We study 130 large asset downsizings in 1985–1994. We find that downsizings are most often accomplished by selling assets. The decision to downsize is negatively related to operating performance at both the firm and industry levels and is positively related to firm debt ratio and level of diversification. Following their downsizings, the sample firms are more focused, have lower debt ratios, and experience statistically significant increases in operating performance. These results suggest that large downsizings are efficient responses to declining circumstances. However, we also find that their occurrence is strongly dependent upon an active market for corporate control.

We report that traditional seasoned equity offerings (SEOs) are no longer firms' preferred choice for raising seasoned public equity. Traditional offerings have recently been surpassed by shelf-registered offerings in terms of both annual frequency and total capital raised. This represents a dramatic shift from the 1980s, during which the overwhelming majority of firms favored traditional over shelf-registered offerings. We find that the growth in shelf use is related to firms increasingly valuing and using the option feature of shelf registration to defer offerings. Moreover, the evidence indicates that the way firms now use shelf offerings resolves the shelf under-certification problem and results in no larger market penalties and significantly lower underwriter fees relative to non-shelf offerings. Finally, firms often use universal shelf filings and choose between debt and equity offerings based on the prevailing relative market conditions.