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Optimal Acquisition Strategies in Unknown Territories

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  • Onur A. Koska
  • Frank Stähler

Abstract

We investigate the optimal acquisition strategy of an investor who wants to acquire a target firm under incomplete information. The response to acquisition offers signals firm productivity, affecting future competition. We identify a competition effect (firms compete for acquisition) and a revelation effect (firms signal productivity). These effects reduce the rejection profits and increase the acceptance probability. If the investor makes simultaneous offers, the revelation effect is a potential threat: a firm may signal low productivity, but may not be acquired. If, however, the investor makes offers sequentially, this threat does not exist, making sequential offers the optimal acquisition strategy.

Suggested Citation

  • Onur A. Koska & Frank Stähler, 2014. "Optimal Acquisition Strategies in Unknown Territories," Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics (JITE), Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, vol. 170(3), pages 406-426, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:mhr:jinste:urn:sici:0932-4569(201409)170:3_406:oasiut_2.0.tx_2-x
    DOI: 10.1628/093245613X14001382825101
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    Cited by:

    1. Onur A. Koska, 2016. "A Consumer-Surplus Standard in Merger Approvals, Foreign Direct Investment, and Welfare," ERC Working Papers 1612, ERC - Economic Research Center, Middle East Technical University, revised Oct 2016.
    2. Onur A. Koska & Ilke Onur & Frank Stähler, 2018. "The scope of auctions in the presence of downstream interactions and information externalities," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 125(2), pages 107-136, October.
    3. Onur A. Koska, 2019. "A consumer-surplus standard in foreign acquisitions, foreign direct investment, and welfare," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 155(1), pages 149-179, February.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance

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