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Can firms learn by observing? Evidence from cross-border M&As

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  • Francis, Bill
  • Hasan, Iftekhar
  • Sun, Xian
  • Waisman, Maya

Abstract

In the presence of high uncertainty and limited experience, can observing the actions of other acquiring predecessors help firms make better acquisition decisions? Using a sample of cross-border M&As conducted by US acquirers in developing countries, we document a positive and significant relationship between an acquirer's performance and its predecessors' acquisition activity. This relationship is especially pronounced in the prevalence of news events about the outcome of predecessors' acquisitions, when predecessors consist of US peers from the same industry and/or when targets are based in culturally distant countries. Our findings shed light on one channel through which information spillovers across industries and acquiring firms could be a key driver of value creation in developing market cross-border M&As.

Suggested Citation

  • Francis, Bill & Hasan, Iftekhar & Sun, Xian & Waisman, Maya, 2014. "Can firms learn by observing? Evidence from cross-border M&As," Bank of Finland Research Discussion Papers 17/2014, Bank of Finland.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:bofrdp:rdp2014_017
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    2. Reddy, Kotapati Srinivasa, 2015. "Revisiting and Reinforcing the Farmers Fox Theory: A Study (Test) of Three Cases in Cross-border Inbound Acquisitions," MPRA Paper 63561, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 2015.
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    4. Yang Zhang, 2018. "Corporate Governance Effects on Risk Management and Shareholder Wealth: The Case of Mergers and Acquisitions," PhD Thesis, Finance Discipline Group, UTS Business School, University of Technology, Sydney, number 4-2018, January-A.
    5. Reddy, Kotapati Srinivasa, 2015. "Determinants of Cross-border Mergers and Acquisitions: A Comprehensive Review and Future Direction," MPRA Paper 63969, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 2015.
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    7. Mario Daniele Amore, 2020. "Innovation disclosure in times of uncertainty," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(4), pages 792-815, October.
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    11. Reddy, Kotapati Srinivasa, 2015. "Extant Reviews on Entry-mode/Internationalization, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Diversification: Understanding Theories and Establishing Interdisciplinary Research," MPRA Paper 63744, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 2015.
    12. Lawrence, Edward R. & Raithatha, Mehul & Rodriguez, Ivan, 2021. "The effect of cultural and institutional factors on initiation, completion, and duration of cross-border acquisitions," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
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    14. Huang, Wenxuan & Xu, Weidong & Li, Donghui & Zhao, Ling & Yang, Shijie, 2024. "Does market misvaluation drive cross-border M&As?," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    15. Chao Fu & Xiuyuan Deng & Hongfei Tang, 2023. "Who cares about corporate fraud? Evidence from cross-border mergers and acquisitions of Chinese companies," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 60(2), pages 747-789, February.
    16. 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.
    17. Wu, Cen & Yu, Xin & Zheng, Ying, 2020. "The spillover effect of financial information in mergers and acquisitions," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 52(4).
    18. Cookson, J. Anthony & Niessner, Marina & Schiller, Christoph M., 2022. "Can Social Media Inform Corporate Decisions? Evidence from Merger Withdrawals," SocArXiv 56yrj, Center for Open Science.
    19. Abdul Rashid & Ayanle Farah Said, 2024. "Peer Effects on Investment Decisions: Do Industry Leaders and Young Firms Behave Differently?," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 25(3), pages 791-811, June.
    20. Mazboudi, Mohamad & Khalil, Samer, 2017. "The attenuation effect of social media: Evidence from acquisitions by large firms," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 115-124.
    21. Jing Zhou & Yunwen Jiang & On Kit Tam & Wei Lan & Silin Ye, 2021. "Success in completing cross‐border acquisitions by emerging market firms: What matters?," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(7), pages 2128-2163, July.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D23 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Organizational Behavior; Transaction Costs; Property Rights
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • 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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