We model an impulse control problem when the controller's action affects the state as well as the dynamics of the state process for a random amount of time. We apply our model to solve a central bank intervention problem in the foreign exchange market when the market observes and reacts to the...

The price discount on privately placed stock is large and can vary substantially among firms. While earlier studies attribute price discounts on privately placed stock to illiquidity and costs of gathering information, we offer a more complete explanation. We find that firms exhibiting higher...

While there are economic motives and empirical support for spinoffs, about one in every four planned spinoffs is withdrawn. This study is the first to explain why some spinoffs are withdrawn. We find that the probability that a spinoff is withdrawn is inversely related to the share price...

We find that units are more likely to adopt poisonpills at the time of a spinoff if their parents have anti-takeover provisions in place. In addition, the probability that a spinoff unit adopts a poisonpill is negatively related to outside block ownership, but positively related to the size of...

This study examines the impact of shareholder rights on the wealth effects of privately negotiated stock repurchases. Our results show that wealth gains are lower when shareholder rights are more suppressed. We also find that the premium paid for shares is inversely related to the strength of...

Consistent with agency theory, we find that bidder managers make takeover financing decisions in ways that circumvent more effective monitors. Bidder managers are more likely to use cash rather than stock when targets have aggressive outside blockholders. We also find that the likelihood of a...

This paper examines the stock price reaction to cross-border spinoff announcements and investigates whether country characteristics (such as takeover market liquidity and investor protection) cause variation in the announcements' wealth effects. We observe a positive and significant price...