Finance, economic and management literature document the reduced agency problems, increased productivity, and greater financial benefits that accrue to firms that adopt Employee Stock Ownership Plans, (ESOPs). The literature also documents the increased agency problems, decreased employee productivity, and poor operating performance that usually accompany corporate downsizing activity. To date, none of the studies have examined the effect that downsizing decisions have on companies with existing ESOP plans; this dissertation fills that empirical void. In this study, two essays are presented that examine the effect of corporate downsizing on ESOP versus non-ESOP firms. In the first essay, I investigate the short-term wealth effects of the downsizing announcement using event study methodology. I find that there is no significant change in the wealth effects for ESOP firms (they are positive, yet small), whereas non-ESOP firms have significantly negative abnormal returns. There is, however, a significant difference in the abnormal returns of ESOP versus non-ESOP firms, where ESOPs have significantly higher abnormal returns. Finally, with respect to wealth effects, I find that downsizing interacts negatively with managerial ownership and with employee ownership, but there is a positive interaction between the ownership of managers and employees.In the second essay, I examine the long-term employee productivity and financial performance of the downsized firms, as measured by Total Factor Productivity (TFP) and Tobins Q, respectively. I find that neither the percentage of employee ownership nor the level of downsizing has an impact on the productivity of the downsizing ESOP firm. However, the level of downsizing exerts a significantly positive impact on the productivity of non-ESOP firms. With respect to financial performance, the existence of an ESOP plan has a significantly negative influence on the Tobins Q of the downsizing firm. Furthermore, the level of downsizing has a significantly negative impact on non-ESOP firms, whereas the financial performance of ESOP firms appear to be unaffected by the level of downsizing. For Tobins Q, there is evidence of interaction between employee and managerial ownership for ESOP firms. There is also interaction between managerial ownership and downsizing for the TFP and Tobins Q of non-ESOP firms.

Syfte: Uppsatsen syfte är att klargöra och analysera reporäntans ränteförändringars påverkan på aktiekurserna för samtliga svenska banker i large cap på Stockholmsbörsen. Metod: Kvantitativa händelsestudier har gjorts med deduktiv forskningsansats på fyra företag, samtliga noterade på Stockholmsbörsen. Den onormala avkastningen för de undersökta aktiekurserna har beräknats en dag före till en dag efter samtliga realiseringar av reporänteförändringar som skett mellan åren 2004 till 2015.  Teori: Den teoretiska referensramen för studien består av den effektiva marknadshypotesen och överreaktionshypotesen. Slutsatser: Studien har påvisat att det råder signifikant samband mellan ränteförändringar och de studerade aktiernas avkastning vid realisering av ränteförändringarna. / Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to clarify and analyze the changes in the discount rate and its impact on stock prices of all Swedish listed banks in large cap on the Stockholm stock exchange. Methodology: Quantitative event studies has been done with deductive research approach on four companies, all listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. The abnormal returns for the examined stock prices have been calculated one day before to one day after all the realizations of the changes in the discount rate that occurred between year 2004 to 2015. Theory: The theoretical framework in this study consists of The Effective Market Hypothesis and The Overreaction Hypothesis. Conclusions: The study has shown that there is a significant correlation between the changes in the discount rate and the equity returns of the studied stocks.

