The Announcement Effects of Convertible Bond Issuances and Refixing Conversion Prices

Abstract

Using a sample of 1,421 convertible bond (CB) issuances announced between 2015 and 2018, this study examines the announcement effects of convertible bond issuances and refixing conversion prices (i.e., adjusting conversion price downward if stock price decreases after issuance). The major results are as follows: First, the announcement effect of CB issuances is significantly positive and the three-day cumulative abnormal return is 4.66%. Second, the announcement effect of CB issuances stating capital expenditures as the use of proceeds is significantly smaller than that of CB issuances stating other purposes. Third, the fact that the announcement effect of CB issuances with a refixing option is significantly smaller than that of those without a refixing option reflects the stock market’s negative opinion of the refixing option. Fourth, consistent with the third result, the announcement effect of refixing is also significantly negative. To summarize, this study contributes to finance theory by presenting, for the first time, evidence to support the negative effects of refixing options that are extremely favorable to holders.