Predicting corporate failure: supporting the case for the inclusion of cash flow factors when using modelling as a tool

RIS ID

77834

Publication Details

Wilkinson, B. (2013). Predicting corporate failure: supporting the case for the inclusion of cash flow factors when using modelling as a tool. British Accounting and Finance Association Annual Conference (pp. 1-14). Sheffield, UK: British Accounting and Finance Association.

Abstract

Corporate failure is a regularly recurring problem for stakeholders, particularly investors, creditors and customers. Early attempts at predicting such failure typically relied on analysis of individual performance measurements such as accounting ratios; it was not until the late 1960s that a modelling approach to the problem started to evolve. Altman's Z-score model was the first approach to combine a series of weighted ratios using the statistical technique of multiple discriminant analysis (MDA) to arrive at a final score, which was used to determine whether or not a company was likely to fail. Substantial research has followed over the subsequent 40 years, resulting in model variants ranging from slight changes to the seminal Z-score approach, and finally to totally different approaches using a range of statistical tools. This paper looks at the use of cash flow information and its impact on the effectiveness of models used for failure prediction. It firstly looks at previous research in this area, particularly with regard to the shortcomings of modelling approaches in general, and discusses the application of a new multi-dimensional modelling approach, based on Australian source data from three related industry groupings and focusing on providing a failure probability result rather than a defined fail/non-fail conclusion. The paper concludes by discussing some of the key contributing factors identified in the development of the model, including the clear evidence of predictive value incorporated in cash flow information, particularly cash flows from operations.

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