The impact of forced divestments on parent company stock prices: Buy on the rumor, sell on the news? Articles uri icon

publication date

  • October 2020

start page

  • 1

end page

  • 18

issue

  • 101175

volume

  • 53

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0275-5319

abstract

  • We measure how warnings of expropriation and forced divestments of private property affect the stock prices of parent companies. We use a unique database of 116 events in 12 countries from 2005 to 2013. Our results show that different types of warnings have significant negative effects on stock prices, and the largest effect is from a warning that takes the form of a transitory permit revocation. In the case of forced divestments, we find a significant negative impact when a permit is permanently revoked. However, nationalizations are associated with a positive market reaction.

subjects

  • Business
  • Economics

keywords

  • event study; expropriation risk; g14; h13; nationalization; stock market