectives of this study were to identify the capabilities and potential involvement of the management and financial accountant in project management and to compare these with the responsibilities of the project accountant. A literature study was done. Shortcomings of conventional accounting techniques when applied in proj ect management were identified. This study concluded that the management and financial accountant, combined, is not equivalent to the project accountant. There are certain functions for which the management and financial accountant are qualified, which will not easily be fulfilled by the project accountant. Similarly neither the management nor the financial accountant fully defines the responsibilities of the project accountant and his or her responsibilities would normally include responsibilities other than conventional management and financial accounting. It was not found possible to draw up a list of generic responsibilities for the project accountant. The findings of this study give rise to the possible need for training in dedicated project accounting skills and the development of a professional project accounting qualification. The need for further empirical research was identified. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die projek rekenmeestersfunksie word nie voldoende beskryf in projekbestuur en rekeningkunde handboeke nie. Die doelwitte van hierdie studie was om die vaardighede en die potensiele betrokkenheid van die bestuurs- en die finansiele rekenmeester in projekbestuur te identifiseer en te vergelyk met die verantwoordelikhede van die projekrekenmeester. 'n Literatuurstudie is gedoen. Tekortkominge in konvensionele rekeningkundige metodes, wanneer dit in projekbestuur toegepas word, is geidentifiseer. Hierdie studie het tot die slotsom gekom, dat die bestuursrekenmeester en die finansiele rekenmeester, gekombineer, nie gelyk is aan die projekrekenmeester nie. Daar bestaan sekere funksies waarvoor die bestuurs- en die finansiele rekenmeester voldoende gekwalifiseer is, wat nie normaalweg deur die projekrekenmeester verrig sal word nie. Netso definieer die bestuursrekenmeester en die finansiele rekenmeester gesamentlik nie die verantwoordelikhede van die projekrekenmeester ten volle nie. Die verantwoordelikhede van die projekrekenmeester sal normaalweg funksies buite konvensionele bestuurs- en finansiele rekeningkunde insluit. Dit het problematies geblyk te wees om 'n generiese lys van verantwoordelikhede vir die projekrekenmeester op te stel. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie lei tot die moontlike behoefte vir opleiding in vaardighede vir projekrekenmeesters en die ontwikkeling van 'n professionele projekrekenmeester kwalifikasie. 'n Behoefte aan verdere empiriese navorsing is gerdentifiseer.

This research aims to detect and measure earnings management using a newly modified version of the standard Jones model (Jones, 1991). The standard model is extended to include a measure of discretionary accruals as an additional regressor instead of using the residuals. The variable used to measure discretionary accruals is a composite variable that consists of two components, one that represents the incentive and the other represents the tool of manipulation. The model is applied to detect earnings management in loss reversal companies for listed companies in Jordan and examine the market reaction to the loss reversal. The model is also applied on loss reversal companies for listed companies in the UK and the US. In chapter three, the new model is applied on listed companies in Amman Stock Exchange (ASE). The ASE is structured into two markets: the first market and the second market. Companies are motivated to be listed or remain listed in the first market since it only lists profitable companies. Companies reporting losses more frequently are listed in the second market. Results provide evidence of earnings management for companies listed in the first market. Companies that report a loss in a previous period manipulate in the following period to report profits. As a result of loss reversal, they preserve their place in the first market and avoid dropping back to the second market. This research conducts statistical simulation tests to compare the extended Jones model with the standard model. Results show that the extended model detects earnings management better than the standard one. This new model also separates discretionary accruals from measurement error (i.e. residuals) and makes it possible to accurately measure the whole amount of manipulation. Chapter four examines the investor reaction to the manipulation taking place in the first market. Results show that the market is pricing the discretionary accruals (the manipulation) as a component of net income, although they result only from earnings management. In chapter five, the model is applied on loss reversal firms listed in the UK and in the US. Results show that the companies manipulate to reverse losses and the manipulation depends on to the presence of R&D activities and the changing level in these activities.

This study contributes to the debate on accounting pedagogy in the basic financial accounting course by examining the pedagogical tool of fluency training as a way to improve student performance. Fluency training has been shown to improve performance of students in other academic disciplines.

