Using staggered changes in state corporate income tax rates, we document that firms are more likely to undertake an acquisition and pay cash for it when taxes increase. The likelihood is greater for financially constrained firms. We find no change in the CAR and takeover premia after tax...

We provide novel evidence of an economically significant “seller's put” implied in M&A deals. Sellers maintain extensive legal rights to walk away from an initial deal – presumably when their value increases – while bidders are more constrained in their ability to withdraw. We model M&A...