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Activism and empire building

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  • Gantchev, Nickolay
  • Sevilir, Merih
  • Shivdasani, Anil

Abstract

Hedge fund activists target firms engaging in empire building and improve their future acquisition and divestiture strategy. Following intervention, activist targets make fewer acquisitions but obtain substantially higher returns by avoiding large and diversifying deals and refraining from acquisitions during merger waves. Activist targets also increase the pace of divestitures and achieve higher divestiture returns than matched non-targets. Activists curtail empire building through the removal of empire building chief executive officers (CEOs), compensation based incentives, and appointment of new board members. Our findings highlight an important channel through which activists improve efficiency and create shareholder value.

Suggested Citation

  • Gantchev, Nickolay & Sevilir, Merih & Shivdasani, Anil, 2020. "Activism and empire building," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 138(2), pages 526-548.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfinec:v:138:y:2020:i:2:p:526-548
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jfineco.2020.06.001
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    Cited by:

    1. Delis, Manthos D. & Kazakis, Pantelis & Zopounidis, Constantin, 2023. "Management and takeover decisions," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 304(3), pages 1256-1268.
    2. Manthos D. Delis & Pantelis Kazakis & Constantin Zopounidis, 2021. "Management Practices and Takeover Decisions," Working Papers 2021_10, Business School - Economics, University of Glasgow.
    3. Jochen Hartmann & Matthias Pelster & Soenke Sievers, 2022. "Shareholder activism around the globe: Hedge funds vs. other professional investors," Working Papers Dissertations 98, Paderborn University, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics.
    4. Singh, Amanjot, 2022. "Hedge fund activism and trade credit," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    5. Bessler, Wolfgang & Vendrasco, Marco, 2022. "Corporate control and shareholder activism in Germany: An empirical analysis of hedge fund strategies," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    6. Jana P. Fidrmuc & Tereza Tykvova, 2023. "Are Acquirer Shareholders Happier when Their Industries Are Unhappy?," Swiss Finance Institute Research Paper Series 23-52, Swiss Finance Institute.
    7. Xie, En & Fang, Alex Junyi & Chen, Xin & Wu, Zhan & Kumar, Vikas, 2022. "Performance feedback on sales growth goal and OFDI location choices for firms in emerging economies," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(4).
    8. Hege, Ulrich & Zhang, Yifei, 2022. "Activism Waves and the Market for Corporate Assets," TSE Working Papers 22-1397, Toulouse School of Economics (TSE).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Shareholder activism; Corporate governance; Mergers and acquisitions; Empire building; Hedge funds;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance

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