We show how directors can set the strength of a firm's anti-takeover provisions in order to influence the investment-timing decision of a future empire-building CEO. The prospect of future hostile takeover attempts, which terminate the CEO's control benefits if successful, affects the CEO's...

Contingent future payments have gained a solid reputation as fundamental ingredients of business acquisition transactions. Earn-outs specifically are a species of contingent future payments that have proved helpful in a plethora of recent merger deals. An earn-out is payment for performance...

This paper analyzes the interaction between financial leverage and takeover activity. We develop a dynamic model of takeovers in which the financing strategies of bidding firms and the timing and terms of takeovers are jointly determined. In the paper, capital structure plays the role of a...

We compare how bond market access affects firms' investment decisions in the United States and the euro area. Having a bond rating enables US corporations to invest more and undertake more acquisitions. In contrast, in the euro area, bond ratings have no effect on investment decisions....

We compare how bond market access affects firms' investment decisions in the United States and the euro area. Having a bond rating enables US corporations to invest more and undertake more acquisitions. In contrast, in the euro area, bond ratings have no effect on investment decisions....

A large body of literature demonstrates that acquisitions are on average value-destroying for the acquirer. We investigate whether the change in the acquirer's information uncertainty contributes to acquirer wealth losses. Information uncertainty affects the discount rate (the cost of capital),...

Using a sample of U.S. mergers and acquisitions, this study evaluates how banking relationships influence acquirers' choice of financial advisors. Specifically, it examines: i) acquirers' previous relationships with advisors in various financial activities: M&A advisories, equity issuings and...

The literature on corporate acquisitions reports a persistent empirical regularity: acquisition announcements by small bidders create greater shareholder value than those by large bidders. This paper presents evidence that greater shareholder gains to small bidders' announcements reflect...

A large proportion of acquisitions results in shareholder wealth destruction. This study examines who is responsible for allowing bad acquisitions. Using a sample of 349 tax-free, stock-for-stock, pooling acquisitions over 1993-2001, the announcement period abnormal returns of acquirers are...