11/24/2025
By Chengfeng Du

The Department of Accounting at the Manning School of Business invites you to attend a doctoral dissertation proposal by Chengfeng Du.

Date: Friday, Dec. 5, 2025
Time: 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Location: Pulichino Tong Business Center (PTB) 258.

Dissertation Title: Supplier Information Acquisition from Customers and Its Impact on Investment Decision

Committee Members:

  • Jingrong (Karen) Lin (Chair), Ph.D., Department of Accounting, Manning School of Business, UMass Lowell
  • Huimin (Amy) Chen, Ph.D., Department of Accounting, Manning School of Business, UMass Lowell
  • Huiqi Gan, Ph.D., Department of Accounting, Manning School of Business, UMass Lowell
  • Chi Zhang, Ph.D., Department of Finance, Manning School of Business, UMass Lowell

Abstract

Using a novel dataset derived from the SEC’s EDGAR Log File, I examine how suppliers’ acquisition of customer financial information affects their investment decisions. I find that greater information acquisition by suppliers increases their investment responsiveness to customer investment. The effect is more pronounced when the customer has greater bargaining power, limited analyst coverage, and more readable filings. The effect intensifies in the absence of a common auditor. I also find that greater supplier information acquisition strengthens the relationship between customers’ positive tone and suppliers’ investment decisions. Together, the results highlight the role of active acquisition of customer information in mitigating supply chain frictions and shaping suppliers’ investment decisions.

All interested students and faculty members are invited to attend.