IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v15y2022i21p7907-d952528.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Energy M&A Market in the Baltic States Analyzed through the Lens of Sustainable Development

Author

Listed:
  • Karolis Andriuškevičius

    (Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio Ave 9, LT-01513 Vilnius, Lithuania)

  • Dalia Štreimikienė

    (Lithuanian Energy Institute, Breslaujos St. 3, LT-44403 Kaunas, Lithuania)

Abstract

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) may serve as a catalyst in energy transition by accelerating this trend and “greenwashing” the deals. M&A are often used by large energy companies as a tool to explore potential synergy benefits. Recently, M&A strategies in the energy industry have been pursued to transform traditional business models into more “sustainable” models. On the one hand, it may be observed that companies are taking a proactive rather than reactive approach towards environmental-, social-, and governance (ESG)-related M&A deals. On the other hand, sustainable M&A deals do not interest activist shareholders and regulatory authorities only anymore. Inclusion of a sustainability framework and managing ESG-related risks have become part of the overall strategy of most companies within the energy industry. This research addresses the problem of how energy M&A are contributing to sustainable development on the one hand and reflecting sustainable developments on the other hand. The current research focuses on the systematic literature on the M&A deals in the energy industry through the lens of sustainability by applying the SALSA methodology. Further, we applied a SWOT analysis of M&A in the energy industry from the perspective of sustainable development. Thomson Reuters DataStream 5.1 database was used for developing a case study. A sample of Lithuanian, Latvian, and Estonian energy companies that were involved as acquirers or targets in the M&A events from 1995 to 2020 was developed. Establishing a methodological approach construed of SALSA, SWOT, and case study analyses allowed us to bridge a gap in the existing literature and provoke further discussion in regards to market developments through the lens of sustainable development. The research results showed that there are relatively few M&A of renewable companies as the M&A market is dominated by traditional energy companies within Baltic states. However, companies in the Baltic states are pursuing energy security, have set targets for emission reductions, renewables and energy efficiency, are supporting EU climate neutrality, and put great emphasis on climate change mitigation.

