Previous studies have indicated that in the year prior to the merger, acquiring firms manage earnings upward. This result is consistent with the conclusion that acquiring firms use accounting choice in an attempt to increase their exchange ratio. Therefore, the aim of this research is study, theoretically and empirically the determinants of earnings managements for a sample of French companies during the period 1998-2008. Earnings management is measuring by discretionary accruals. This

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... nts are classified in two categories those relative to characteristics of the operation of mergers and acquisition, which are relative size of the operation, auditors quality of the mergers and the use of accounting criteria to determinate exchange ratio and those relative to characteristic of the acquiring firms which are ownership structure, financial structure and board independence of acquiring firms. The results show that the relative size of the operation and accounting criteria and earning management are positively related in the acquiring firms. Whereas the quality of the auditors of the merger and acquisition, board independence and discretionary accruals are negatively associated.