This study explores the hypothesis that capital structure change provides bidders and targets a motive for merger. After a brief review of theories that would support the hypothesis, the paper reports results of tests on (1) leverage in bidder and target firms, and (2) change in shareholder wealth associated with change in leverage. The findings support the theory of Myers and Majluf that “slack-rich” bidders pair with “slack-poor” targets to create value. These results are contrary to other studies, which find highly levered bidders.

Segmentation of capital markets produces incentives for firms to adopt countermeasures, one of which is dually listing their stocks on foreign capital markets. In this paper, the behavior of stock returns surrounding such international listings is examined for a sample of firms. Assuming that the capital markets are either completely or “mildly” segmented beforehand, it is hypothesized that the international listing of a security should, in general, accompany a reduction in its expected return. The sample reveals evidence consistent with this hypothesis.

A family of jump process models is derived by applying Gauss-Hermite quadrature to the recursive integration problem presented by a compound option model. The result is jump processes of any order with known efficiency properties in valuing options. In addition, these processes arise in the replication of options over finite periods of time with two or more assets where they again have known efficiency properties. A “sharpened” trinomial process is designed that accounts for the first-derivative discontinuity in option valuation functions at critical exercise points. It is shown to have accuracy superior to that of conventional binomial and trinomial processes and is nearly identical to the trinomial process optimized by Boyle (1988) through trial and error.

This paper extends the Roll model for implicit bid-ask spreads by incorporating the possibility of serial correlation in transaction type. The validity of this formula is examined using intra-day transactions and bid-ask spread data for options traded on the Chicago Board Options Exchange. The results indicate that the model derived here closely estimates the effective bid-ask spread in that it explains more than 80 percent of the crosssectional differences in announced bid-ask spreads.

We examine the stock price behavior associated with public offerings of common stock and convertible debt that are withdrawn by the issuing firm, as well as the stock price behavior associated with completed offerings. We find that stock returns are negative in the period from the announcement to the withdrawal, and are statistically insignificant from the announcement to the issuance. Stock returns are positive at the withdrawal and negative at the issuance. Furthermore, the average stock returns associated with withdrawals are significantly different from zero only when the reported reason for the withdrawals is unfavorable market conditions. Our evidence suggests that managers' decisions to withdraw equity offerings depend on recent stock price behavior, and that managers' decisions convey information about firm value to market participants.

The Ho-Saunders model (1981) is extended to consider the case of loan heterogeneity. Pure interest spreads may be reduced when cross-elasticities of demand between bank products are considered. The resulting diversification benefits emanate from the interdependence of demands across bank services and products—a type of portfolio effect. Control over relative rate spreads, across product types, and the resulting ability to manipulate the arrival of transactions demands enables the financial intermediary to maintain a more active role in managing its inventory risk exposure.

This paper explores the implications for the information content of acquisition offers in an economy with asymmetric information. It is shown that mergers can be socially beneficial due to risk reduction and information asymmetry even when there are no productive synergies and when positive premia are paid. The properties of equilibria with and without mergers are derived and contrasted in order to obtain a quantitative bound on potential merger premia. Theory is related to empirical evidence, where our results show that aggregate valuation gains can accrue on a purely informational basis. Moreover, the model developed here has important implications for the reported differences in tender offer and merger studies.

This paper shows how a derivative security can be duplicated by a forward strategy, and, hence, priced by arbitrage in terms of the forward price.

In this article Dr. Michie examines the origins and development of the Canadian securities market from its appearance in the mid-nineteenth century until the First World War. He traces the growth of Canadian-based and Canadian-owned joint-stock enterprise and the rise of a distinct Canadian investing public, which led to the establishment of a Canadian securities market, and he explains why so much Canadian business continued to be transacted on both the London and New York stock exchanges. Dr. Michie also discusses the rivalry between the Montreal and Toronto stock exchanges and its detrimental consequences for the creation of a strong and unified Canadian market. Finally, he argues that, despite Toronto's rapid growth, Montreal remained the financial center of Canada throughout this period.