IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/reviec/v30y2022i1p306-344.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

What drives Chinese overseas M&A investment? Evidence from micro data

Author

Listed:
  • Clemens Fuest
  • Felix Hugger
  • Samina Sultan
  • Jing Xing

Abstract

In recent years Chinese foreign acquisitions have increased significantly. In Europe and the United States, these investments are often criticized. Critics argue that Chinese investors outbid competitors with help from their government, that the acquisitions lead to undesirable technology transfer, or that they may have negative consequences for the employees of the target firm. We use a large deal‐level dataset on cross‐border acquisitions to investigate whether Chinese foreign acquisitions differ from cross‐border investment coming from other countries. We find that relative to non‐Chinese investors, Chinese acquirers indeed appear to be different in some dimensions. They focus on targets with higher debt levels and lower profitability. At the same time, they do not seem to pay more for targets with given characteristics, questioning the view that they are subsidized to outbid other investors. Policy initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative and Made in China 2025 influence state‐owned but not private Chinese investors, suggesting that geopolitical or technology interests play a role. In the years after the takeover, target companies acquired by Chinese investors exhibit lower growth in capital productivity but a higher growth of employee compensation.

Suggested Citation

  • Clemens Fuest & Felix Hugger & Samina Sultan & Jing Xing, 2022. "What drives Chinese overseas M&A investment? Evidence from micro data," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(1), pages 306-344, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:reviec:v:30:y:2022:i:1:p:306-344
    DOI: 10.1111/roie.12566
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/roie.12566
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/roie.12566?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    Other versions of this item:

