Measuring stress in money markets: A dynamic factor approach

We extract an index of interest rate spreads from various money market segments to assess the level of funding stress in real time. We find that during the 2007–2009 financial crisis, money markets switched between low and high stress regimes except for brief periods of extreme stress. Transitions to lower stress regimes are typically associated with the non-standard policy measures by the Federal Reserve.     

Strategic redirection in large management buyouts: The evidence from post-buyout restructuring activity

This study examines the nature of post-transaction restructuring activities for 32 large U.S. corporations that underwent management buyouts between 1983–89. This study (i) provides evidence on the extent and type of divestment and acquisition activities under private ownership; (ii) documents the outcomes associated with MBOs and the longevity of the buyout organization; and (iii) investigates the claim that buyouts are primarily mechanisms for breaking up public corporations and selling the pieces to related acquirers. The balance of the evidence indicates that restoring strategic focus is an essential function of the buyout for these large firms. However, the evidence also indicates that the buyout organization does continue to operate significant parts of the prebuyout firm. By far the majority of firms continue to meet their debt obligations satisfactorily during the buyout phase. Finally, the evidence indicates that asset sales to related acquirers derive more from efficiency considerations than market power.     

Are the Discounts in Seasoned Equity Offers Due to Inelastic Demand?

This paper investigates the large and diverse discounts in UK open offers and placings. Large discounts are a substantial cost to shareholders who do not buy new shares. The existing literature mainly examines US firm‐commitment offers and private placements. The institutional setting differs in the UK, in ways that make the theory of inelastic demand for shares more important as an explanation for discounts than in the US. The paper finds that inelastic demand, or illiquidity of the issuer's shares, and financial distress, are key determinants of the discount. We expect these results to apply to other stock markets.     

The direct costs of UK rights issues and open offers

The paper describes selling and underwriting procedures in rights issues and open offers, and analyses the costs of issue reported in prospectuses, including the substantial costs which are not for underwriting. The impression is often given that costs are fixed at 2 % of gross proceeds, but they vary and average 5.78 %(median 4.28 %). Controlling for economies of scale and fees not related to the issue, costs increase with the proportion of the issue underwritten and with the depth of discount, and decrease with the proportion of the company owned by large shareholders.     

INCORPORATING FINANCING-RELATED DETERMINANTS OF VALUE IN THE DISCOUNTED CASH FLOW MODEL

Abstract.  The paper discusses how some of the main types of interaction between financing and value can be incorporated in the discounted cash flow model of valuation, including effects arising from taxes, transactions costs, disclosure, information asymmetry and agency problems. It explains whether a given effect should appear in a project's cash flows, in its cost of capital or as an upfront adjustment to value. Most of the effects imply that the principle of value additivity does not hold.     

Do Underwriters Certify Value? Evidence from UK Rights Issues and Open Offers

Eckbo and Masulis (1992) and Slovin, Sushka and Lai (2000) have proposed that underwriters of seasoned equity offers certify issuer value. The study tests predictions resulting from these papers and finds little evidence from UK rights issues and open offers that underwriting banks certify. The main purpose of underwriting appears to be simply to guarantee the proceeds. There is a positive reaction to open offers (a type of private placing) but this is unlikely to be due to underwriter certification. There is a large loss of value for companies announcing deeply discounted offers, which is attributed to release of bad news on announcement     

The Doha Round of the World Trade Organization and Agricultural Markets Liberalization: Impacts on Developing Economies

We investigate the impacts of multilateral removal of all border taxes and farm programs and their distortions on developing economies, using a world agriculture partial equilibrium model. We quantify changes in prices, trade flows, and production locations. Border measures and farm programs both affect world trade, but trade barriers have the largest impact. Following removal, trade expansion is substantial for most commodities, especially dairy, meats, and vegetable oils. Net agricultural and food exporters emerge with expanded exports; net importing countries with limited distortions before liberalization are penalized by higher world prices and reduced imports. We draw implications for current World Trade Organization negotiations.