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Do Private Equity Funds Always Pay Less? A Synergy-Related Explanation Based on Add-on Acquisitions

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  • Morkoetter, Stefan
  • Wetzer, Thomas

Abstract

We assess the pricing of transactions undertaken by private equity (PE) funds in comparison to the transactions of strategic acquirers and sellers and focus on synergy gains as an explanatory factor. Controlling for company and deal characteristics, we show that PE funds pay 20% less, on average, than strategic buyers for comparable target corporations (we refer to this as the PE discount). Supplementing the existing literature on the PE discount in M&A transactions, we show that in add-on transactions, this PE discount disappears. When PE funds benefit from synergies, they are willing to pay the same price level as strategic acquirers would do in comparable transactions. In line with this synergy-related explanation, we find that PE funds sell their portfolio companies to strategic acquirers at prices comparable to those of strategic sellers. In divestitures to other PE funds (secondary deals), the PE discount prevails.

Suggested Citation

  • Morkoetter, Stefan & Wetzer, Thomas, 2015. "Do Private Equity Funds Always Pay Less? A Synergy-Related Explanation Based on Add-on Acquisitions," Working Papers on Finance 1522, University of St. Gallen, School of Finance, revised Sep 2016.
    • Handle: RePEc:usg:sfwpfi:2015:22
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jenkinson, Tim & Morkoetter, Stefan & Schori, Tobias & Wetzer, Thomas, 2022. "Buy low, sell high? Do private equity fund managers have market timing abilities?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Private Equity; Corporate Finance; Mergers and Acquisitions; Takeover Premiums; Synergies; Add-on Acquisitions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets
    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • 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

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