Syfte: Syftet med studien är att med statistiska mått undersöka om företags aktiekurs reagerar på ett vd-byte samt se hur ledarskap påverkar företagets rörelseresultat ur ett genusperspektiv. Metod: Undersökningen är en eventstudie som innefattar åtta stycken företag. Eventstudiens estimeringsfönster omfattar 56 dagar innan eventfönstrets 29 dagar, där aktiekursens rörelse undersöks. Varje företags enskilda procentuella förändring i rörelseresultatet kommer att studeras två år innan och två år efter ett vd-byte har inträffat. Teori: Undersökningen utgår från effektiva marknadshypotesen, agentteorin och signalteorin. Empiri: Resultaten för aktiekursens abnormala genomsnittliga avkastning (AAR) och den kumulativa genomsnittliga avkastningen (CAAR) visas i diagram, detsamma gäller för företagens procentuella förändring i rörelseresultatet. En jämförelse dras mellan företag som har genomfört ett kvinnligt vd-byte mot företag som har genomfört ett manligt vd-byte. Slutsats: Aktiekursen för företag som har genomfört ett kvinnligt vd-byte har cirka 10 procent högre förändring i AAR än för företag som har genomfört ett manligt vd-byte. Aktiekursens lutning på CAAR för företag med en kvinnlig vd är starkare än för företag där det har skett ett manligt vd-byte. Vid undersökning av CAAR är även kvinnornas procentuella förändring högre. Den totala genomsnittliga procentuella förändringen i rörelseresultatet visar att i tre av fyra fall har de företag där en kvinna tillträtt vd-posten haft bättre procentuella förändringar än företagen där en man har tillträtt som vd. / Purpose: This study is to examine the statistical measures how a company's stock price reacts to a CEO change and how leadership affects the firm's operating results from a gender perspective.  Methods: The survey is an event study involving eight companies. The estimated window in the event study includes 56 days before the event window of 29 days, where the stock price movement is examined. Each company's individual percentage change in operating results will be studied two years before and two years after a CEO change has occurred  Theoretical: The study is based on efficient market hypothesis, the agency theory, and signal theory.  Empirical: The results for AAR, CAAR and the percentage change in operating result are shown in diagrams. A comparison is drawn between companies that have changed to a female CEO versus companies that have changed to a male CEO.  Conlusion:    The stock price of companies that have change to a female CEO is 10 percent higher in AAR than companies that have change to a male CEO. The gradient of the stock price of CAAR for firms with a female CEO is stronger than for companies with a male CEO. The study of CAAR is also higher for women than for men. The total average percentage change in operating results shows that in three of four cases, the companies with a woman as CEO had better percentage changes than firms with a male CEO

Through overviewing the merger waves during the last century, we know the latest two waves result mainly from technological innovation. With the presence of M&A market, acquirers are able to gain innovation capacities by taking over innovative targets. Innovation is considered to be a source of synergies and a major motive for M&A decision. Therefore, my research focuses on whether acquisitions for innovation create value for investors in short-term and long-term perspective. By using various innovation measures, I employ event study and calendar time portfolio to examine the significance of abnormal returns. I find the abnormal returns of bidding innovative targets do not show significant difference from the peers in short-term market reaction. However, in the long-run, the group with innovative targets reports significant abnormal returns. Under multiple regression analysis, I find patent counts, total citations, and citation-weighted patent counts have positive relation with abnormal returns under WLS procedure, while only average citation yields the most consistent result under both OLS and WLS. Lastly, I confirm the relation between abnormal return and average citation measure by employing calendar time portfolio approach.

Syfte: Huvudsyftet med studien är att undersöka om avkastningen på den svenska aktiemarknaden påverkas av terroristattacker. Delsyftet är att vid en eventuell påverkan undersöka om reaktionen skiljer sig mot landet där attacken skett samt hur lång tid det tar för de olika aktiemarknaderna att återhämta sig. Teoretiskt perspektiv: Den teoretiska referensramen utgörs av teorin om den effektiva marknadshypotesen samt behavioral finance med fokus på flockbeteende. Avgränsningar: I studien undersöks åtta olika terroristattacker och dess påverkan på aktiemarknaden i Sverige och landet där attacken skett. Metod: Studien är kvantitativ och använder ett deduktivt angreppssätt. För att besvara frågeställningarna tillämpas en eventstudie där två eventfönster används. Ett eventfönster på en dag och ett längre på elva dagar samt en estimeringsperiod som omfattar 30 dagar. Insamlad data används för att mäta den avvikande avkastningen som eventuellt uppstår efter att en terroristattack ägt rum vilket säger om attacken haft någon påverkan. Slutsatser: Terroristattacker har en påverkan på den svenska aktiemarknaden och i de flesta fall är påverkan negativ. En slutsats som kan dras är att påverkan skiljer sig mellan Sverige och landet där attacken ägt rum men att det inte finns något tydligt mönster huruvida den svenska aktiemarknaden påverkas mer eller mindre. Slutligen kan det konstateras att påverkan av en terroristattack på aktiemarknaden är kortvarig och återhämtningen sker snabbt med undantag för attacken den 11 september 2001 i USA som hade en mer långvarig effekt.