The equity holders of a firm typically control investment choices but enjoy limited liability, since the value of equity is the firm’s value in excess of the value of debt and other fixed claims. The asset substitution problem allows equity holders to expropriate value from other claimants by shifting downside risk from failed projects. To do so, equity holders substitute riskier investments for those with less risk. In the context of tax choices, firms pursue uncertain tax projects to reduce their current or future tax payments. Given the negative consequences of tax uncertainty documented by prior studies, understanding why firms pursue more uncertain tax projects is important for both internal and external stakeholders. In this study, I construct a model of the firm that highlights how asset substitution incentives influence the adoption of uncertain tax projects. I confirm the inferences from this model empirically to illustrate when firms are more likely to prefer more uncertain tax projects due to the investment distortion created by asset substitution incentives. Specifically, I find that firms in financial distress, firms with high growth potential, and loss firms adopt more uncertain tax projects than other firms. These results provide relevant insight for debt holders, regulators, and enforcement bodies.

Esta tese tem por objetivo analisar de que forma o tom linguístico empregado nos discursos durante as conferências de apresentação de resultados está relacionado ao desempenho (EBITDA) das empresas. Por tom linguístico, a análise leva em consideração tanto a divulgação de informações positivas sobre o desempenho das empresas (tom otimista) quanto a divulgação de informações negativas (tom pessimista) e uma métrica incluindo igualmente o tom otimista e pessimista (tom consolidado). Foram analisadas conferências de resultados ocorridas entre os anos de 2010 e 2014 por companhias abertas no Brasil com ações negociadas na BM&FBovespa. A base de dados é composta por 837 conferências de resultado relativas a 47 empresas e um total de 17.110 atribuições sobre o resultado das empresas, sendo 4.225 classificadas como neutras (não explicitando uma melhora ou uma piora para os resultados da empresa naquele momento), 9.947 atribuições otimistas e 2.938 atribuições pessimistas. A análise descritiva dessas atribuições sobre o resultado das empresas sugere que as apresentações de resultados são quantitativamente mais otimistas do que pessimistas. Com a realização de uma análise multivariada, o EBITDA presente mostrou-se significante em relação ao tom otimista e ao tom consolidado, sugerindo que empresas com melhor desempenho, têm suas conferências do mesmo período mais otimistas. O EBITDA também apresentou significância em relação a um trimestre após a apresentação, na estimação do tom consolidado e dois períodos adiante na estimação do tom pessimista. A interpretação desse resultado sugere que empresas com melhores performances no período seguinte ao das conferências apresentam um tom consolidado maior, ou seja, mais otimista. No segundo caso, a interpretação sugere o inverso: empresas com melhor desempenho dois trimestres após a conferência apresentam menos atribuições pessimistas durante essas apresentações. Os resultados encontrados na tese estão em linha com aqueles encontrados na literatura, em que o tom aparece relacionado com o desempenho presente e algum desempenho futuro. De todo modo, não é possível afirmar que o tom prediz resultados. Sobre esse aspecto, verificou-se alguma significância, mas a natureza dela ainda é desconhecida para se falar em causalidade. / This thesis aims to analyze how the linguistic tone used in speeches during the conference calls is related to the performance of companies. By linguistic tone, the analysis takes into account both the disclosure of positive information about corporate performance (optimistic tone) and the disclosure of negative information (pessimistic tone) and a metric including also the optimistic and pessimistic tone (consolidated tone). Conferences calls between 2010 and 2014 by publicly traded companies in Brazil with shares traded on BM&FBovespa were analyzed. The database consists of 837 conference calls related to 47 companies and a total of 17,110 attributions on the companies\' results, of which 4,225 are classified as neutral (not making an improvement or worsening of the company\'s results at that time), 9,947 optimistic attributions and 2,938 pessimistic attributions. The descriptive analysis of these attributions on the companies\' results suggests that they, during these conference calls are quantitatively more optimistic than pessimistic. With a multivariate analysis, the EBITDA present was significant in relation to the optimistic tone and the consolidated tone, suggesting that companies with better performance, have their conferences of the same period more optimistic. The EBITDA also presented significance in relation to one quarter after the presentation, in the estimation of the consolidated tone and two quarters later in the estimation of the pessimistic tone. The interpretation of this result suggests that companies with better performances in the period following the conference call show a stronger, more optimistic, tone. In the second case, the interpretation suggests the reverse: companies with better performance two quarters after the conference call have less pessimistic attributions during these presentations. The results found in the thesis are in line with those found in the literature, in which the tone appears related to the present performance and some future performance. In any case, it is not possible to say that the tone predicts results. On this aspect, some significance has been verified, but her nature is still unknown to speak of causality.

