Profile of multiple versus single acquirers and their targets : a research note

Few studies have addressed the pre-take-over financial characteristics of multiple versus single acquirers and their targets. Therefore this study investigates whether multiple acquirers, with some experience in acquiring companies, might acquire firms with different (better) financial characteristics than single acquirers. Our results confirm this hypothesis in multiple ways. It seems that multiple acquirers look for complementary firms in terms of sales and growth. Multiple acquirers specifically want to acquire companies with a high sales generating ability in order to improve their own sales generating ability.