Golden Parachute as a Compensation Shifting Mechanism

Abstract:     
We demonstrate how a golden parachute can be used to improve the target shareholders' net return by partially shifting the managerial compensation burden to the buyer through a higher acquisition price. Consistent with the empirical observations, we show that 1) golden parachute will be contingent on a change-of-control rather than solely on the manager's layoff, 2) golden parachute will be promised early, e.g., at the time of the manager's employment, not just in the face of a takeover or a merger, 3) the shareholders would want to extend its coverage to other employees, and 4) the size of the parachute would be much larger than the manager's annual compensation.

Working Paper Series