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Performance-vested stock options and interest alignment

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  • Kuang, Yu Flora
  • Qin, Bo

Abstract

This paper investigates the effects of performance-vested stock options (PVSOs) in aligning management interests and shareholder wealth. Using 4238 executive-level observations for 1383 executive directors from the largest 244 UK non-financial firms over the 1999–2004 period, we find that the use of PVSO schemes in executive compensation contracts is associated with greater interest alignment. The evidence also shows that PVSOs outperform traditional stock options (TSOs) in providing incentives. Moreover, the results suggest that difficult vesting targets negatively affect managers' choice of effort, resulting in the divergence of managers' and shareholders' interests.

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  • Kuang, Yu Flora & Qin, Bo, 2009. "Performance-vested stock options and interest alignment," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 41(1), pages 46-61.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:bracre:v:41:y:2009:i:1:p:46-61
    DOI: 10.1016/j.bar.2008.10.001
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    4. Xin Qu & Majella Percy & Jenny Stewart & Fang Hu, 2018. "Executive stock option vesting conditions, corporate governance and CEO attributes: evidence from Australia," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 58(2), pages 503-533, June.
    5. Ming-Cheng Wu & I-Cheng Lin, 2013. "Determining fair values of performance-vested and forfeiture-embedded employee stock options," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 53(4), pages 1083-1106, December.
    6. Xin Qu & Daifei Yao & Majella Percy, 2020. "How the Design of CEO Equity-Based Compensation can Lead to Lower Audit Fees: Evidence from Australia," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 163(2), pages 281-308, May.
    7. Bennett, Benjamin & Bettis, J. Carr & Gopalan, Radhakrishnan & Milbourn, Todd, 2017. "Compensation goals and firm performance," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 124(2), pages 307-330.
    8. Tahir, Muhammad & Ibrahim, Salma & Nurullah, Mohamed, 2019. "Getting compensation right - The choice of performance measures in CEO bonus contracts and earnings management," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(2), pages 148-169.
    9. Andrea Melis & Silvia Carta & Silvia Gaia, 2012. "Executive remuneration in blockholder-dominated firms. How do Italian firms use stock options?," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 16(3), pages 511-541, August.
    10. Grey, Colette & Stathopoulos, Konstantinos & Walker, Martin, 2013. "The impact of executive pay on the disclosure of alternative earnings per share figures," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 227-236.
    11. Susana Alvarez-Diez & J. Samuel Baixauli-Soler & Maria Belda-Ruiz, 2016. "Early Exercise Behaviour in Performance-vested Stock Option Grants," Annals of Economics and Finance, Society for AEF, vol. 17(1), pages 55-78, May.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Stock options; Pay-performance sensitivity; Equity incentive;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • G39 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Other
    • M41 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Accounting

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