IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/ecofin/v42y2017icp20-37.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Cross-border mergers and acquisitions with heterogeneous firms: Technology vs. market motives

Author

Listed:
  • Lee, Donghyun

Abstract

The most common form of foreign direct investment (FDI) is cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A). A common explanation for M&A activity identified in the industrial organization literature is that firms seek technological expertise. However, this has not been examined in the FDI literature. In this paper, I develop and estimate a model of cross-border M&A and focus on the technology seeking explanation. In particular, I develop a general equilibrium model of exporting, greenfield FDI, technology-seeking cross-border M&A, and market-seeking cross-border M&A with heterogeneous firms. The model predicts that firms from a larger country are more likely to acquire in a smaller country when M&A activity is driven by a technology-seeking motive, but the opposite is true when it is driven by a market-seeking motive. Using detailed data on worldwide M&A activity from 1985 to 2007, I find empirical evidence that cross-border M&A activity exhibits behavior consistent with this prediction.

Suggested Citation

  • Lee, Donghyun, 2017. "Cross-border mergers and acquisitions with heterogeneous firms: Technology vs. market motives," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 20-37.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecofin:v:42:y:2017:i:c:p:20-37
    DOI: 10.1016/j.najef.2017.06.003
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1062940817300591
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.najef.2017.06.003?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wooldridge, Jeffrey M., 1999. "Distribution-free estimation of some nonlinear panel data models," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 90(1), pages 77-97, May.
    2. Robert C. Feenstra & Gordon H. Hanson, 1999. "The Impact of Outsourcing and High-Technology Capital on Wages: Estimates For the United States, 1979–1990," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 114(3), pages 907-940.
    3. Volker Nocke & Stephen Yeaple, 2004. "Mergers and the Composition of International Commerce," NBER Working Papers 10405, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Piero Morosini & Scott Shane & Harbir Singh, 1998. "National Cultural Distance and Cross-Border Acquisition Performance," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 29(1), pages 137-158, March.
    5. Kogut, Bruce & Chang, Sea Jin, 1991. "Technological Capabilities and Japanese Foreign Direct Investment in the United States," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 73(3), pages 401-413, August.
    6. Maria Guadalupe & Olga Kuzmina & Catherine Thomas, 2012. "Innovation and Foreign Ownership," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 102(7), pages 3594-3627, December.
    7. Maurin, Eric & Thesmar, David, 2002. "Globalization and the demand for skill: An Export Based Channel," CEPR Discussion Papers 3406, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    8. Bruce A. Blonigen, 2019. "Firm-Specific Assets and the Link Between Exchange Rates and Foreign Direct Investment," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Foreign Direct Investment, chapter 3, pages 89-120, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    9. Head, Keith & Ries, John, 2008. "FDI as an outcome of the market for corporate control: Theory and evidence," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 74(1), pages 2-20, January.
    10. Elhanan Helpman & Marc J. Melitz & Stephen R. Yeaple, 2004. "Export Versus FDI with Heterogeneous Firms," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 94(1), pages 300-316, March.
    11. di Giovanni, Julian, 2005. "What drives capital flows? The case of cross-border M&A activity and financial deepening," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 65(1), pages 127-149, January.
    12. Joshua S. Gans & David H. Hsu & Scott Stern, 2002. "When Does Start-Up Innovation Spur the Gale of Creative Destruction?," RAND Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 33(4), pages 571-586, Winter.
    13. Patricia M. Danzon & Andrew Epstein & Sean Nicholson, 2007. "Mergers and acquisitions in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(4-5), pages 307-328.
    14. Nocke, Volker & Yeaple, Stephen, 2007. "Cross-border mergers and acquisitions vs. greenfield foreign direct investment: The role of firm heterogeneity," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 72(2), pages 336-365, July.
    15. Bruce A. Blonigen & Christopher T. Taylor, 2000. "R&D Intensity and Acquisitions in High‐Technology Industries: Evidence from the US Electronic and Electrical Equipment Industries," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(1), pages 47-70, March.
    16. Drogendijk, Rian & Slangen, Arjen, 2006. "Hofstede, Schwartz, or managerial perceptions? The effects of different cultural distance measures on establishment mode choices by multinational enterprises," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 15(4), pages 361-380, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Lee, In Hyeock (Ian) & Hong, Eunsuk & Shin, Jong Kook, 2023. "Multinational enterprises, intra-regional cross-border M&As, and performance: Location advantages of market versus knowledge," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(6).
    2. Caplan, Arthur J. & Oladi, Reza, 2018. "Green competition, hybrid equilibrium, and establishment of a resale market," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 259-269.
    3. Hossain, Mohammed Sawkat, 2021. "Merger & Acquisitions (M&As) as an important strategic vehicle in business: Thematic areas, research avenues & possible suggestions," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    4. Shu, Jinhao, 2021. "The M&A Behavior of Family Firms," Junior Management Science (JUMS), Junior Management Science e. V., vol. 6(4), pages 673-699.
    5. Li, Xue & Anwar, Sajid & Peng, Fei, 2022. "Cross-border acquisitions and the performance of Chinese publicly listed companies," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 575-588.
    6. Yue Gu & Shenglin Ben & Jiamin Lv, 2022. "Peer Effect in Merger and Acquisition Activities and Its Impact on Corporate Sustainable Development: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-20, March.
    7. George Marian AEVOAE, 2018. "How Can We Create Value From Enterprise Concentrations? A Meta-Analysis Of The Scientific Literature On M&As In The European Union," EURINT, Centre for European Studies, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, vol. 5, pages 63-87.

