The shareholder wealth effects of corporate greenmail

In this study, the abnormal return dynamics of firms undertaking premium targeted block share repurchases are examined empirically. The positive returns accruing to nonparticipating shareholders for the period encompassing the buy‐in and repurchase announcements are attributable to the expectation of subsequent acquisition activity. Firms that are not acquired realize, on average, a zero abnormal return. The probability of subsequent acquisition is not related to the targeted repurchase. Managers who engage in targeted block share repurchases frequently are expelled from corporate ranks. Firms that are acquired exhibit abnormal returns only similar to those of other merger and tender offer targets.