Syfte: Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka hur fotbollsklubbars aktiekurs påverkas av klubbarnas prestationer på planen i hänsyn till matchresultat. Delsyftet är att se om andra faktorer som är länkade till matchresultat kan ge mer eller mindre tyngd till eventuella prisförändringar.  Metod: Uppsatsen har ett positivistiskt vetenskapligt förhållningssätt och ett deduktivt angreppssätt. Undersökningen tillämpar en eventstudie-metodologi där eventperioden är satt till dagen efter eventet och där estimeringsperioden omfattar 250 dagar. Efter bortfall täcker insamlad data information kring 1060 matcher från 12 olika lag under åren 2011-2013. Data används för att mäta om en genomsnittlig avvikande avkastning (AAR) har uppstått i samband med matchutfall. Utöver detta undersöks de mer psykologiska faktorerna vändningar, anormal målskillnad och förväntningars effekt på den avvikande avkastningen. Slutligen undersöks det även om det finns skillnader mellan hur fotbollsklubbars aktiekurs påverkas vid olika matchutfall beroende på vilken nation de tillhör. Resultat: Vid vinst uppvisade resultatet en positiv AAR på 0,67 %. Oavgjort och förlust uppvisade en negativ AAR på -1,45 % respektive -1,75 %. Förväntade matchutfall hade ingen signifikant påverkan på aktiekursen medan oförväntade matchutfall hade en signifikant påverkan. En match med positiv (negativ) anormal målskillnad gav 0,88 % (-0,72 %) högre (lägre) avkastningen än en match utan en positiv (negativ) anormal målskillnad. Dock förekom endast signifikans vid positiv anormal målskillnad. Resultatet visade även att vändningar inte hade någon signifikant påverkan på aktiekursen. Förövrigt fanns det endast ett fåtal signifikanta skillnader mellan länder i deras reaktioner till olika matchutfall. Slutsatser: Matchutfall påverkar fotbollsklubbars aktiekurs.  En vinst har en positiv effekt på aktiekursen medan oavgjort och förlust har en negativ effekt. Aktiekursens reaktion på matchutfall är asymmetrisk där förluster har en större effekt än vinster. Förväntningar inför matchen har en betydelse för aktiekursens reaktion. Anormal målskillnad påverkar investeraren emotionellt och leder till en avvikande avkastning. Detta gäller inte för vändningar. Slutligen drogs även slutsatsen att det inte finns någon skillnad kring hur fotbollsklubbars aktiekurs påverkas vid olika matchutfall beroende på vilken nation de tillhör. / Purpose: This paper aims to examine how performance on the pitch in terms of match outcome affects the price of football clubs shares. A subordinate aim is to see whether other factors that are linked to match outcome can give more or less weight to probable price changes. Methodology: This thesis has a positivistic and a deductive approach. Furthermore, this thesis applies an event study methodology, where the event period is the day after the event and the estimation period comprises of 250 days. After accounting for errors and loss in data, the overall data contains information about 1060 games from 12 different teams during 2011-2013. The data is used to measure whether average abnormal returns (AAR) have occurred in connection to match outcomes or not. Moreover, the more psychological factors such as turnarounds, abnormal goal difference and expectations have also been examined to see whether these factors can impact the abnormal return or not. Additionally, it has been examined if differences exist in how football clubs shares react to match outcomes when taking account for their nationality. Results: The result shows that a win gives a positive AAR of 0.67%. A draw and a loss both give a negative AAR, where a draw results in a -1.45% AAR and a loss in a -1.75% AAR. Expected match outcomes had no significant effect on football clubs shares while unexpected match outcomes had a significant effect. A match with positive (negative) abnormal goal difference gave a 0.88% (-0.72%) higher (lower) abnormal return than a match without a positive (negative) abnormal goal difference. However, only positive abnormal goal difference was statistically significant. The results also showed that turnarounds had no significant effect on football clubs shares. Furthermore, the result showed barely any statistical significant differences among the countries in their share reaction to match outcomes. Conclusions: Match outcome has an effect on football clubs shares. A win will have a positive effect on the price of a football club share while a draw and a loss will have a negative effect. There is an asymmetric reaction to match outcomes as a loss will have a larger impact than a win. Expectations influence how football stocks react to match outcomes. Abnormal goal difference affects the investor emotionally and consequently leads to an abnormal return. This is not the case for turnarounds. Moreover it was concluded that nationality do not have a deciding impact on how football clubs shares react to match outcomes.

