novel word list of intangibles and apply it to takeover announcements. Deals presented with more “intangibles talk” complete … overoptimism. Overall, takeover announcements can provide important information regarding the quality of deals …

This paper analyzes the interaction between financial leverage and takeover activity. We develop a dynamic model of …, and takeover terms, in which the bidder with the lowest leverage wins the takeover contest. Based on the resulting … bidder is below the industry average and that acquirers should lever up after the takeover consummation. The model also …

more passive shareholders (lower ownership per non-institutional shareholder) are less likely to be takeover targets, less … likely to be acquired and command higher premiums. Using the adoption of anti-takeover law in Delaware as an exogenous shock … to anti-takeover protection, we show that the passiveness of shareholder base decreases as the takeover threat subsides …

This paper empirically evaluates two possible sources of large takeover premiums: preemptive bidding and target … resistance. We develop an auction model that features costly sequential entry of bidders in takeover contests and that … in the period 1988-2006. We find that target resistance is the main determinant of takeover premiums in 74% of successful …