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. David H. Autor & David Dorn & Gordon H. Hanson, 2016. "The China Shock: Learning from Labor-Market Adjustment to Large Changes in Trade," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 8(1), pages 205-240, October.
    2. Olivier Bertrand & Habib Zitouna, 2008. "Domestic versus cross-border acquisitions: which impact on the target firms' performance?," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(17), pages 2221-2238.
    3. Peter J Buckley & L Jeremy Clegg & Hinrich Voss & Adam R Cross & Xin Liu & Ping Zheng, 2018. "A retrospective and agenda for future research on Chinese outward foreign direct investment," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 49(1), pages 4-23, January.
    4. Hsieh, Chang-Tai & Ossa, Ralph, 2016. "A global view of productivity growth in China," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 209-224.
    5. Hainmueller, Jens, 2012. "Entropy Balancing for Causal Effects: A Multivariate Reweighting Method to Produce Balanced Samples in Observational Studies," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 20(1), pages 25-46, January.
    6. Fons-Rosen, Christian & Kalemli-Ozcan, Sebnem & Sørensen, Bent E. & Villegas-Sanchez, Carolina & Volosovych, Vadym, 2021. "Quantifying productivity gains from foreign investment," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    7. Peter J Buckley & L Jeremy Clegg & Adam R Cross & Xin Liu & Hinrich Voss & Ping Zheng, 2009. "The determinants of Chinese outward foreign direct investment," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 40(2), pages 353-354, February.
    8. Matthias Arnold, Jens & Javorcik, Beata S., 2009. "Gifted kids or pushy parents? Foreign direct investment and plant productivity in Indonesia," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 79(1), pages 42-53, September.
    9. Tomas Jandik & Raja Kali, 2009. "Legal systems, information asymmetry, and firm boundaries: Cross-border choices to diversify through mergers, joint ventures, or strategic alliances," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 40(4), pages 578-599, May.
    10. Egger, Peter H. & Strecker, Nora M. & Zoller-Rydzek, Benedikt, 2020. "Estimating bargaining-related tax advantages of multinational firms," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    11. Alberto Abadie & Guido W. Imbens, 2016. "Matching on the Estimated Propensity Score," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 84, pages 781-807, March.
    12. Rossi, Stefano & Volpin, Paolo F., 2004. "Cross-country determinants of mergers and acquisitions," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 74(2), pages 277-304, November.
    13. Luo, Limin & Qi, Zhen & Hubbard, Paul, 2017. "Not looking for trouble: Understanding large-scale Chinese overseas investment by sector and ownership," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 142-164.
    14. Harry P. Huizinga & Johannes Voget, 2009. "International Taxation and the Direction and Volume of Cross‐Border M&As," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 64(3), pages 1217-1249, June.
    15. Hainmueller, Jens & Xu, Yiqing, 2013. "ebalance: A Stata Package for Entropy Balancing," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 54(i07).
    16. Wang, Jian & Wang, Xiao, 2015. "Benefits of foreign ownership: Evidence from foreign direct investment in China," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(2), pages 325-338.
    17. Schiffbauer, Marc & Siedschlag, Iulia & Ruane, Frances, 2017. "Do foreign mergers and acquisitions boost firm productivity?," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(6), pages 1124-1140.
    18. Karolyi, G. Andrew & Liao, Rose C., 2017. "State capitalism's global reach: Evidence from foreign acquisitions by state-owned companies," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 367-391.
    19. I. Serdar Dinc & Isil Erel, 2013. "Economic Nationalism in Mergers and Acquisitions," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 68(6), pages 2471-2514, December.
    20. di Giovanni, Julian, 2005. "What drives capital flows? The case of cross-border M&A activity and financial deepening," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 65(1), pages 127-149, January.
    21. Zheng Zhang & Yuping Deng & Sam Hak Kan Tang, 2019. "Do Foreign Mergers and Acquisitions Increase Acquired Firms’ Innovation? Evidence from Chinese Manufacturing Firms," Australian Economic Review, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, vol. 52(1), pages 41-60, March.
    22. Child, John & Rodrigues, Suzana B., 2005. "The Internationalization of Chinese Firms: A Case for Theoretical Extension?1," Management and Organization Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 1(3), pages 381-410, November.
    23. Ahern, Kenneth R. & Daminelli, Daniele & Fracassi, Cesare, 2015. "Lost in translation? The effect of cultural values on mergers around the world," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(1), pages 165-189.
    24. G. Andrew Karolyi & Alvaro G. Taboada, 2015. "Regulatory Arbitrage and Cross‐Border Bank Acquisitions," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 70(6), pages 2395-2450, December.
    25. Jiangyong Lu & Xiaohui Liu & Hongling Wang, 2011. "Motives for Outward FDI of Chinese Private Firms: Firm Resources, Industry Dynamics, and Government Policies," Management and Organization Review, The International Association for Chinese Management Research, vol. 7(2), pages 223-248, July.
    26. Buckley, Peter J. & Yu, Pei & Liu, Qing & Munjal, Surender & Tao, Pan, 2016. "The Institutional Influence on the Location Strategies of Multinational Enterprises from Emerging Economies: Evidence from China's Cross-border Mergers and Acquisitions," Management and Organization Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 12(3), pages 425-448, September.
    27. Lu, Jiangyong & Liu, Xiaohui & Wang, Hongling, 2011. "Motives for Outward FDI of Chinese Private Firms Firm Resources, Industry Dynamics, and Government Policies," Management and Organization Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 7(2), pages 223-248, July.
