IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijfss/v13y2025i1p19-d1582615.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Drivers of Merger and Acquisition Activities in Vietnam: Insights from Targets’ Perspectives and Deal Characteristics

Author

Listed:
  • Khoa Bui

    (State Bank of Vietnam, Ha Noi 10000, Vietnam)

  • Tu Le

    (Faculty of Banking & Finance, University of Economics and Law, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam
    Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam)

  • Thanh Ngo

    (School of Aviation, Massey University, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand
    Faculty of Political Economy, VNU University of Economics and Business, Hanoi 10000, Vietnam)

Abstract

This study empirically examines the determinants of merger and acquisition (M&A) activities in Vietnam from 2005 to 2020, which has not been examined before, using a fixed-effects model for a sample of 674 completed M&A deals. The results indicate that targets’ corporate governance and deal characteristics have mixed effects on M&A decisions. More specifically, the independent member of the board and CEO duality of the target is negatively associated with most M&A types, except for cross-border mergers. However, the impact of targets’ blockholders is consistently positive regardless of M&A types. When observing the deal characteristics, mixed evidence is also found in the case of M&A payment form, industry-relatedness between the bidder and the target, the bidder’s stake in the target, and foreign ownership in the bidder’s stake. More interesting, our study emphasizes that voluntary agreement is seemingly critical to M&A decisions regardless of different types. Our results suggest several important implications, including balancing independent directors on the board, accounting for CEOs’ and other blockholders’ interests and influence, considering the types of M&A payments, and involving foreign investors in M&A activities. By understanding these implications, firms can better navigate the complexities of M&A transactions, enhancing their decision-making processes and ultimately contributing to improved shareholder value.

Suggested Citation

  • Khoa Bui & Tu Le & Thanh Ngo, 2025. "Drivers of Merger and Acquisition Activities in Vietnam: Insights from Targets’ Perspectives and Deal Characteristics," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-20, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijfss:v:13:y:2025:i:1:p:19-:d:1582615
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7072/13/1/19/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7072/13/1/19/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Alcalde, Nuria & Powell, Ronan, 2022. "Government intervention in European mergers and acquisitions," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    2. Matvos, Gregor & Ostrovsky, Michael, 2008. "Cross-ownership, returns, and voting in mergers," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(3), pages 391-403, September.
    3. Pathan, Shams, 2009. "Strong boards, CEO power and bank risk-taking," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 33(7), pages 1340-1350, July.
    4. Juan Santalo & Manuel Becerra, 2008. "Competition from Specialized Firms and the Diversification–Performance Linkage," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 63(2), pages 851-883, April.
    5. Mikkelson, Wayne H. & Partch, M. Megan, 1989. "Managers' voting rights and corporate control," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 25(2), pages 263-290, December.
    6. Hollis A. Skaife & Daniel D. Wangerin, 2013. "Target Financial Reporting Quality and M&A Deals that Go Bust," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(2), pages 719-749, June.
    7. Jay C. Hartzell, 2004. "What's In It for Me? CEOs Whose Firms Are Acquired," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 17(1), pages 37-61.
    8. Malikov, Kamran & Demirbag, Mehmet & Kuvandikov, Azimjon & Manson, Stuart, 2021. "Workforce reductions and post-merger operating performance: The role of corporate governance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 109-120.
    9. Miletkov, Mihail K. & Poulsen, Annette B. & Babajide Wintoki, M., 2014. "The role of corporate board structure in attracting foreign investors," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 143-157.
    10. Patricia Pitcher & Samia Chreim & Veronika Kisfalvi, 2000. "CEO succession research: methodological bridges over troubled waters," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(6), pages 625-648, June.
    11. Otto, Florian & Sampaio, Joelson Oliveira & Silva, Vinicius Augusto Brunassi, 2021. "Domestic and cross-border effect of acquisition announcements: A short-term study for developed and emerging countries," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 38(C).
    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. Dang, Man & Henry, Darren, 2016. "Partial-control versus full-control acquisitions: Does target corporate governance matter? Evidence from eight East and Southeast Asian countries," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 40(PB), pages 251-265.
    2. Di Giuli, Alberta, 2013. "The effect of stock misvaluation and investment opportunities on the method of payment in mergers," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 21(C), pages 196-215.
    3. Vasilescu, Camelia & Millo, Yuval, 2016. "Do industrial and geographic diversifications have different effects on earnings management? Evidence from UK mergers and acquisitions," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 33-45.
    4. Bauguess, Scott W. & Moeller, Sara B. & Schlingemann, Frederik P. & Zutter, Chad J., 2009. "Ownership structure and target returns," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 15(1), pages 48-65, February.
    5. Fich, Eliezer M. & Harford, Jarrad & Tran, Anh L., 2015. "Motivated monitors: The importance of institutional investors׳ portfolio weights," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 118(1), pages 21-48.
    6. Elnahass, Marwa & Alharbi, Rana & Mohamed, Toka S. & McLaren, Josie, 2024. "Women directors’ attributes and demographics: New insights into bank risk," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    7. Zhou, Yifan & Kara, Alper & Molyneux, Philip, 2019. "Chair-CEO generation gap and bank risk-taking," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(4), pages 352-372.
    8. Heitzman, Shane, 2011. "Equity grants to target CEOs during deal negotiations," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 102(2), pages 251-271.
    9. Dang, Man & Henry, Darren & Hoang, Viet Anh Duong, 2017. "Target CEO age, ownership decisions, and takeover outcomes," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 769-783.
    10. Even-Tov, Omri & Lourie, Ben & Nekrasov, Alex & Zeng, Jean (Jieyin), 2024. "Failed acquisition offers: The impact of failure reasons on target valuation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    11. Grey, Colette & Flynn, Antoinette & Adu, Douglas A., 2024. "An examination of how executive remuneration and firm performance are influenced by Chair-CEO diversity attributes," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    12. Sokolyk, Tatyana, 2011. "The effects of antitakeover provisions on acquisition targets," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 17(3), pages 612-627, June.
    13. Elnahass, Marwa & Alharbi, Rana & Mohamed, Toka S. & McLaren, Josie, 2023. "The Nexus among board diversity and bank stability: Implications from gender, nationality and education," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    14. 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.
    15. Boone, Audra & Broughman, Brian & Macias, Antonio J., 2018. "Shareholder approval thresholds in acquisitions: Evidence from tender offers," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 225-245.
    16. Chung, Kee H. & Lee, Choonsik, 2020. "Voting methods for director election, monitoring costs, and institutional ownership," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    17. Owen, Ann L. & Temesvary, Judit, 2018. "The performance effects of gender diversity on bank boards," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 50-63.
    18. Bhatta, Bibek & Marshall, Andrew P. & Neupane-Joshi, Suman & Thapa, Chandra, 2021. "Foreign Ownership and the Enforcement of Corporate Governance Reforms," QBS Working Paper Series 2021/02, Queen's University Belfast, Queen's Business School.
    19. Qiu, Buhui & Trapkov, Svetoslav & Yakoub, Fadi, 2014. "Do target CEOs trade premiums for personal benefits?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 23-41.
    20. Basty, Nadia & Ghazouani, Ines & Jeriji, Maher, 2023. "How macroprudential regulation and board effectiveness interact to shape bank risk-taking behavior," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).

    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:gam:jijfss:v:13:y:2025:i:1:p:19-:d:1582615. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.