Diversos estudos relacionados com o mercado de capitais têm investigado os disclosures obrigatório e voluntário, os seus efeitos e também os motivos que levam as organizações a realizá-los ou não. Entretanto, são incipientes estudos que investigam o disclosure em instituições de ensino. Nesse sentido, o objetivo desta tese é de realizar uma análise comparativa, sob a abordagem da teoria da divulgação, entre o índice de disclosure e a importância atribuída por stakeholders a informações consideradas relevantes para fins de divulgação em Instituições e Ensino Superior Filantrópicas do Brasil IESFB. O estudo desenvolve-se a partir da análise da população composta de 146 entidades cadastradas no Conselho Nacional de Assistência Social CNAS. Primeiramente foi desenvolvido o Índice de Disclosure das Instituições de Ensino Superior Filantrópicas do Brasil IDIESFB, mensurado a partir das características qualitativas de disclosure divididas em quatros grupos: (i) visão geral, (ii) desempenho dos serviços, (iii) desempenho financeiro e (iv) situação física e financeira, conforme proposta de Coy, Dixon e Tower (1993). Posteriormente, com a utilização da técnica delphi e tendo por base o estudo de Coy e Dixon (2004), buscou-se captar a percepção de stakeholders sobre quais informações eles consideram importante divulgar com relação às IESFB. Os resultados revelam a existência de um gap entre o que as IESFB divulgam e o que os participantes da técnica delphi consideram importante as IESFB divulgar. Os resultados mostram, ainda, que o índice de disclosure das IESFB, se comparado com os resultados dos períodos de 1993 e 1994, apresentados no estudo de Nelson, Banks e Fischer (2003), está acima do índice de disclosure das universidades canadenses, próximo ou igual ao das universidades da Inglaterra, País de Gales e Irlanda do Norte e bem abaixo do das universidades da Austrália e Nova Zelândia. A pesquisa também apontou que menos de 33% das IESFB realizam disclosure voluntário e que a maioria só apresenta disclosure obrigatório, indicando que são poucas, ainda, as instituições que se preocupam com a accountability pública além das exigências legais. O presente trabalho contribui para ampliar a literatura nacional e internacional sobre disclosure em instituições de ensino ao apresentar a realidade das IESFB, bem como a falta de motivação e de regulação para que as mesmas evidenciem mais suas ações, possibilitando, dessa forma, o desenvolvimento de futuras pesquisas, principalmente no que diz respeito aos motivos que levam as IESFB a não realizarem o disclosure voluntário. / Several studies related to the capital market have investigated the voluntary and mandatory disclosures, their effects and also the reasons that lead the organization to do it or not. However, they are incipient the studies that investigate the disclosure in educational institutions. In this sense, the objective of this these is to make a comparative analysis, under the accountability theory approach, between the index of disclosure and the importance given by stakeholders to information considered relevant aiming at the accountability in Philanthropic Institutions of Higher Education of Brazil - PIHEB. The study is developed from the analysis of a population of 146 entities that are drawn up a cadastre in the National Council of Social Assistance - NCSA. Firstly, it was developed the Index of Disclosure of the Institutions of Higher Education of Brazil - IDIHEB measured from qualitative characteristics of disclosure divided in four groups: (i) general view, (ii) services performance, (iii) financial performance and (iv) physical and financial situation, developed and used in the study of Coy, Dixon and Tower (1993). Farther, with the use of the delphi technique and having as basis the study of Coy and Dixon (2004), it was searched the capture of stakeholders perception about what information they consider important to account in relation to the PIHEB. The results reveal the existence of a gap between what the PIHEB account and the participants of the delphi technique consider important the PIHEB to account. The results show that the index of disclosure of the PIHEB, if compared to the periods of 1993 and 1994 results, presented in the studies made by Nelson, Banks and Fischer (2003) is above the average of disclosure of Canadian universities, near or equal to the universities from England, Wales and North Ireland and much below the index presented by the universities from Australia and New Zealand.The search also pointed that less than 33% of PIHEB prepare voluntary disclosure and that the majority only prepares mandatory disclosure, showing that are few, yet, the institutions that are concerned about public accountability beyond legal requirements.The present work contributes to broaden national and international literature about disclosure in institutions when presenting the reality of the PIHEB, as well as the lack of motivation and regulation for them to account their actions more often, making possible, in this way, the development of future research, mainly concerning the reasons that lead the PIHEB not to make the voluntary disclosure.

