We analyze the characteristics of transactions in a comprehensive set of mergers and acquisitions based on SDC data from 1992 through 2009. We do not impose restrictions found in previous empirical work such as excluding private bidders, small targets or those deals with no target value...

Although the SEC's main charge is to ensure the disclosure of material information, it has not always consistently defined materiality. We show that acquisitions of privately-held targets classified as “insignificant” by the SEC appreciably affect market prices, and therefore are material by...