IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/pacfin/v85y2024ics0927538x24001471.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Cross-border acquisitions: The case of SPACs

Author

Listed:
  • Emm, Ekaterina E.
  • Han, Bo
  • Li, Bochen

Abstract

We examine one aspect of special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) in the U.S. market, namely their focus on foreign targets. Using a sample of 1737 SPAC IPO filings and 537 SPAC mergers with targets from 28 countries between 2003 and 2022, we study both the geographic preference revealed in SPACs' IPO filings and the geographic location of target firms in the subsequent acquisitions. Our results show that 69% of SPACs with a declared foreign focus are subsequently successful in acquiring a foreign target. However, they take longer time to identify and complete mergers compared to those with a domestic focus. When a merger is announced, SPACs with U.S. targets exhibit significantly higher announcement returns compared to those with foreign targets, with an even more pronounced difference when targets are from China or other emerging markets. Post merger, all SPACs exhibit poor market-adjusted returns. SPACs with Chinese targets suffer the worst one-year post-merger stock performance, whereas those with targets from other emerging markets perform considerably better than the rest of their peers. Further examination suggests that country-level factors, such as investor protection and accounting standards, are significant determinants in post-merger market performance of SPACs engaged in cross-border acquisitions.

Suggested Citation

  • Emm, Ekaterina E. & Han, Bo & Li, Bochen, 2024. "Cross-border acquisitions: The case of SPACs," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pacfin:v:85:y:2024:i:c:s0927538x24001471
    DOI: 10.1016/j.pacfin.2024.102396
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0927538X24001471
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.pacfin.2024.102396?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. Miguel A. Ferreira & Massimo Massa & Pedro Matos, 2010. "Shareholders at the Gate? Institutional Investors and Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 23(2), pages 601-644, February.
    2. Sarkissian, Sergei & Schill, Michael J., 2016. "Cross-Listing Waves," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 51(1), pages 259-306, February.
    3. Djankov, Simeon & La Porta, Rafael & Lopez-de-Silanes, Florencio & Shleifer, Andrei, 2008. "The law and economics of self-dealing," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(3), pages 430-465, June.
    4. Mark Humphery-Jenner & Zacharias Sautner & Jo-Ann Suchard, 2017. "Cross-border mergers and acquisitions: The role of private equity firms," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(8), pages 1688-1700, August.
    5. Sergei Sarkissian & Michael J. Schill, 2009. "Are there permanent valuation gains to overseas listing?," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 22(1), pages 371-412, January.
    6. Chemmanur, Thomas J. & He, Jie, 2011. "IPO waves, product market competition, and the going public decision: Theory and evidence," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 101(2), pages 382-412, August.
    7. Denise A. Jones, 2007. "Voluntary Disclosure in R&D†Intensive Industries," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 24(2), pages 489-522, June.
    8. Dang, Man & Henry, Darren & Yin, Xiangkang & Vo, Thuy Anh, 2018. "Target corporate governance, acquirers' location choices, and partial acquisitions," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 82-104.
    9. Indrarini Laksmana, 2008. "Corporate Board Governance and Voluntary Disclosure of Executive Compensation Practices," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(4), pages 1147-1182, December.
    10. Busaba, Walid Y. & Guo, Lin & Sun, Zhenzhen & Yu, Tong, 2015. "The dark side of cross-listing: A new perspective from China," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 1-16.
    11. Arturo Bris & Christos Cabolis, 2008. "The Value of Investor Protection: Firm Evidence from Cross-Border Mergers," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 21(2), pages 605-648, April.
    12. Ekaterina E. Emm & Gerald D. Gay & Honglin Ren, 2019. "Corporate risk exposures, disclosure, and derivatives use: A longitudinal study," Journal of Futures Markets, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 39(7), pages 838-864, July.
    13. Shachmurove, Yochanan & Vulanovic, Milos, 2017. "U.S. SPACs with a focus on China," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 1-18.
    14. Cong Wang & Fei Xie, 2009. "Corporate Governance Transfer and Synergistic Gains from Mergers and Acquisitions," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 22(2), pages 829-858, February.
    15. Aggarwal, Reena & Erel, Isil & Ferreira, Miguel & Matos, Pedro, 2011. "Does governance travel around the world? Evidence from institutional investors," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 100(1), pages 154-181, April.
    16. Elizabeth Blankespoor & Bradley E. Hendricks & Gregory S. Miller & Douglas R. Stockbridge, 2022. "A Hard Look at SPAC Projections," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(6), pages 4742-4753, June.
    17. Dan W. French & Thibaut G. Morillon & Adam S. Yore & Andrew E. Kern, 2023. "The impact of exchange listing on corporate governance: Evidence from direct listings," The Financial Review, Eastern Finance Association, vol. 58(2), pages 197-234, May.
    18. Eng, L. L. & Mak, Y. T., 2003. "Corporate governance and voluntary disclosure," Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, Elsevier, vol. 22(4), pages 325-345.