A Demonstração do Fluxo de Caixa (DFC) é uma peça contábil elaborada sob o regime de caixa. Essa característica torna difícil sua comparação com outras demonstrações elaboradas à luz do regime de competência. Neste trabalho, desenvolve-se um novo modelo, consoante os estudos desenvolvidos por Dechow e Dichev (2002) nos Estados Unidos: a Demonstração do Fluxo de Caixa elaborada pelo regime de competência. Essa nova peça contábil tem como função promover um elo entre a DFC tradicional e as demais demonstrações contábeis, principalmente com a Demonstração do Resultado do Exercício (DRE). Tem-se, como referencial teórico deste estudo, a exploração dos conceitos de regime de caixa e competência, a discussão dos principais aspectos da DFC e da DRE, e a referência aos estudos empíricos que já foram realizados sobre o assunto. Em seguida, foi desenvolvido o modelo em que os fluxos de caixa são segregados conforme sua competência, ilustrando-se com um exemplo hipotético. Para o teste empírico, selecionou-se, através do banco de dados Economática, empresas brasileiras do período de 1995 a 2005. A análise de regressão múltipla com dados em painel foi utilizada como ferramenta estatística. Como resultado deste trabalho, os testes estatísticos confirmaram as hipóteses inicialmente desenvolvidas, concluindo-se que o fluxo de caixa operacional elaborado à luz do regime de competência fornece informações mais precisas sobre os "accruals" e provê uma melhor comparação com as demais demonstrações contábeis quando comparado ao fluxo de caixa por regime de caixa. / The Cash Flow Statement (CFS) is a financial statement prepared under the cash basis accounting. This characteristic grows difficult its comparison with other financial statements that are prepared under de accrual basis accounting. In this study, it was developed a new model, according the studies done by Dechow and Dichev (2002) in the United States of America: the Cash Flow Statement under the accrual basis accounting. This new financial statement has the role of link the traditional CFS and the other statements, mainly the Income Statement. The theory of this study is based in the concepts of cash and accrual basis accounting, in the discussion of the principal aspects of the CFS and Income Statement and the reference of the empiric researches realized about this subject. Following, a model was developed taking account of the cash flows divided into the accrual period and an example was built. For the empiric test, we selected, through the Economatica data base, Brazilian companies to the period of 1995 until 2005. The multiple regression analysis with panel data has been utilized as a statistic instrument. As a result of this study, the statistics tests sustained the hypothesis developed in the initial part of the study, concluding that the operational cash flow under the accrual basis accounting provide precise information about the accruals and supply a better comparison with the other financial statements when faced to the cash flow under the cash basis accounting.

