When a buyback isn't a buyback: Open market repurchases and employee options

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

299 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper examines how stock options affect the decision to repurchase shares. Firms announce repurchases when executives have large numbers of options outstanding and when employees have large numbers of options currently exercisable. Once the decision to repurchase is made, the amount repurchased is positively related to total options exercisable by all employees but independent of managerial options. These results are consistent with managers repurchasing both to maximize their own wealth and to fund employee stock option exercises. The market appears to recognize this motive, however, and reacts less positively to repurchases announced by firms with high levels of nonmanagerial options.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)235-261
Number of pages27
JournalJournal of Financial Economics
Volume63
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2002
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Employee stock options
  • Executive stock options
  • Share repurchase

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Accounting
  • Finance
  • Economics and Econometrics
  • Strategy and Management

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