IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/finlet/v59y2024ics1544612323012060.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Navigating the storm: How the COVID-19 pandemic transformed the M&A landscape

Author

Listed:
  • Tian, Haowen
  • Wang, Junkai

Abstract

This study employs a DiD design to investigate the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on corporate M&A decisions and performance. Findings suggest that the uncertainty caused by the pandemic has heightened the challenges associated with making merger decisions. Companies have adopted a more cautious approach, leading to a reduction in the number of M&A transactions. Additionally, these M&A events have exhibited more significant stock market returns. This research expands upon previous studies examining the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the factors influencing corporate M&A. It offers valuable insights for corporate managers, investors, and regulatory authorities.

Suggested Citation

  • Tian, Haowen & Wang, Junkai, 2024. "Navigating the storm: How the COVID-19 pandemic transformed the M&A landscape," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:59:y:2024:i:c:s1544612323012060
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2023.104834
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1544612323012060
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.frl.2023.104834?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
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Khan, Safi Ullah, 2022. "Financing constraints and firm-level responses to the COVID-19 pandemic: International evidence," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    2. Nguyen, Nam H. & Phan, Hieu V., 2017. "Policy Uncertainty and Mergers and Acquisitions," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 52(2), pages 613-644, April.
    3. Bonaime, Alice & Gulen, Huseyin & Ion, Mihai, 2018. "Does policy uncertainty affect mergers and acquisitions?," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 129(3), pages 531-558.
    4. Choi, Sun-Yong, 2020. "Industry volatility and economic uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from wavelet coherence analysis," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 37(C).
    5. Andrade, Gregor & Stafford, Erik, 2004. "Investigating the economic role of mergers," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 10(1), pages 1-36, January.
    6. Xie, Wenlan & Tian, Haowen, 2023. "The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on corporate trade credit financing," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 232(C).
    7. Jan Bena & Kai Li, 2014. "Corporate Innovations and Mergers and Acquisitions," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 69(5), pages 1923-1960, October.
    8. Arouri, Mohamed & Gomes, Mathieu & Pukthuanthong, Kuntara, 2019. "Corporate social responsibility and M&A uncertainty," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 176-198.
    9. Brown, Stephen J. & Warner, Jerold B., 1985. "Using daily stock returns : The case of event studies," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 14(1), pages 3-31, March.
    10. HaiYue Liu & Aqsa Manzoor & CangYu Wang & Lei Zhang & Zaira Manzoor, 2020. "The COVID-19 Outbreak and Affected Countries Stock Markets Response," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-19, April.
    11. Felipe Cortes & Francisco Marcet, 2023. "Analysts’ Connections and M&A Outcomes," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 69(7), pages 4108-4133, July.
    12. Corinna Ghirelli & María Gil & Javier J. Pérez & Alberto Urtasun, 2021. "Measuring economic and economic policy uncertainty and their macroeconomic effects: the case of Spain," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 60(2), pages 869-892, February.
    13. Wan, Zhao & Tian, Haowen, 2022. "The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on information disclosure: Evidence from China," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    14. Chokri Kooli & Melanie Lock Son, 2021. "Impact of COVID-19 on Mergers, Acquisitions & Corporate Restructurings," Businesses, MDPI, vol. 1(2), pages 1-13, August.
    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. Bai, Min & Zhang, Yuqi & Yu, Chia-Feng (Jeffrey), 2024. "Do firms gamble for resurrection from COVID-19?," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    2. Perafán-Peña, Héctor Fabio & Gill-de-Albornoz Noguer, Belén & Giner, Begoña, 2024. "Targets’ earnings management and ownership decisions in M&A: Can less be more ?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 62(PA).

