Private equity, disclosure quality, and audit quality

Abstract

I study the influence of disclosure/audit quality on private equity funds’ investment decisions, and the relationship between private equity ownership and disclosure/audit quality. Using Preqin and FAME data, I find that PE funds are more likely to invest in firms with superior financial statement transparency (disclosure quality) and in firms that employ big 4 auditors (audit quality). Conversely, I find that PE ownership is associated with audit quality, but not for disclosure quality.