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An Efficiency Perspective on the Gains from Mergers and Asset Purchases

Author

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  • Ray Sugata

    (University of Florida)

  • Warusawitharana Missaka

    (Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System)

Abstract

A rational, efficiency-based view of acquisitions implies that larger transactions generate greater gains for the acquirer and the seller. We test this prediction and find a positive relationship between acquirer abnormal returns and transaction size scaled by the acquirer size. This relationship holds for many classes of acquisitions, including asset purchases and mergers that target private firms. We find a similar relationship between total abnormal returns and relative transaction size. The results suggest that, in general, acquisitions help shift capital to more productive owners. Furthermore, we present evidence demonstrating that the average acquirer captures a significant portion of the total gains generated from an acquisition.

Suggested Citation

  • Ray Sugata & Warusawitharana Missaka, 2009. "An Efficiency Perspective on the Gains from Mergers and Asset Purchases," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 9(1), pages 1-27, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:bejeap:v:9:y:2009:i:1:n:43
    DOI: 10.2202/1935-1682.2135
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    Cited by:

    1. Sheng-Syan Chen & I-Ju Chen, 2011. "Inefficient Investment and the Diversification Discount: Evidence from Corporate Asset Purchases," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(7-8), pages 887-914, September.
    2. Ushijima, Tatsuo & Schaede, Ulrike, 2014. "The market for corporate subsidiaries in Japan: An empirical study of trades among listed firms," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 36-52.
    3. Jonathan Wiley & Brandon Cline & Xudong Fu & Tian Tang, 2012. "Valuation Effects for Asset Sales," Journal of Financial Services Research, Springer;Western Finance Association, vol. 41(3), pages 103-120, June.
    4. Li, Di & Taylor, Lucian A. & Wang, Wenyu, 2018. "Inefficiencies and externalities from opportunistic acquirers," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 130(2), pages 265-290.
    5. Andrew C. Chang, 2018. "Nothing is Certain Except Death and Taxes : The Lack of Policy Uncertainty from Expiring \"Temporary\" Taxes," Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2018-041, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
    6. Warusawitharana, Missaka, 2008. "Corporate asset purchases and sales: Theory and evidence," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(2), pages 471-497, February.
    7. Sheng-Syan Chen & Yong-Chin Liu & I-Ju Chen, 2014. "Long-Run Stock Performance and Its Determinants for Asset Buyers," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(5-6), pages 685-716, June.
    8. Jinghua Yan, 2011. "Merger Waves: Theory and Evidence," Quarterly Journal of Finance (QJF), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 1(03), pages 551-606.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    acquisitions; efficiency gains; capital reallocation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • E22 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Investment; Capital; Intangible Capital; Capacity

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