Suggested Citation

  • Karolis Andriuškevičius & Dalia Štreimikienė, 2022. "Energy M&A Market in the Baltic States Analyzed through the Lens of Sustainable Development," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-21, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:21:p:7907-:d:952528
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/21/7907/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/21/7907/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jintao Lu & Licheng Ren & Siqin Yao & Jiayuan Qiao & Wadim Strielkowski & Justas Streimikis, 2019. "Comparative Review of Corporate Social Responsibility of Energy Utilities and Sustainable Energy Development Trends in the Baltic States," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-21, September.
    2. Pereira, Guillermo Ivan & Niesten, Eva & Pinkse, Jonatan, 2022. "Sustainable energy systems in the making: A study on business model adaptation in incumbent utilities," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    3. Waterworth, Alec & Bradshaw, Michael J., 2018. "Unconventional trade-offs? National oil companies, foreign investment and oil and gas development in Argentina and Brazil," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 7-16.
    4. Rumpa Dasgupta & Amin Sakzad & Carsten Rudolph, 2021. "Cyber Attacks in Transactive Energy Market-Based Microgrid Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-17, February.
    5. Pavan Manocha & Jagjit Singh Srai, 2020. "Exploring Environmental Supply Chain Innovation in M&A," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-15, December.
    6. Borthwick, James & Ali, Searat & Pan, Xiaofei, 2020. "Does policy uncertainty influence mergers and acquisitions activities in China? A replication study," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    7. Bogdan Włodarczyk & Daniela Firoiu & George H. Ionescu & Florin Ghiocel & Marek Szturo & Lesław Markowski, 2021. "Assessing the Sustainable Development and Renewable Energy Sources Relationship in EU Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-16, April.
    8. Hu, May & Mou, Jiayi & Tuilautala, Mataiasi, 2020. "How trade credit affects mergers and acquisitions," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 1-12.
    9. Michael Benson & Chad Boda & Runa R. Das & Leslie King & Chad Park, 2022. "Sustainable Development and Canada’s Transitioning Energy Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-19, February.
    10. Arent, Douglas & Arndt, Channing & Miller, Mackay & Tarp, Finn & Zinaman, Owen (ed.), 2017. "The Political Economy of Clean Energy Transitions," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198802242.
    11. United Nations UN, 2015. "Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," Working Papers id:7559, eSocialSciences.
    12. Guo, Yue & Yang, Yu & Wang, Chang, 2021. "Global energy networks: Geographies of mergers and acquisitions of worldwide oil companies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    13. Ettore Bompard & Shaghayegh Zalzar & Tao Huang & Arturs Purvins & Marcelo Masera, 2018. "Baltic Power Systems’ Integration into the EU Market Coupling under Different Desynchronization Schemes: A Comparative Market Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-15, July.
    14. Diana Marieta Mihaiu & Radu-Alexandru Șerban & Alin Opreana & Mihai Țichindelean & Vasile Brătian & Liliana Barbu, 2021. "The Impact of Mergers and Acquisitions and Sustainability on Company Performance in the Pharmaceutical Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-24, June.
    15. Stefan Bogner & Stephan M. Gasser & Margarethe Rammerstorfer, 2015. "Mergers And Acquisitions In European And North American Energy Markets: Empirical Analysis Of Legal And Ownership Unbundling," Journal of Competition Law and Economics, Oxford University Press, vol. 11(4), pages 935-954.
    16. Sung-Jun Lee & Soojin Kim & Joongwha Kim, 2019. "A Comparative Study of Cross-Border and Domestic Acquisition Performances in the South Korean M&A Market: Testing the Two Competing Theories of Culture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-23, April.
    17. Barros, Victor & Verga Matos, Pedro & Miranda Sarmento, Joaquim & Rino Vieira, Pedro, 2022. "M&A activity as a driver for better ESG performance," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    18. Olimpia Meglio, 2020. "Towards More Sustainable M&A Deals: Scholars as Change Agents," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-11, November.
    19. Mirosław Wasilewski & Serhiy Zabolotnyy & Dmytro Osiichuk, 2021. "Characteristics and Shareholder Wealth Effects of Mergers and Acquisitions Involving European Renewable Energy Companies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-20, November.
    20. Dyson, Robert G., 2004. "Strategic development and SWOT analysis at the University of Warwick," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 152(3), pages 631-640, February.
    21. Markovska, N. & Taseska, V. & Pop-Jordanov, J., 2009. "SWOT analyses of the national energy sector for sustainable energy development," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(6), pages 752-756.
    22. Xu, Xiaofeng & Wei, Zhifei & Ji, Qiang & Wang, Chenglong & Gao, Guowei, 2019. "Global renewable energy development: Influencing factors, trend predictions and countermeasures," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 1-1.
