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Journal of Financial Economics Vol. 85 No. 1 2007

Do managers intentionally use repurchase tender offers to signal private information? Evidence from firm financial reporting behavior

Henock Louis; Hal White

Pennsylvania State University

Abstract

Signaling is the most commonly cited explanation for stock repurchases in the academic literature. Yet, there is little evidence on whether managers intentionally use repurchases as signaling devices. Using a firm's financial reporting behavior to infer managerial intent, we find evidence suggesting that managers intentionally use fixed-price repurchase tender offers to signal undervaluation. In contrast, we find no evidence that managers use Dutch-auction tender offers to signal undervaluation. Instead, firms engaging in Dutch-auction repurchases act as if they are trying to deflate their earnings prior to the repurchases to further reduce the repurchasing price.

DOI
10.1016/j.jfineco.2006.08.003
Volume
85
Issue
1
Pages
205-233
Language
en
Sources
bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref

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