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Irrevocable Commitments, Going Private and Private Equity

Author

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  • Mike Wright
  • Charlie Weir
  • Andrew Burrows

Abstract

This paper adds to growing interest in public to private buy‐outs and mechanisms to ensure bid success. Using a unique, hand‐collected dataset of 155 public to private buy‐outs we provide one of the first examinations of the determinants of irrevocable commitments. Irrevocable commitments involve undertakings given by existing shareholders to agree to sell their shares to the bidder before the bid to take the company private is announced. We find that, for management buy‐outs, the level of irrevocable commitments is increased by the bid premium, the reputation of the private equity backer and board shareholdings. The level of irrevocable commitments is reduced by rumours of a takeover bid and bid value. We therefore find evidence that management and private equity firms' activity prior to the bid's announcement can have an important impact on the process of going private.

Suggested Citation

  • Mike Wright & Charlie Weir & Andrew Burrows, 2007. "Irrevocable Commitments, Going Private and Private Equity," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 13(4), pages 757-775, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:eufman:v:13:y:2007:i:4:p:757-775
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-036X.2007.00382.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    11. Ranko Jelic & Brahim Saadouni & Mike Wright, 2005. "Performance of Private to Public MBOs: The Role of Venture Capital," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(3‐4), pages 643-682, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Manuela Geranio & Giovanna Zanotti, 2012. "Equity Markets Do Not Fit All: an Analysis of Public†to†Private Deals in Continental Europe," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 18(5), pages 867-895, November.
    2. Ranko Jelic & Mike Wright, 2011. "Exits, Performance, and Late Stage Private Equity: the Case of UK Management Buy†outs," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 17(3), pages 560-593, June.
    3. Tomi Fyrqvist & Elias Rantapuska & Sami Torstila, 2021. "Irrevocable commitments and tender offer outcomes," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(7-8), pages 1290-1331, July.
    4. Ann†Kristin Achleitner & André Betzer & Marc Goergen & Bastian Hinterramskogler, 2013. "Private Equity Acquisitions of Continental European Firms: the Impact of Ownership and Control on the Likelihood of Being Taken Private," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 19(1), pages 72-107, January.
    5. Sebastian Ernst & Christian Koziol & Denis Schweizer, 2013. "Are Private Equity Investors Boon or Bane for an Economy?–A Theoretical Analysis," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 19(1), pages 180-207, January.
    6. Douglas Cumming & Grant Fleming & Sofia A. Johan, 2011. "Institutional Investment in Listed Private Equity," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 17(3), pages 594-618, June.
    7. Achleitner, Ann-Kristin & Andres, Christian & Betzer, André & Weir, Charlie, 2008. "Economic consequences of private equity investments on the German stock market," CEFS Working Paper Series 2008-05, Technische Universität München (TUM), Center for Entrepreneurial and Financial Studies (CEFS).
    8. Ann-Kristin Achleitner & Christian Andres & Andre Betzer & Charlie Weir, 2011. "Wealth effects of private equity investments on the German stock market," The European Journal of Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(3), pages 217-239.
    9. Aurélie Sannajust & Alexander Groh, 2023. "Pioneering management buy-out and entrepreneurial finance research: Mike Wright’s research legacy," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 60(1), pages 1-35, January.

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