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Cash holdings and CEO risk incentive compensation: Effect of CEO risk aversion

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  • Feng, Harry
  • Rao, Ramesh P.

Abstract

Liu and Mauer (2011) document that firm cash holdings are positively related to the risk incentive component of CEO compensation and attribute this relation to bondholder-shareholder conflicts. We propose that the positive relationship could be due to a managerial risk aversion effect and find supporting evidence for this view. In our study, we focus on zero debt and negative net debt ratio firms in order to minimize the possibility that the risk incentive effect on cash is driven by bondholder-shareholder conflicts as suggested by Liu and Mauer (2011). We find that vega is positively related to cash holdings and that this relationship is enhanced for firms with greater managerial risk aversion. We conclude that managers appropriately respond to risk incentives by taking on riskier projects but increase cash holdings to reduce their undiversified risk to the firm as a consequence of greater risk incentive compensation.

Suggested Citation

  • Feng, Harry & Rao, Ramesh P., 2018. "Cash holdings and CEO risk incentive compensation: Effect of CEO risk aversion," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 162-176.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finana:v:60:y:2018:i:c:p:162-176
    DOI: 10.1016/j.irfa.2018.09.009
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    Cited by:

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    4. David Adeabah & Charles Andoh & Simplice A. Asongu & Isaac Akomea-Frimpong, 2021. "Elections, Political Connections and Cash Holdings: Evidence from Local Assemblies," Research Africa Network Working Papers 21/004, Research Africa Network (RAN).
    5. Durongkadej, Isarin & Wei, Siqi & Rao, Ramesh, 2021. "Shareholder litigation and the risk incentive effect of executive compensation: A re-examination," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 41(C).
    6. Berent Tomasz & Śniechowski Maciej, 2023. "Corporate sector cash holding – optimal levels, macro context, or external shocks?," International Journal of Management and Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, Collegium of World Economy, vol. 59(4), pages 297-314, December.
    7. Zhang, Xiang & Zhang, Zongyi & Zhou, Han, 2020. "Oil price uncertainty and cash holdings: Evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    8. Mohammad Hendijani Zadeh & Michel Magnan & Denis Cormier & Ahmad Hammami, 2021. "Does corporate social responsibility transparency mitigate corporate cash holdings?," International Journal of Managerial Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 19(1), pages 63-87, December.
    9. Romec, Arthur, 2023. "Stakeholder orientation and managerial incentives: Evidence from a natural experiment," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    10. Lou, Zhukun & Wang, Chong & Liu, Yaxin & Xu, Jing, 2023. "It takes two to tango: Impact of salary co-movement between top executives and ordinary employees on corporate innovation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 55(PB).
    11. Takakorn Likitapiwat & Sirimon Treepongkaruna & Pornsit Jiraporn, 2023. "CSR variability, managerial risk aversion, and hostile takeover threats," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(2), pages 773-790, March.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cash holdings; CEO compensation; Risk incentives; Managerial risk aversion;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G00 - Financial Economics - - General - - - General
    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General

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