Esta tese investiga a influência do ambiente competitivo, medido pelo grau de competição, na qualidade das demonstrações contábeis. Para medir a qualidade dos números contábeis divulgados, foram utilizadas quatro métricas distintas que capturam diferentes propriedades da informação contábil: relevância, tempestividade, conservadorismo e gerenciamento de resultados. Estudos que investigaram a qualidade da informação contábil identificaram que firmas com mecanismos mais rígidos de governança corporativa divulgam números contábeis com qualidade superior e que a contabilidade pode exercer função contratual (LOPES, 2009). Por outro lado, a competição no mercado exerce efeito disciplinador na discricionariedade dos executivos (FAMA, 1980) e firmas com melhor desempenho e menores custos de agência teriam preço das ações mais altos (MANNE, 1965). Dessa maneira, a competição no mercado poderia ser um canal de influência na qualidade da informação contábil. Ainda incipiente na literatura, pesquisadores identificaram a influência da competição em duas das propriedades contábeis aqui analisadas: gerenciamento de resultados (MARCIUKAITYTE; PARK, 2009; TINAIKAR; XUE, 2009) e conservadorismo (DHALIWAL et al, 2008). Considerando-se que a competição no mercado pode melhorar a qualidade da informação contábil divulgada, com base nos fundamentos da Organização Industrial e na perspectiva de Stiglitz e Nalebuff (1983) sobre avaliação comparativa, o grau de competição de uma indústria aumentaria o fluxo de informações sobre as firmas e facilitaria a comparação entre seus pares, disciplinando as escolhas contábeis dos executivos. Para a execução deste estudo, utilizou-se uma amostra com base nos dados das companhias abertas listadas na BM&FBOVESPA, no período de 1996 a 2006, para construir as variáveis dos modelos de relevância, tempestividade, conservadorismo e gerenciamento de resultados, além das demais variáveis consideradas nos modelos (governança corporativa, ADR, tamanho, oportunidades de crescimento, endividamento e o índice de Herfindahl que mede o grau de competição). Como a estrutura dos dados (painel não balanceado) e da variável de interesse, a competição, capturam fatores das indústrias (setoriais), foram utilizadas regressões com erros-padrão robustos clusterizados nas indústrias. Os resultados obtidos, em geral, indicam que firmas em ambientes com alta competição não aumentam a relevância dos números contábeis; por outro lado, aumentam a tempestividade das informações contábeis, aumentam o grau de conservadorismo, mas não reduzem as práticas de gerenciamento de resultados. Por outro lado, observou-se que a interação do ambiente de alta competitividade em que as firmas estão inseridas com a adoção de práticas diferenciadas de governança corporativa, produzem efeitos sobre a discricionariedade contábil proporcionando incentivos (ou disciplinando as escolhas contábeis) para que as firmas divulguem números contábeis de qualidade superior. / This thesis investigates the influence of firms competitive environment, measured by the degree of competition, on the quality of financial statements. To measure the quality of the accounting numbers, I used four metrics that capture different properties of accounting information: value relevance, timeliness, conditional conservatism and earnings management. Studies of the quality of accounting information have identified that firms with enhanced corporate governance practices (strong mechanisms) disclose more reliable accounting numbers (LOPES, 2009). Furthermore, market competition exercises a disciplinary influence on executives discretionary power (FAMA, 1980) and firms with better performance and lower agency costs tend to have higher share prices (MANNE, 1965). Therefore, market competition can influence the quality of accounting information. Although the literature is still incipient, researchers have identified the influence of competition on two of the accounting properties analyzed here: earnings management (MARCIUKAITYTE; PARK, 2009; TINAIKAR; XUE, 2009) and conservatism (DHALIWAL et al, 2008). Since competition can improve the quality of the accounting information disclosed based on the tenets of industrial organization and the perspective of Stiglitz and Nalebuff (1983) on comparative valuation, a higher level of competition in an industry should increase the flow of information on firms and facilitate comparison with peers, disciplining the accounting choices of executives. To investigate this conjecture in the Brazilian setting, I used the accounting data from a sample of companies listed on the São Paulo Stock Exchange (Bovespa, now BM&FBovespa) in the period from 1996 to 2006 to construct the variables of the models to measure value relevance, timeliness, conservatism and earnings management, along with other variables considered in the models (corporate governance, dual-listing through ADRs, size, growth opportunities, leverage and the Herfindahl index, which measures the level of competition). Since the structure of the data (unbalanced panel) and the variable of interest competition capture factors of industries (sectors), I used clustered regressions with robust standard errors in the industries. The results obtained in general indicate that firms in highly competitive industries do not have more relevant accounting numbers, while they are more timely in their disclosures and more conservative in the accounting practices followed. The results also indicate there is no effect of competition on earnings management. Finally, the interaction of high competitiveness and the adoption of enhanced corporate governance practices appears to reduce the discretion of management in disclosing accounting numbers, thus improving the quality of firms accounting figures.

