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The Long Run Abnormal Performance of UK Acquirers and the Free Cash Flow Hypothesis

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  • Alan Gregory

Abstract

Evidence from recent US and UK studies reveals a pattern of poor long run post acquisition performance by acquiring firms. One explanation, due to Jensen (1986) is that acquirers with an excess of free cash flow (FCF) will have a propensity to squander this on wasteful investments, including take‐overs. In this paper, using a dataset of UK take‐overs and proxies for free cash flow similar to those used by Lang, Stulz and Walking (1991), we find no support for the FCF hypothesis and show that this conclusion is robust to the model of long run returns employed. Contrary to the free cash flow hypothesis there is evidence that acquirers with high free cash flow perform better than acquirers with low free cash flow. Although not consistent with the Jensen hypothesis, this evidence is compatible with the emerging UK evidence that shows cash flow‐to‐price measures are associated with market returns.

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  • Alan Gregory, 2005. "The Long Run Abnormal Performance of UK Acquirers and the Free Cash Flow Hypothesis," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(5‐6), pages 777-814, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jbfnac:v:32:y:2005:i:5-6:p:777-814
    DOI: 10.1111/j.0306-686X.2005.00614.x
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    4. Sehleanu Mariana, 2015. "Creating Or Destroying Value Through Mergers And Acquisitions?," Annals of Faculty of Economics, University of Oradea, Faculty of Economics, vol. 1(1), pages 593-600, July.
    5. Ervin L. Black & Thomas A. Carnes & Tomas Jandik & B. Charlene Henderson, 2007. "The Relevance of Target Accounting Quality to the Long‐Term Success of Cross‐Border Mergers," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(1‐2), pages 139-168, January.
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    9. Ervin L. Black & Thomas A. Carnes & Tomas Jandik & B. Charlene Henderson, 2007. "The Relevance of Target Accounting Quality to the Long‐Term Success of Cross‐Border Mergers," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(1‐2), pages 139-168, January.
    10. Ervin L. Black & Thomas A. Carnes & Tomas Jandik & B. Charlene Henderson, 2007. "The Relevance of Target Accounting Quality to the Long‐Term Success of Cross‐Border Mergers," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(1‐2), pages 139-168, January.
    11. Laswad, Fawzi & Baskerville, Rachel F., 2007. "An analysis of the value of cash flow statements of New Zealand pension schemes," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 39(4), pages 347-355.
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    13. Kyriacos Kyriacou & Kul B. Luintel & Bryan Mase, 2010. "Private Information in Executive Stock Option Trades: Evidence of Insider Trading in the UK," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 77(308), pages 751-774, October.
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    15. Sheng-Syan Chen & Yong-Chin Liu & I-Ju Chen, 2014. "Long-Run Stock Performance and Its Determinants for Asset Buyers," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(5-6), pages 685-716, June.

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