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M&A Activity and the Capital Structure of Target Firms

Author

Listed:
  • Flannery, Mark J.
  • Hanousek, Jan
  • Shamshur, Anastasiya
  • Tresl, Jiri

Abstract

We study 6,083 European firms that were acquired between 1999 and 2015. Soon after the acquisition, the acquired firms promptly and substantially close the gap between their actual leverage ratios and their target (optimal) ratios. Firms that were over- (under-) leveraged at the start of their acquisition year move their debt-to-assets ratio from 34.1% to 20% (10% to 18.5%) by the end of the following year. Under-leveraged firms expand their assets rapidly following acquisition, as they gain improved access to investable resources. Our results are consistent with the trade-off theory of capital structure and with the existence of firm-specific target leverage ratios.

Suggested Citation

  • Flannery, Mark J. & Hanousek, Jan & Shamshur, Anastasiya & Tresl, Jiri, 2023. "M&A Activity and the Capital Structure of Target Firms," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 58(5), pages 2064-2095, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jfinqa:v:58:y:2023:i:5:p:2064-2095_7
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    Cited by:

    1. Bai, Yaxin & Wang, Zehao & Sun, Xiaowei, 2025. "Green credit policy and its friction: Evidence from corporate asset structure adjustments," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 77(PB).
    2. Zhao, Yiming & Li, Haitong & Miao, Zicong & Li, Keyang, 2025. "Digital M&As, knowledge distance, and labor productivity: Technical and organizational perspectives," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • 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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