O propósito desta tese foi investigar as operações de fusões e aquisições - F&A, uma subárea do que se denomina \"combinação de negócios\", observadas entre firmas brasileiras no período de 2002 a 2006, em que ao menos uma delas (firma \"bidder\" ou firma \"target\") fosse listada na Bovespa. Não foram amostradas fusões e aquisições celebradas entre firmas sob um mesmo controle, excluindo dessa forma as incorporações reversas. Foram amostrados 101 anúncios (1º Fato Relevante arquivado) envolvendo 104 operações, totalizando R$ 223,7 bilhões, ou 66,86% do universo que integrou o ranking da ANBID de 2002 a 2006. Duas técnicas foram utilizadas: o estudo de eventos por retornos ao redor dos anúncios e o estudo de eventos amparado por métricas contábeis. Para fins de amostragem, além da base de dados da ANBID, foi utilizada a base da Economática, a base da \"Melhores e Maiores\" e o sistema IPE da CVM/Bovespa. As evidências empíricas e os testes estatísticos conduziram à conclusão de que o anúncio das operações de fusão e aquisição criou expectativas de maximização de valor para os acionistas das firmas combinadas. Contudo, para os acionistas das firmas \"target\", na ocorrência de uma OPA, com a possibilidade da tensão durante o processo de definição do prêmio de controle a ser pago a acionistas não controladores, especialmente se investidores institucionais como fundos de pensão integram o grupo de não controladores, o anúncio das operações de fusão e aquisição foi precificado de modo diferenciado entre ações ordinárias e preferenciais, causando no mercado uma reação similar à hipótese da miopia, um fenômeno peculiar no ambiente brasileiro. A Contabilidade, por seu turno, não corroborou as expectativas médias do mercado no que concerne às possíveis sinergias advindas da combinação de firmas amostradas. Vale dizer que a medição da performance por métricas contábeis não foi influenciada pelo \"big bath\" tampouco por múltiplas aquisições efetivadas por firmas \"bidder\". Os resultados econométricos sugerem a necessidade de se proceder a um teste de \"impairment\" para averiguar a substância econômica de ágios. Por fim, em se tratando dos efeitos sobre os preços das operações não efetivadas e anunciadas (\"unsuccessful takeovers\"), as evidências empíricas indicam que o mercado de capitais brasileiro ajusta tempestivamente os papéis das firmas combinadas, em linha com o que prescreve a hipótese do mercado eficiente na sua forma semi-forte. / The aim of this thesis was the investigation of Mergers and Acquisitions - M&A, a subset of what is named \"business combination\", observed among Brazilian firms from 2002 to 2006, which at least one of them (bidder firm or target firm) was listed in Bovespa. Mergers and Acquisitions - M&A among firms under the same group of control were not sampled, which means that special transactions usually named \"incorporações reversas\" were not considered in the sample. There have been sampled 101 announcements (1st Fato Relevante filed) involving 104 M&A, totalizing R$ 223,7 billion, or 66,86% of the universe that took part in ANBID ranking from 2002 to 2006. Two techniques were used: the event studies on returns before and after M&A announcements and the event studies on accounting based measures. For sampling purposes, besides ANBID database, Economática database, \"Melhores e Maiores\" database and IPE system from CVM/Bovespa were used. The empirical evidences and the statistical tests led to the conclusion that the announcement of M&A transactions raised expectations of value maximization to the shareholders of the firms combined. Nonetheless, for the target firm shareholders, in the occurrence of a tender offer, with the possibility of a tension during the process of defining the control premium to be paid to minorities, specially if institutional investors such as pension funds take part in the minority group, the announcement of M&A transactions was priced differently among common and preferential shares, causing in the market a reaction alike to the myopia hypothesis, a particular phenomena in Brazil. Accounting, it must be pointed out, did not corroborate the average expectations of the market related to synergies associated with the combination of firms sampled. It must be mentioned that the measurement of the performance based on accounting based measures was not influenced by \"big bath\" neither by multiple acquisitions done by bidder firms. The econometric results suggest the necessity of adopting impairment test to check the economic substance of goodwill. Last, concerning the price effects of the unsuccessful takeover transactions announced, the empirical evidences indicate that the Brazilian stock market timely adjusts the stock prices of the combined firms, which is coherent with the efficient market hypothesis in the semi-strong form.