In this paper we will be studying and backtesting a particular investment strategy by buying and holding dividend stocks. We think dividend stock is an important type of investment to investors and portfolio managers because of its cash implications, especially in a high volatility equity market. Furthermore, we think that consistency in a company’s ability and willingness in distributing dividends to its shareholders is a strong indicator of its financial strength and operational success. How portfolio managers should pick the best performing dividend stocks would then become an important issue. In this paper, we will be testing the historical performance of a portfolio of dividend stocks that we construct and adjust based on a list of parameters associated with companies’ operational performance, cash position, and dividend yield. Hence, the main way we select stocks in the portfolio is based on fundamental analysis. Our research is conducted relying exclusively on the Wharton Research Data Services database (WRDS). In addition to evaluating the investment attractiveness of our portfolio, the strategy may also have implications regarding several other topics including the semi-strong form market efficiency and active portfolio management. Therefore, this paper covers also potential benefits to be gained from the strategy other than its investment payoff.

M&A has for decades been an important topic within the corporate world as well as financial research, due to its performance and the impact it generates. The main objective of this study is to explore the effect of M&A announcements on the short-term performance of acquiring firms on the Swedish stock market. By conducting an event study with a sample of 194 M&As in various industries from 2007-01-01 to 2018-02-07, we are able to retrieve abnormal returns, analysing cumulative abnormal returns in order to measure the effect the announcements have on the stock price. Three performance factors are included in order to get an understanding of the potential impact they have, and if so, how strong that impact is. The performance factors are (1) payment method, (2) diversified versus focused M&As, and (3) cross-border versus domestic M&As. The empirical findings tell us that the abnormal returns are significant for most industries, and to a great extent positive. The performance variables only show significance for cash as a payment method where it generates a negative effect on the main event window (-1, +1). With these findings we hope to contribute to existing research by creating higher awareness to society and organisations about the performance M&As bring.

