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Do cash stockpiles fuel cash acquisitions?

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  • Pinkowitz, Lee
  • Sturgess, Jason
  • Williamson, Rohan

Abstract

U.S. firms currently hold a $2trillion cash stockpile. We examine if cash stockpiles fuel cash acquisitions by studying the method of payment decision for cash-rich firms. Surprisingly, cash-rich firms are 23% less likely to make cash bids than stock bids, relative to firms that are not cash rich. We examine several potential explanations related to omitted variable bias and endogeneity and the result remains. More specifically, the results are robust to explanations related to agency, financial constraints, tax-related explanations, equity overvaluation, and capital structure. Our evidence implies that the link between cash stockpiles and cash acquisitions is not obvious.

Suggested Citation

  • Pinkowitz, Lee & Sturgess, Jason & Williamson, Rohan, 2013. "Do cash stockpiles fuel cash acquisitions?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 23(C), pages 128-149.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:corfin:v:23:y:2013:i:c:p:128-149
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2013.08.003
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    Cited by:

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    2. Attaoui, Sami & Cao, Wenbin & Six, Pierre, 2021. "Capital structure and the optimal payment methods in acquisitions," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    3. Eckbo, B. Espen & Makaew, Tanakorn & Thorburn, Karin S., 2018. "Are stock-financed takeovers opportunistic?," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 128(3), pages 443-465.
    4. Maurizio Rocca & Raffaele Staglianò & Tiziana Rocca & Alfio Cariola & Ekaterina Skatova, 2019. "Cash holdings and SME performance in Europe: the role of firm-specific and macroeconomic moderators," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 53(4), pages 1051-1078, December.
    5. Erik Lie & Yixin Liu, 2018. "Corporate Cash Holdings and Acquisitions," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 47(1), pages 159-173, March.
    6. El Ghoul, Sadok & Guedhami, Omrane & Mansi, Sattar & Wang, He (Helen), 2023. "Economic policy uncertainty, institutional environments, and corporate cash holdings," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    7. Merkoulova, Yulia & Zivanovic, Branislav, 2022. "Financial constraints and financing sources in mergers and acquisitions," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    8. Laimutė Urbšienė & Viktorija Nemunaitytė & Artūras Zatulinas, 2015. "Comparison Of Premiums Of Chinese And European Companies In Mergers And Acquisitions In Europe," Organizations and Markets in Emerging Economies, Faculty of Economics, Vilnius University, vol. 6(2).
    9. Lu, Feifei & Zhu, Zhu & Zhu, Lina & Gao, Hao, 2022. "Political tie hot potato: The contingent effect of China's anti-corruption policy on cash and innovation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(4).
    10. Dutordoir, Marie & Strong, Norman C. & Sun, Ping, 2022. "Does short-selling potential influence merger and acquisition payment choice?," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 144(3), pages 761-779.
    11. Orlova, Svetlana V. & Rao, Ramesh P., 2018. "Cash holdings speed of adjustment," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 1-14.
    12. Carlos J. O. Trejo‐Pech & Michael A. Gunderson & Dayton M. Lambert, 2021. "Mergers and acquisitions in the U.S. agribusiness sector, 1990–2017," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 37(4), pages 713-730, October.
    13. Francis A. Longstaff & Ilya A. Strebulaev, 2014. "Corporate Taxes and Capital Structure: A Long-Term Historical Perspective," NBER Working Papers 20372, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Acquisitions; Cash holdings; Cash stockpiles; Cash rich firms; Method of payment; Capital structure;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance

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