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Journal of Financial Economics Vol. 101 No. 1 2011

Accelerated share repurchases

Leonce Bargeron1; Manoj Kulchania2; Shawn Thomas1

1 University of Pittsburgh · 2 Marquette University

Abstract

Accelerated share repurchases (ASRs) are credible commitments by firms to repurchase shares immediately. Including an ASR in a repurchase program reduces the flexibility that firms have to alter an announced program in response to subsequent changes in the price and liquidity of its shares, unexpected shocks to cash flow and/or investment, etc. Thus, we investigate whether firms' decisions to include ASRs in their repurchase programs are associated with factors expected to influence the costs of lost flexibility and the benefits of enhanced credibility and immediacy. We find robust evidence consistent with the costs of lost flexibility and the benefits of credibility and immediacy being important determinants of ASR adoption. Additionally, we find that ASR announcements are associated with positive average abnormal stock returns.

DOI
10.1016/j.jfineco.2011.02.004
Volume
101
Issue
1
Pages
69-89
Language
en
Sources
openalex bibtex:phds-export.bib crossref

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