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Do target CEOs trade premiums for personal benefits?

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  • Qiu, Buhui
  • Trapkov, Svetoslav
  • Yakoub, Fadi

Abstract

Using a sample of 2198 completed M&A transactions between 1994 and 2010 in which both target and acquirer are public US firms supplemented with hand-collected data for target CEO retention, we uncover a significantly negative relation between target CEO retention and takeover premiums received by target shareholders. Further, when the target CEO was not retained, we document a significantly negative relation between the relative importance of the severance pay received by the target CEO and takeover premium. Taken together, our findings, which hold in various robustness tests, suggest that target CEOs bargain shareholder value for personal benefits during corporate takeovers. Our findings have important policy implications for takeover disclosures.

Suggested Citation

  • Qiu, Buhui & Trapkov, Svetoslav & Yakoub, Fadi, 2014. "Do target CEOs trade premiums for personal benefits?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 23-41.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:42:y:2014:i:c:p:23-41
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2014.01.013
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    2. Bargeron, Leonce L. & Schlingemann, Frederik P. & Stulz, René M. & Zutter, Chad J., 2017. "What is the shareholder wealth impact of target CEO retention in private equity deals?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 186-206.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    CEO retention; Severance pay; Takeover premium;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • J33 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Compensation Packages; Payment Methods

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