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Journal of Financial Economics Vol. 92 No. 3 2009

Managerial risk-taking behavior and equity-based compensation☆

Angie Low

Nanyang Technological University

Abstract

Equity-based compensation affects managers’ risk-taking behavior, which in turn has an impact on shareholder wealth. In response to an exogenous increase in takeover protection in Delaware during the mid-1990s, managers lower firm risk by 6%. This risk reduction is concentrated among firms with low managerial equity-based incentives, in particular firms with low chief executive officer portfolio sensitivity to stock return volatility. Furthermore, the risk reduction is value-destroying. Finally, firms respond to the increased protection accorded by the regime shift by providing managers with greater incentives for risk-taking.

DOI
10.1016/j.jfineco.2008.05.004
Volume
92
Issue
3
Pages
470-490
Language
en
Sources
bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref

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