    28. Max Boisot & Marshall W. Meyer, 2008. "Which Way through the Open Door? Reflections on the Internationalization of Chinese Firms," Management and Organization Review, The International Association for Chinese Management Research, vol. 4(3), pages 349-365, November.
    29. Boisot, Max & Meyer, Marshall W., 2008. "Which Way through the Open Door? Reflections on the Internationalization of Chinese Firms," Management and Organization Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 4(3), pages 349-365, November.
    30. Paul Brockman & Oliver M Rui & Huan Zou, 2013. "Institutions and the performance of politically connected M&As," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 44(8), pages 833-852, October.
    31. John Child & Suzana B. Rodrigues, 2005. "The Internationalization of Chinese Firms: A Case for Theoretical Extension?," Management and Organization Review, International Association of Chinese Management Research, vol. 1(3), pages 381-410, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Kintzinger, Paulina & Horky, Florian, 2022. "Dynamics and Developments of Chinese M&A Transactions in the wake of the BRI: A comparison of Germany and CEEC," MPRA Paper 112630, University Library of Munich, Germany.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. h.c. Clemens Fuest & Felix Hugger & Samina Sultan & Jing Xing, 2019. "Chinese acquisitions abroad: are they different?," CESifo Working Paper Series 7585, CESifo Group Munich.
    2. Rekha Rao-Nicholson & Catherine Cai, 2020. "The effects of ownership identity on corporate diversification strategy of Chinese companies in foreign markets," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 37(1), pages 91-126, March.
    3. Lu, Jiangyong & Liu, Xiaohui & Filatotchev, Igor & Wright, Mike, 2014. "The impact of domestic diversification and top management teams on the international diversification of Chinese firms," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(2), pages 455-467.
    4. Ilan Alon & John Anderson & Ziaul Haque Munim & Alice Ho, 2018. "A review of the internationalization of Chinese enterprises," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 35(3), pages 573-605, September.
    5. Fu, Xiaolan & Hou, Jun & Liu, Xiaohui, 2018. "Unpacking the Relationship between Outward Direct Investment and Innovation Performance: Evidence from Chinese firms," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 111-123.
    6. Wei, Yingqi & Zheng, Nan & Liu, Xiaohui & Lu, Jiangyong, 2014. "Expanding to outward foreign direct investment or not? A multi-dimensional analysis of entry mode transformation of Chinese private exporting firms," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(2), pages 356-370.
    7. Kintzinger, Paulina & Horky, Florian, 2022. "Dynamics and Developments of Chinese M&A Transactions in the wake of the BRI: A comparison of Germany and CEEC," MPRA Paper 112630, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Ying Gan & Buhui Qiu, 2019. "Escape from the USA: Government debt-to-GDP ratio, country tax competitiveness, and US-OECD cross-border M&As," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(7), pages 1156-1183, September.
    9. Chan, Chui Shiam & Pattnaik, Chinmay, 2021. "Coevolution of home country support and internationalization of emerging market firms," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(4).
    10. Gloria Ge & Hugh Wang, 2013. "The impact of network relationships on internationalization process: An empirical study of Chinese private enterprises," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 30(4), pages 1169-1189, December.
    11. Sun, Sunny Li & Peng, Mike W. & Lee, Ruby P. & Tan, Weiqiang, 2015. "Institutional open access at home and outward internationalization," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 50(1), pages 234-246.
    12. Xie, En & Reddy, K.S. & Liang, Jie, 2017. "Country-specific determinants of cross-border mergers and acquisitions: A comprehensive review and future research directions," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 52(2), pages 127-183.
    13. Enderwick, Peter & Buckley, Peter J., 2021. "The role of springboarding in economic catch-up: A theoretical perspective," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(3).
    14. Vukicevic, Jelena & Fallon, Grahame & Ott, Ursula F., 2021. "A theoretical and empirical investigation into investment activities of technologically-intensive Chinese state-owned enterprises in the UK," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(1).
    15. Mazé, Dominique & Chailan, Claude, 2021. "A South-South perspective on emerging economy companies and institutional coevolution: An empirical study of Chinese multinationals in Africa," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(4).
    16. Yin, Tong & De Propris, Lisa & Jabbour, Liza, 2021. "Assessing the effects of policies on China’s outward foreign direct investment," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(5).
    17. Todtenhaupt, Maximilian & Voget, Johannes, 2018. "International Taxation and Productivity Effects of M&As," VfS Annual Conference 2018 (Freiburg, Breisgau): Digital Economy 181548, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    18. Hu, Yichuan & Li, Chang & Qin, Cong, 2020. "The impact of regional financial depth on outbound cross-border mergers and acquisitions," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    19. Kandilov, Ivan T. & Leblebicioğlu, Aslı & Petkova, Neviana, 2017. "Cross-border mergers and acquisitions: The importance of local credit and source country finance," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 288-318.
    20. Liang, Hao & Renneboog, Luc & Vansteenkiste, Cara, 2017. "Cross-Border Acquisitions and Employee-Engagement," Discussion Paper 2017-038, Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:reviec:v:30:y:2022:i:1:p:306-344. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0965-7576 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.