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Do executive stock option grants have value implications for firm performance?

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  • Swee-Sum Lam
  • Bey-Fen Chng

Abstract

Consistent with predictions of agency theory, we find direct evidence that executive stock option grants have value implications for firm performance. This inference is drawn from evaluation of various motivations for the use of such grants in executive compensation: value enhancement, risk taking, tax benefit, signaling and cash conservation. We find consistent evidence for the value enhancement motivation to reduce agency costs. As well, they signal for positive price sensitive information. Our results reject the tax benefit and cash conservation motivations. This finding is robust after controlling for the endogenous character of executive stock option grants and other equity-based grants. Copyright Springer Science + Business Media, Inc. 2006

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  • Swee-Sum Lam & Bey-Fen Chng, 2006. "Do executive stock option grants have value implications for firm performance?," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 26(3), pages 249-274, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:rqfnac:v:26:y:2006:i:3:p:249-274
    DOI: 10.1007/s11156-006-7433-3
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    4. Ahmad Ibn Ibrahimy & Dr. Rubi Ahmad, 2012. "Executive Stock Option Exercising Behavior: Evidence From Bursa Malaysia," Far East Journal of Marketing and Management, Far East Research Centre, vol. 2(2), pages 14-24, August.
    5. Erwinna Chendra & Kuntjoro A. Sidarto, 2020. "An improved of Hull–White model for valuing Employee Stock Options (ESOs)," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 54(2), pages 651-669, February.
    6. Xiaoyan Cheng & David Smith, 2013. "Disclosure versus recognition: the case of expensing stock options," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 40(4), pages 591-621, May.
    7. Lin Guo & Abu Jalal & Shahriar Khaksari, 2015. "Bank executive compensation structure, risk taking and the financial crisis," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 45(3), pages 609-639, October.
    8. Alhaj-Ismail, Alaa & Adwan, Sami & Stittle, John, 2019. "Share-option based compensation expense, shareholder returns and financial crisis," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 15(1), pages 20-35.
    9. Michael Fung, 2013. "A trade-off between non-fundamental risk and incentives," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 41(1), pages 29-51, July.
    10. Robert E. Houmes & Terrance R. Skantz, 2010. "Highly Valued Equity and Discretionary Accruals," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(1‐2), pages 60-92, January.
    11. Chia-Ying Chan & Ling-Chu Lee & Ming-Chun Wang, 2010. "Employee stock options pricing and the implication of restricted exercise price: evidence from Taiwan," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 34(2), pages 247-271, February.
    12. Robert E. Houmes & Terrance R. Skantz, 2010. "Highly Valued Equity and Discretionary Accruals," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(1-2), pages 60-92.
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