Aktuariella antaganden
En studie om svenska koncerners val
Keywords: Defined benefit pensionActuarial assumptionsPensionplan funding statusEquity ratioEarnings managementIAS 19 - Employee BenefitAktuariella antaganden
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether there is a correlation between the actuarial assumptions, of listed groups in Large Cap on the Nasdaq Stockholm, equity ratio and their pensionplans funding status.Method: The study is based on a quantitative research method, where the analysis of annual reports takes place. The quantitative research method has enabled the paper to perform related analyzes and comparisons of means between groups, for listed companies equity ratio and pension obligation, and the relation to its actuarial assumptions. Correlation measurements are made using a non-parametric method, Spearman's rho, then further tested using one-sided hypotheses t-test.Theory: The backbone of the thesis is presented using two theories, earnings management and the principal-agent theory. These theories are intertwined with the previous researches, which also dealt with the essay topic of earnings management in previous years and in other countries.Empirical: Correlation analyzes between the studied actuarial assumptions and corporate groups solidity and pension financial status is presentedusing tables and charts. These are further analyzed using hypothesis tests and scatterplots.Conclusion: All tests resulted in very weak correlation between the different variables and can there for not be classified as significant. The conclusion that companies, listed in Large Cap on Nasdaq Stockholm, tend to make its actuarial assumptions in order to try to achieve a certain equity ratio, or to try to get their unfunded pension plans seem more funded than they actually are, is not possible to make.