[pt] Este trabalho tem o objetivo de verificar o retorno que um evento de Fusão ou Aquisição no mercado de capitais brasileiro traz para o acionista no médio e longo prazo. A proposta deste trabalho é verificar, através de um estudo empírico, se o acionista de uma empresa compradora ou vendedora tem ou não a sua riqueza aumentada após um processo de fusão ou aquisição. Primeiramente, é apresentado um referencial teórico sobre o tema Fusões e Aquisições. O pressuposto básico deste trabalho é validar ou não a teoria da maximização da riqueza dos acionistas, que serve de base para a teoria das fusões e aquisições (FeAs). A Teoria da Maximização dos Lucros do acionista diz que uma fusão ou aquisição deve aumentar a riqueza dos acionistas. No Brasil não existem muitos estudos que constatem o que acontece com o retorno para o acionista após um evento de FeA no médio e longo prazo. Os métodos usados para este estudo foram o estudo de eventos e a regressão de diferenças em diferenças. Foram usadas cotações de fechamento diárias para se observar os retornos anormais nos períodos de até 50 dias antes e após o anúncio do evento - para o estudo de eventos. Já para a regressão diff-in-diff a janela amplia-se do anúncio do evento até Outubro/2015. O objetivo de ambas as metodologias é verificar se o acionista teve ou não aumento de sua riqueza em função do evento. Ao final do estudo conclui-se que no mercado de capitais brasileiro o acionista, na média, tem a sua riqueza aumentada, e que este aumento está relacionado ao evento de fusão ou aquisição. / [en] This work aims to verify the return that an M and A event brings in the Brazilian capital market to the shareholder in the medium and long term. The purpose of this study is to confirm, through an empirical study, if the shareholder of a company has or not your wealth increased after a merger or acquisition. First, a theoretical framework on the subject of M and A is presented. The basic assumption of this paper is to validate or not the theory of maximizing shareholder wealth, which is the basis for the theory of mergers and acquisitions (M and As). The maximization of shareholder profits theory says that a merger or acquisition should increase shareholder wealth. In Brazil there are few studies which analyze what happens to the return for shareholders after an M and A event in the medium and long term. The methods used for this study were the study of events and the regression difference in differences. Daily closing prices were used to observe the abnormal returns in periods of up to 50 days before and after the event announcement - for the event study. However for the diff-in-diff regression window expands from event announcement to October/2015. The purpose of both approaches is to check if the shareholder had or no increase in their wealth due to the event. At the end of the study it is concluded that shareholders of Brazilian capital market, on average, increased their wealth, and this increase is related to the event of merger or acquisition.

Made available in DSpace on 2010-04-20T20:51:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 3 166824.pdf.jpg: 25508 bytes, checksum: 7d47965b9f53d91ab09900832926aa2e (MD5) 166824.pdf: 384241 bytes, checksum: 305e171c0f8cbad3495087d7dc29dc1e (MD5) 166824.pdf.txt: 156488 bytes, checksum: 102a381280ca93c3ac30a4448a9d9d1d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-02-08T00:00:00Z / Este trabalho avalia os efeitos que as ações de política monetária exercem sobre o mercado acionário brasileiro. Através da definição de medidas para estimar a surpresa causada neste mercado pelas decisões do Comitê de Política Monetária do Banco Central do Brasil (COPOM), constatou-se que a um aumento hipotético de 1% não previsto na taxa básica de juro está associada uma queda de aproximadamente 1,3% no Índice Bovespa. Testes adicionais mostraram que o mercado não reage diferentemente em função da direção tomada pelas decisões e que importantes eventos econômicos recentes ou mesmo o contexto das decisões tomadas não influenciaram as respostas à surpresa; as evidências mostraram também que a surpresa é composta de dois efeitos significativos: os permanentes e os devidos ao timing da mudança. Por fim, aplicando-se a metodologia individualmente aos mais importantes papéis que compõem o Índice Bovespa, constatou-se significância na resposta da maioria deles às surpresas na política monetária, bem como consistência destas respostas a um padrão previsto pelo modelo CAPM. / This article evaluates the effects that monetary policy actions exert on Brazilian stock market. By the measures defined to estimate the surprise caused by Comitê de Política Monetária do Banco Central do Brasil (COPOM) decisions, it was verified that to a hypothetic unexpected 1% increase in the target rate is associated an 1.3% average fall of Bovespa Index. Additional tests did not show distinct reactions caused by direction decisions, neither evidences from relevant recent economic events or decision contexts having influences on the surprise responses; evidences have showed, as well, that the surprises consist of two significant effects: the permanent, and timing ones. Applying the same methodology individually to the most important stocks that compose Bovespa Index, it was verified a significant response of the majority of them to monetary policy, as well as their consistency to a pattern foreseen by CAPM model.