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Management buyouts in times of economic policy uncertainty

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  • Hammer, Benjamin
  • Mettner, Sven
  • Schweizer, Denis
  • Wünsche, Norbert

Abstract

Using a sample of 18,225 global buyouts, we find that management buyouts (MBOs) are significantly more likely to occur if economic policy uncertainty (EPU) increases. This finding is consistent with the idea that EPU provides an opportunity for insiders to capitalize on private information and time the market. Further results suggest that market timing pays off on average. We find that MBOs achieve more favorable buyout prices and greater post-buyout operating improvements than institutional buyouts during times of high EPU. Our results hold when exploiting close national election races as a quasi-natural experiment for EPU.

Suggested Citation

  • Hammer, Benjamin & Mettner, Sven & Schweizer, Denis & Wünsche, Norbert, 2023. "Management buyouts in times of economic policy uncertainty," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:52:y:2023:i:c:s1544612322006754
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2022.103499
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    1. Bai, Yiran & Tang, Shichao & Lu, Chunxian & Chen, Beier & Yan, Minghui, 2023. "Economic policy uncertainty and natural resource policy in the United States," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Private equity (PE); Economic policy uncertainty (EPU); Leveraged buyout; Management buyout; Entrepreneurial finance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets
    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • G24 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Investment Banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance

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