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The dark side of shareholder litigation: Evidence from corporate takeovers

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  • Yongqiang Chu
  • Yijia (Eddie) Zhao

Abstract

Exploiting staggered adoption of the universal demand (UD) laws by 23 states between 1989 and 2005 that makes filing shareholder derivative litigations more difficult, we show that reduced litigation threats improve corporate takeover efficiency. Using a difference‐in‐differences approach, we find that acquirers experience higher announcement returns and better postmerger operating performance after the UD laws. Further analysis suggests that acquirers make suboptimal merger decisions to avoid litigation. Taken together, we show that litigation risk can distort managers’ incentives and destroy value ex ante.

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  • Yongqiang Chu & Yijia (Eddie) Zhao, 2021. "The dark side of shareholder litigation: Evidence from corporate takeovers," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 50(3), pages 845-873, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:finmgt:v:50:y:2021:i:3:p:845-873
    DOI: 10.1111/fima.12342
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    4. Malm, James & Soyeh, Kenneth W. & Kanuri, Srinidhi, 2023. "Litigation risk and corporate performance," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(C).
    5. Al-Hadi, Ahmed & Habib, Ahsan, 2023. "Consequences of state-level regulations in accounting, finance, and corporate governance: A review," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
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    8. Degl'Innocenti, Marta & Fiordelisi, Franco & Song, Wei & Zhou, Si, 2023. "Shareholder litigation and bank risk," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).

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