    19. Francis, Bill B. & Hasan, Iftekhar & Sun, Xian, 2008. "Financial market integration and the value of global diversification: Evidence for US acquirers in cross-border mergers and acquisitions," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 32(8), pages 1522-1540, August.
    20. Jennifer Francis & Dhananjay Nanda & Per Olsson, 2008. "Voluntary Disclosure, Earnings Quality, and Cost of Capital," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(1), pages 53-99, March.
    21. Kolb, Johannes & Tykvová, Tereza, 2016. "Going public via special purpose acquisition companies: Frogs do not turn into princes," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 80-96.
    22. Ekaterina E. Emm & Gerald D. Gay & Chen‐Miao Lin, 2007. "Choices and Best Practice in Corporate Risk Management Disclosure," Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Morgan Stanley, vol. 19(4), pages 82-93, September.
    23. Stephen R. Foerster & G. Andrew Karolyi, 1999. "The Effects of Market Segmentation and Investor Recognition on Asset Prices: Evidence from Foreign Stocks Listing in the United States," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 54(3), pages 981-1013, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Polovina, Nereida & Peasnell, Ken, 2020. "Do minority acquisitions transfer better corporate governance practices? An analysis of UK's cross-border minority investments," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 52(3).
    2. Chinmoy Ghosh & Fan He, 2015. "Investor Protection, Investment Efficiency and Value: The Case of Cross-Listed Firms," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 44(3), pages 499-546, September.
    3. Allaya, Manel & Derouiche, Imen & Muessig, Anke, 2022. "Voluntary disclosure, ownership structure, and corporate debt maturity: A study of French listed firms," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    4. Ghosh, Chinmoy & He, Fan & Zhou, Haoyong, 2021. "On the role of foreign directors: Evidence from cross-listed firms," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 177-202.
    5. Sarkissian, Sergei & Schill, Michael, 2010. "Why are U.S. firms listed in foreign markets worth more?," MPRA Paper 27543, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Col, Burcin & Errunza, Vihang, 2015. "Corporate governance and state expropriation risk," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 71-84.
    7. Fernandes, Nuno & Giannetti, Mariassunta, 2014. "On the fortunes of stock exchanges and their reversals: Evidence from foreign listings," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 23(2), pages 157-176.
    8. Thierry Foucault & Laurent Frésard, 2012. "Cross-Listing, Investment Sensitivity to Stock Price, and the Learning Hypothesis," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 25(11), pages 3305-3350.
    9. Pevzner, Mikhail & Xie, Fei & Xin, Xiangang, 2015. "When firms talk, do investors listen? The role of trust in stock market reactions to corporate earnings announcements," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(1), pages 190-223.
    10. Boubakri, Narjess & Cosset, Jean-Claude & Samet, Anis, 2010. "The choice of ADRs," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 34(9), pages 2077-2095, September.
    11. Xie, En & Reddy, K.S. & Liang, Jie, 2017. "Country-specific determinants of cross-border mergers and acquisitions: A comprehensive review and future research directions," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 52(2), pages 127-183.
    12. Feito-Ruiz, Isabel & Renneboog, Luc, 2017. "Takeovers and (excess) CEO compensation," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 156-181.
    13. Sarkissian, Sergei & Schill, Michael J., 2012. "The nature of the foreign listing premium: A cross-country examination," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 36(9), pages 2494-2511.
    14. Irene Karamanou & George P. Nishiotis, 2009. "Disclosure and the Cost of Capital: Evidence from the Market's Reaction to Firm Voluntary Adoption of IAS," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(7‐8), pages 793-821, September.
    15. Zhu, Bing & Xia, Xiaoxue & Zheng, Xiaojia, 2021. "One way out of the share pledging quagmire: Evidence from mergers and acquisitions," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    16. 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.
    17. Ghadhab, Imen, 2021. "Cross-listing and the alignment between short and long-run performance," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    18. Zhou, Jing & Lan, Wei, 2018. "Investor protection and cross-border acquisitions by Chinese listed firms: The moderating role of institutional shareholders," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 438-450.
    19. Imen Ghadhab, 2021. "Cross-listing and crisis," Journal of Asset Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(7), pages 539-558, December.
    20. Jiang, Li & Kim, Jeong-Bon & Pang, Lei, 2013. "Insiders’ incentives for asymmetric disclosure and firm-specific information flows," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(9), pages 3562-3576.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Special purpose acquisition company; SPAC; Cross-border mergers and acquisitions; Merger; IPO; Emerging markets; China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F21 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Investment; Long-Term Capital Movements
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • M13 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - New Firms; Startups

    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:pacfin:v:85:y:2024:i:c:s0927538x24001471. 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/pacfin .

    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.