We re-examine the motivation to manage earnings in US M&As, by investigating whether the enactment of SOX has affected pre-merger earnings management. Using a sample of over 700 completed M&As of US public firms during 1999-2008. Using quarterly reports, we track-down earnings management during...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to re-examine the motivation to manage earnings in US mergers and acquisitions (M&As) by investigating whether the enactment of Sarbanes-Oxley act (SOX) has affected pre-merger earnings management. Design/methodology/approach The authors used a sample of over...