Bokslutsrapporten ? ett substitut eller komplement till revisionsberättelsen?
Credit assessmentAuditor?s reportInformation asymmetriBokslutsrapportKreditbedömningRevisionsberättelseInformationsasymmetriBokslutsrapport
On the 1st of November 2010, the statutory audit was abolished for small limited companies. The amendment of the abolished statutory audit includes smaller private limited companies that for two years does not exceed more than one of the two following limits: net revenue of three million kronor, total assets of one and one half million kronor and three employees. The principal rule of chapter 9 section 1 Companies Act remains that a limited company should have at least one auditor. For limited companies included of the amendment has a opportunity to choose bokslutsrapporten instead of the auditor?s report as a proof of quality of the accounting and the financial reporting. The purpose of the thesis is to explain how lenders perceive bokslutsrapporten as a substitute for the auditor?s report. Previous research shows that lenders benefit from audit and that the auditor?s opinion in the auditor?s report affects the credit assessment. The purpose includes to explain how lenders perceive the change of bokslutsrapporten as a basis for credit assessment.I have chosen to use a qualitative research approach and a case study design. To collect data I have conducted semi-structured interviews with four lenders in four different banks. The results show that credit assessment is an overall assessment and that it is about the individual assessor?s working method, both in terms of external information and internal information requested and how it is valued. Crucial for a credit to be granted is if there is repayment ability. If there is no repayment ability there is no way to get a credit, no matter how good the collateral is. Credit assessment can be explained by contract theory and agency theory and audit has a value as assurance and to reduce the information asymmetri in the credit assessment. Crucial to the importance of an authorized accountant and bokslutsrapporten in the credit assessment will be about confidence and credibility and how it will affect the information asymmetri in relation to an auditor and the audit report. It may also well be a question of independence in the relationship, ie. a authorized accountant is unlike an auditor not independent. A very interesting position that could affect the choice of audit or not. Bokslutsrapporten is of all to asses in the current situation a complement to the audit report.