Asset sales and firm strategy : an analysis of divestitures by UK companies

Hillier, D.J. and McColgan, P. and Wereman, S. (2009) Asset sales and firm strategy : an analysis of divestitures by UK companies. European Journal of Finance, 15 (1). pp. 71-87. ISSN 1351-847X (https://doi.org/10.1080/13518470802173438)

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Abstract

This paper examines the financial causes and consequences of the decision to sell-off non-financial assets as part of a new or ongoing restructuring programme by UK non-financial companies between 1993 and 2000. We report that asset sales follow a period of declining operating returns and tend to occur in diversified companies with high levels of financial leverage. Stock prices respond positively to asset sale announcements. This arises due to improvements in operating returns and a decline in financial leverage and corporate diversification subsequent to the disposal. Our findings suggest that asset sales represent an effective operational response to a firm's poor financial condition. However, we also find that a manager's decision to sell assets is strongly influenced by the explicit threats to their control from lenders and competition from product, labour and takeover markets.

ORCID iDs

Hillier, D.J. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1591-4038, McColgan, P. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7980-6175 and Wereman, S.;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)