Using a broad sample of merger announcements, I find unusual option volume right before these announcements. The abnormal option volume provides new information about the pre-merger stock price runup beyond what is incorporated in the stock market. I also find that there exists abnormal option...

Using a broad sample of merger announcements, I find unusual option volume right before these announcements, an abnormality which provides new information about the pre-merger stock price runup beyond what is incorporated in the stock market. I also find that there exists abnormal option pricing...

This paper examines the profitability of option-based merger arbitrage. A simple arbitrage strategy using stock options is designed to examine the merger arbitrage profitability from 1996 to 2008. This strategy takes long position on call options of target firms and put options of acquirer firms...