    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. Ronald B. Davies & Rodolphe Desbordes & Anna Ray, 2015. "Greenfield versus Merger & Acquisition FDI: Same Wine, Different Bottles?," Working Papers 201503, School of Economics, University College Dublin.
    2. Maria Borga & Perla Ibarlucea Flores & Monika Sztajerowska, 2020. "Drivers of divestment decisions of multinational enterprises - A cross-country firm-level perspective," OECD Working Papers on International Investment 2019/03, OECD Publishing.
    3. Ronald B. Davies, 2018. "From China with Love: The Role of FDI from Third Countries on EU Competition and R&D Activities," Working Papers 201813, School of Economics, University College Dublin.
    4. Mariam Camarero & Laura Montolio & Cecilio Tamarit, 2019. "Determinants of German outward FDI: variable selection using Bayesian statistical," Working Papers 1906, Department of Applied Economics II, Universidad de Valencia.
    5. Camarero, Mariam & Montolio, Laura & Tamarit, Cecilio, 2019. "What drives German foreign direct investment? New evidence using Bayesian statistical techniques," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 326-345.
    6. Ronald B. Davies & Rodolphe Desbordes & Anna Ray, 2018. "Greenfield versus merger and acquisition FDI: Same wine, different bottles?," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 51(4), pages 1151-1190, November.
    7. Takechi, Kazutaka, 2011. "R&D intensity and domestic and cross-border M&A of Japanese firms before domestic M&A deregulation," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 23(2), pages 112-118, March.
    8. Breinlich, Holger, 2008. "Trade liberalization and industrial restructuring through mergers and acquisitions," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(2), pages 254-266, December.
    9. Bruce A. Blonigen & Lionel Fontagné & Nicholas Sly & Farid Toubal, 2019. "Cherries for Sale: The Incidence and Timing of Cross-border M&A," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Foreign Direct Investment, chapter 4, pages 121-177, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    10. Laurent Frésard & Ulrich Hege & Gordon Phillips, 2017. "Extending Industry Specialization through Cross-Border Acquisitions," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 30(5), pages 1539-1582.
    11. Bai, Ye & Girma, Sourafel & Riaño, Alejandro, 2024. "Corporate acquisitions and firm-level uncertainty: Domestic versus cross-border deals," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    12. Ray, Anna, 2016. "Expanding Multinationals - Conglomerate M&A and Activity-Basket Proximity," Conference papers 332693, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    13. Stiebale, Joel, 2013. "The impact of cross-border mergers and acquisitions on the acquirers' R&D — Firm-level evidence," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 31(4), pages 307-321.
    14. Steven Brakman & Harry Garretsen & Charles van Marrewijk & Arjen van Witteloostuijn, 2023. "The location of cross‐border and national mergers and acquisitions within the United States," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 177-206, January.
    15. Bruce A. Blonigen & Lionel Fontagné & Nicholas Sly & Farid Toubal, 2012. "Cherries for Sale: Export Networks and the Incidence of Cross-Border M&A," NBER Working Papers 18414, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    16. Desbordes, Rodolphe & Wei, Shang-Jin, 2017. "The effects of financial development on foreign direct investment," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 153-168.
    17. Li, Linjie & Liu, Xiaming & Yuan, Dong & Yu, Miaojie, 2017. "Does outward FDI generate higher productivity for emerging economy MNEs? – Micro-level evidence from Chinese manufacturing firms," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(5), pages 839-854.
    18. Philipp Harms & Pierre-Guillaume Méon, 2013. "The Growth Effects of Greenfield Investment and Mergers and Acquisitions: Econometric Investigation and Implication for MENA Countries," Working Papers 794, Economic Research Forum, revised Nov 2013.
    19. Alquist, Ron & Berman, Nicolas & Mukherjee, Rahul & Tesar, Linda L., 2019. "Financial constraints, institutions, and foreign ownership," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 63-83.
    20. Volker Nocke & Stephen Yeaple, 2008. "An Assignment Theory of Foreign Direct Investment," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 75(2), pages 529-557.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    FDI; Cross-border mergers and acquisitions;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:eee:ecofin:v:42:y:2017:i:c:p:20-37. 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: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/inca/620163 .

    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.