Managerial turnover and leverage under a takeover threat

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Novaes, W
• 署名单位: Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio de Janeiro
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF FINANCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0022-1082
• DOI: 10.1111/1540-6261.00508
• 发表日期: 2002
• 页码: 2619-2650
• 关键词: CAPITAL STRUCTURE CHANGE; corporate-control; debt; MARKET; performance; CONTRACTS; DESIGN; equity

摘要

How do shareholders perceive managers who lever up under a takeover threat? Increasing leverage conveys good news if it reflects management's ability to enhance value. It conveys bad news, though, if inefficient managers are more pressured to lever up than the efficient ones. This paper demonstrates that negative updating may prevail. Managers who lever up to end a takeover threat may thus commit to enhance value and yet increase their chances of being replaced by their shareholders. The model provides implications for the dispersion of intraindustry leverage and for the stock price reaction to debt-for-equity exchanges.