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Managerial Turnover and Leverage under a Takeover Threat

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  • Walter Novaes

Abstract

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.

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  • Walter Novaes, 2002. "Managerial Turnover and Leverage under a Takeover Threat," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 57(6), pages 2619-2650, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jfinan:v:57:y:2002:i:6:p:2619-2650
    DOI: 10.1111/1540-6261.00508
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    1. Cai, Mingchao & Li, Yue & Wang, Yongxiang & Xu, Rong, 2010. "Is the more able manager always safer from takeover?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 27(1), pages 28-31, January.
    2. Chen, An-Sing & Chu, Hsiang-Hui & Hung, Pi-Hsia & Cheng, Miao-Sih, 2020. "Financial risk and acquirers' stockholder wealth in mergers and acquisitions," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    3. Isagawa, Nobuyuki, 2002. "Callable convertible debt under managerial entrenchment," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 8(3), pages 255-270, July.
    4. Kose John & Lubomir Litov, 2010. "Managerial Entrenchment and Capital Structure: New Evidence," Journal of Empirical Legal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 7(4), pages 693-742, December.
    5. Lee, Cheng-Few & Sung, Hao-Chang, 2021. "Product market competition and real activities manipulation: Theory and implications," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 192-205.

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