• The Korean Journal of Financial Management
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.37-69
• /
• 2005

This study intends to verify whether stock repurchase, as well as stock dispositions, affects shareholder's wealth and also whether repurchase/dispositions has varying impact de-pending on its purpose. According to empirical analysis, announcement of stock repurchase results in positive abnormal returns when the objective of stock repurchase is stock price stabilization or cancellation of shares. However, when the purpose of stock repurchase is granting incentives to executives/employees, we get the negative abnormal returns. Also, the termination of stock trust for reason of expiration or stock dispositions of which goal is to give incentives to executive/employees has a negative impact on stock price, whereas direct dispositions of stock to raise cash or to improve financial structrue are shown to significantly increase the wealth of shareholders. Cross-section analysis also confirms that stock repurchase and dispositions has different impact on excess returns depending on its purpose. The results of this study imply that the dispositions of stock should be regarded as an important financial strategic tool to be used by companies and what's more, such studies dealing with stock repurchase or dispositions should take firm's purpose into consideration in their approach.