Abstract
This paper examines the impact of a defined benefit (DB) pension plan freeze on the sponsoring firm's risk and risk-taking activities. Using a sample of firms declaring a hard freeze on their DB plans between 2002 and 2007, we observe an increase in total risk (proxied by the standard deviation of EBITDA and asset beta), equity risk (standard deviation of returns), and credit risk following a DB-plan freeze. The increase in credit risk is reflected in a decline in credit ratings and an increase in bond yields for freezing firms. When we examine investment strategies, we observe a shift in investment from capital expenditures before the freeze to more-risky R&D projects after the freeze, and an increase in leverage. These strategies (increased focus on R&D and higher leverage) increase the operating and financial risk the firm faces. Overall, we observe an increase in risk-taking following DB plan freezes, consistent with theories that DB plans act as “inside debt” that aligns managers’ interests with bondholders’.
1. Introduction
This paper examines the effect of a change in the structure of a pension plan on a firm's risk and its risk-taking activities. A pension plan is an arrangement whereby an employer commits to making future payments to employees for service they have provided during their working years (Kieso et al., 2010, p. 1050). Pensions constitute a significant portion of many firms’ total compensation costs. For example, (old) General Motors’ pension and healthcare costs for retirees were about $1,784 per vehicle or $6.2 billion a year (Kieso et al., 2010, p. 1049), about 4% of (old) GM's total annual costs. With such a significant portion of costs spent on pension benefits, any change in the pension plan might have a significant impact on a firm's investment and strategic plans, and therefore the amount of risk stakeholders in the firm (especially stock and bondholders) are exposed to.
7. Conclusion
This paper examines the impact of freezing a defined benefit pension plan on firms’ risk and risk-taking activities (investment, financing, and operational strategies). Based on a sample of firms that report a hard freeze of their DB plans during the period 2002–2007, we observe an increase in total firm risk after DB-plan freezes. An examination of the change in equity and credit risk suggests that such increases are reflected in the prices of the firms’ publicly traded securities.