    23. Jan Anton van Zanten & Rob van Tulder, 2018. "Multinational enterprises and the Sustainable Development Goals: An institutional approach to corporate engagement," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 1(3), pages 208-233, December.
    24. Barbieri, Elisa & Huang, Manli & Pi, Shenglei & Pollio, Chiara & Rubini, Lauretta, 2021. "Investigating the linkages between industrial policies and M&A dynamics: Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Luis Fonseca & Vitor Silva & José Carlos Sá & Vanda Lima & Gilberto Santos & Rui Silva, 2022. "B Corp versus ISO 9001 and 14001 certifications: Aligned, or alternative paths, towards sustainable development?," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(3), pages 496-508, May.
    2. Jan Anton van Zanten & Rob van Tulder, 2020. "Beyond COVID-19: Applying “SDG logics” for resilient transformations," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 3(4), pages 451-464, December.
    3. Olivier E. Malay, 2021. "How to Articulate Beyond GDP and Businesses’ Social and Environmental Indicators?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 155(1), pages 1-25, May.
    4. Kyoko Sasaki & Wendy Stubbs & Megan Farrelly, 2023. "The relationship between corporate purpose and the sustainable development goals in large Japanese companies," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(5), pages 2475-2489, September.
    5. Shen, Huayu & Liang, Yue & Li, Hanwen & Liu, Jie & Lu, Guangxi, 2021. "Does geopolitical risk promote mergers and acquisitions of listed companies in energy and electric power industries," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    6. Samuel Petros Sebhatu & Bo Enquist, 2022. "Values and Multi-stakeholder Dialog for Business Transformation in Light of the UN Sustainable Development Goals," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 180(4), pages 1059-1074, November.
    7. Olivier E. Malay, 2020. "How to articulate beyond GDP and businesses’ social and environmental indicators?," LIDAM Discussion Papers IRES 2020014, Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES).
    8. Kimitaka Nishitani & Akira Kawaguchi, 2022. "Mitigating Gender Inequality in the Workplace: Toward Sustainable Development Through Institutional Changes," Discussion Paper Series DP2022-07, Research Institute for Economics & Business Administration, Kobe University, revised May 2022.
    9. Sergej Lisowski & Markus Berger & Justus Caspers & Klaus Mayr-Rauch & Georg Bäuml & Matthias Finkbeiner, 2020. "Criteria-Based Approach to Select Relevant Environmental SDG Indicators for the Automobile Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-22, October.
    10. Niraja Srinivasan & Lorraine Eden, 2021. "Going digital multinationals: Navigating economic and social imperatives in a post-pandemic world," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 4(2), pages 228-243, June.
    11. Lorraine Eden & M. Fernanda Wagstaff, 2021. "Evidence-based policymaking and the wicked problem of SDG 5 Gender Equality," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 4(1), pages 28-57, March.
    12. Darshini, Dina & Dwivedi, Puneet & Glenk, Klaus, 2013. "Capturing stakeholders´ views on oil palm-based biofuel and biomass utilisation in Malaysia," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 1128-1137.
    13. Simona Fiandrino & Francesco Scarpa & Riccardo Torelli, 2022. "Fostering Social Impact Through Corporate Implementation of the SDGs: Transformative Mechanisms Towards Interconnectedness and Inclusiveness," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 180(4), pages 959-973, November.
    14. Leopoldo Gutierrez & Ivan Montiel & Jordi A. Surroca & Josep A. Tribo, 2022. "Rainbow Wash or Rainbow Revolution? Dynamic Stakeholder Engagement for SDG-Driven Responsible Innovation," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 180(4), pages 1113-1136, November.
    15. Zhang, Dongna & Zhao, Zuoxiang & Lau, Chi Keung Marco, 2022. "Sovereign ESG and corporate investment: New insights from the United Kingdom," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    16. Anca Mehedintu & Georgeta Soava & Mihaela Sterpu & Eugenia Grecu, 2021. "Evolution and Forecasting of the Renewable Energy Consumption in the Frame of Sustainable Development: EU vs. Romania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-30, September.
    17. Çağlar Kıvanç Kaymaz & Salih Birinci & Yusuf Kızılkan, 2022. "Sustainable development goals assessment of Erzurum province with SWOT-AHP analysis," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 2986-3012, March.
    18. Chiara Mio & Silvia Panfilo & Benedetta Blundo, 2020. "Sustainable development goals and the strategic role of business: A systematic literature review," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(8), pages 3220-3245, December.
    19. Marika Arena & Giovanni Azzone & Sara Ratti & Valeria Maria Urbano & Giovanni Vecchio, 2023. "Sustainable development goals and corporate reporting: An empirical investigation of the oil and gas industry," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(1), pages 12-25, February.
    20. Karolis Andriuškevičius & Dalia Štreimikienė, 2022. "Sustainability Framework for Assessment of Mergers and Acquisitions in Energy Sector," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-20, June.

    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:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:21:p:7907-:d:952528. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.