    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. Sabani, Nazmie & Bales, Stephan & Burghof, Hans-Peter, 2024. "On the different impact of local and national sources of policy uncertainty on sectoral stock volatility," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 72(PB).
    2. Mufaddal Baxamusa & Sudip Datta & Anand Jha, 2021. "Does policy uncertainty increase relational risks? Evidence from strategic alliances," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 50(3), pages 645-689, September.
    3. Paudyal, Krishna & Thapa, Chandra & Koirala, Santosh & Aldhawyan, Sulaiman, 2021. "Economic policy uncertainty and cross-border mergers and acquisitions," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    4. Kiosses, Nikolaos & Leventis, Stergios & Subeniotis, Demetres & Tampakoudis, Ioannis, 2025. "The impact of policy uncertainty on shareholder wealth: Evidence from bank M&A," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    5. Xin Chen & Haina Shi & Gaoguang Zhou & Xindong Zhu, 2024. "Dance with wolves: firm-level political risk and mergers and acquisitions," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 63(2), pages 715-752, August.
    6. Mei Cheng & Jacob Jaggi & Spencer Young, 2022. "Customer concentration of targets in mergers and acquisitions," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(7-8), pages 1314-1355, July.
    7. Gopalakrishnan, Balagopal & Jacob, Joshy & Srivastava, Jagriti, 2022. "Fishing in muddy waters: Mergers and acquisitions during uncertainty," IIMA Working Papers WP 2022-09-02, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Research and Publication Department.
    8. Feng, Yun & Liu, Chelsea & Yawson, Alfred, 2023. "Economic shocks, M&A advisors, and industry takeover activity," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    9. Gu, Ming & Li, Dongxu & Ni, Xiaoran, 2022. "Too much to learn? The (un)intended consequences of RegTech development on mergers and acquisitions," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    10. Tung Nguyen & Dimitris Petmezas & Nikolaos Karampatsas, 2023. "Does Terrorism Affect Acquisitions?," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 69(7), pages 4134-4168, July.
    11. Song, Moon H. & Walkling, Ralph A., 2005. "Anticipation, Acquisitions and Bidder Returns," Working Paper Series 2005-11, Ohio State University, Charles A. Dice Center for Research in Financial Economics.
    12. Su, Yueying & Li, Jialong & Li, Zhicheng & Wu, Cathy, 2025. "CEO inside debt holdings and climate risk concerns in corporate acquisition," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    13. Ashton De Silva & Huu Nhan Duong & My Nguyen & Yen Ngoc Nguyen, 2023. "Bank risk in uncertain times: Do credit rationing and revenue diversification matter?," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(7-8), pages 1240-1273, July.
    14. Wang, Fengrong & Mbanyele, William & Muchenje, Linda, 2022. "Economic policy uncertainty and stock liquidity: The mitigating effect of information disclosure," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    15. Sadok El Ghoul & Omrane Guedhami & Robert Nash & He (Helen) Wang, 2022. "Economic policy uncertainty and insider trading," Journal of Financial Research, Southern Finance Association;Southwestern Finance Association, vol. 45(4), pages 817-854, December.
    16. Huang, Jin & Jin, Yong & Duan, Yang & She, Yanling, 2023. "Do Chinese firms speculate during high economic policy uncertainty? Evidence from wealth management products," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    17. Levine, Oliver, 2017. "Acquiring growth," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 126(2), pages 300-319.
    18. Chun Lu & James Routledge & Kam C. Chan & Tongxia Li, 2023. "Policy uncertainty and inventory behavior: Evidence from the US manufacturing sector," Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(3), pages 919-948, November.
    19. Ruichen Ma, 2023. "The sustainable development trend in environmental, social, and governance issues and stakeholder engagement: Evidence from mergers and acquisitions in China," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(6), pages 3159-3173, November.
    20. repec:hal:journl:hal-04699553 is not listed on IDEAS
    21. Bilgin, Mehmet Huseyin & Danisman, Gamze Ozturk & Demir, Ender & Tarazi, Amine, 2021. "Economic uncertainty and bank stability: Conventional vs. Islamic banking," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).

    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:eee:finlet:v:59:y:2024:i:c:s1544612323012060. 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: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/frl .

    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.