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Information content of directors' trading around acquisitions

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  • Shams, Syed M.M.
  • Duong, Huu Nhan
  • Singh, Harminder

Abstract

This paper investigates the patterns of directors' trades and returns around takeover announcements. We find that the pre-announcement net value (the difference between buy value and sell value) of directors' trading is positively related to acquirers' announcement period abnormal returns. This relation is stronger for private target acquisitions and for stock-financed acquisitions, when the information asymmetry between directors and outside investors is more pronounced. However, this relation does not hold for better governed and highly monitored acquirers. Our findings indicate opportunistic trading by directors prior to takeovers and highlight a significant role that corporate governance mechanism plays in restraining these opportunistic behaviors.

Suggested Citation

  • Shams, Syed M.M. & Duong, Huu Nhan & Singh, Harminder, 2016. "Information content of directors' trading around acquisitions," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 177-193.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pacfin:v:38:y:2016:i:c:p:177-193
    DOI: 10.1016/j.pacfin.2016.04.004
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    Cited by:

    1. Rachel E. Gordon, 2021. "Are outside director trades informative? Evidence from acquiring firms," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 21(2), pages 447-477, June.
    2. Unger, Elizabeth A. & Ulfarsson, Gudmundur F. & Gardarsson, Sigurdur M. & Matthiasson, Thorolfur, 2018. "The effect of wind energy production on cross-border electricity pricing: The case of western Denmark in the Nord Pool market," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 121-130.
    3. Chang, Millicent & Yu, Jing & Adamson, William, 2018. "How directors trade and learn during takeovers," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 184-197.
    4. Faff, Robert & Prasadh, Shyaam & Shams, Syed, 2019. "Merger and acquisition research in the Asia-Pacific region: A review of the evidence and future directions," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 267-278.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Directors' trading; Abnormal returns; Information content;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading

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