Analyzing late SEC filings for differential impacts of IS and accounting issues

This paper investigates differential market response to the reasons that companies provide for late SEC filings of 10-K and 10-Q reports. Specifically, we examine the market reaction to late filings when the stated reasons are related to information systems (IS) issues versus accounting and other issues. We find that the reasons stated for delayed filings on Form 12b-25 explain differences in market response. More negative market returns are associated with filing delays caused by IS issues, SOX implementations, and SEC investigations. Accounting and administrative reasons are less significant. These results suggest that late filers bear different costs of noncompliance with SEC filing requirements depending on whether the underlying reasons are systems-related or accounting-related.