In this study, we examine factors that explain firms' decisions to reprice stock options. Comparing a sample of firms that reprice executive stock options in 1998 to a control sample of firms with out-of-the-money options in 1998 that choose not to reprice, we find that young, high technology...

We examine stock option repricing activity that coincided with the December 4, 1998 FASB announcement regarding accounting for repriced employee stock options. The accounting treatment requires recognition of compensation expense in future periods if there is an increase in stock price after...

We examine changes in executive compensation that firms make in response to underwater options. Using a sample of firms with underwater options in 2000, we estimate that 81% of firms to take action to respond to underwater options. We examine explanations for firms' responses. Opponents argue...

We examine whether the relation between earnings and bonuses changes after Sarbanes-Oxley. Theory predicts that, as the financial reporting system reduces the discretion allowed managers, firms will put more weight on earnings in compensation contracts to encourage effort. However, the increased...

We use an unanticipated court ruling in a lawsuit against Citigroup claiming corporate waste related to CEO pay to analyze court intervention as an alternative governance mechanism in cases of excess pay. We find a negative relation between announcement returns and excess pay, consistent with...