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The market for shareholder voting rights around mergers and acquisitions: Evidence from institutional daily trading and voting

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  • Bethel, Jennifer E.
  • Hu, Gang
  • Wang, Qinghai

Abstract

This paper explores the market for voting rights and shareholder voting around 350 mergers and acquisitions between 1999 and 2005 by examining institutional-investor trading and voting outcomes. Our results show institutions in aggregate buy shares and hence voting rights before merger record dates. This trading is not related to proxies for merger arbitrage or trading around merger announcements, and thus is not simply a continuation of the latter. Trading and buying before record dates are positively related to voting turnout and negatively related to shareholder support of merger proposals. We explore several possible interpretations of these results.

Suggested Citation

  • Bethel, Jennifer E. & Hu, Gang & Wang, Qinghai, 2009. "The market for shareholder voting rights around mergers and acquisitions: Evidence from institutional daily trading and voting," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 15(1), pages 129-145, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:corfin:v:15:y:2009:i:1:p:129-145
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    6. Lingwei Li & Huai Zhang, 2021. "The devil is in the detail? Investors’ mispricing of proxy voting outcomes on M&A deals," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(3-4), pages 692-717, March.
    7. Dasgupta, Amil & Fos, Vyacheslav & Sautner, Zacharias, 2021. "Institutional investors and corporate governance," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 112114, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    8. Tang, Haodan & Fang, Senhui & Jiang, Dianchun, 2022. "The market value effect of digital mergers and acquisitions: Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    9. Ertimur, Yonca & Ferri, Fabrizio & Stubben, Stephen R., 2010. "Board of directors' responsiveness to shareholders: Evidence from shareholder proposals," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 16(1), pages 53-72, February.
    10. Hu, Gang, 2009. "Measures of implicit trading costs and buy-sell asymmetry," Journal of Financial Markets, Elsevier, vol. 12(3), pages 418-437, August.
    11. Hu, Gang & Jo, Koren M. & Wang, Yi Alex & Xie, Jing, 2018. "Institutional trading and Abel Noser data," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 143-167.
    12. Meglio, Olimpia & King, David R. & Risberg, Annette, 2017. "Speed in acquisitions: A managerial framework," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 60(3), pages 415-425.
    13. Brooks, Chris & Chen, Zhong & Zeng, Yeqin, 2018. "Institutional cross-ownership and corporate strategy: The case of mergers and acquisitions," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 187-216.
    14. Jing Xie, 2024. "Are passive investors also passive voters? Evidence from securities lending by mutual funds," Working Papers 202410, University of Macau, Faculty of Business Administration.
    15. Susanne Schwill, 2020. "Proof of the Ability of Hedge Funds’ Activists to Restructure Target Firms," Scientia Moralitas Journal, Scientia Moralitas, Research Institute, vol. 5(1), pages 48-72, July.
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