This paper finds that, on average, targets that terminate takeover offers significantly
increase their leverage ratios. Targets that increase their leverage ratios the
most reduce capital expenditures, sell assets, reduce employment, increase focus,
and realize cash flows and share prices that outperform their benchmarks in the
five years following the failed takeover. Our evidence suggests that leverage increasing
targets act in the interests of shareholders when they terminate takeover
offers and that higher leverage helps firms remain independent not because it
entrench managers, but because it commits managers to making the improvements
that would be made by potential raiders.