Does M&A Pay? A Survey of Evidence for The Decision-Maker

Does M&A Pay? A Survey of Evidence for The Decision-Maker (2001)

by Robert F. Bruner

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Datum	Value	Source
TITLE	Does M&A Pay? A Survey of Evidence for The Decision-Maker	user correction
AUTHOR NAME	Robert F. Bruner	user correction
AUTHOR AFFIL	; Distinguished Professor of Business Administration and; Executive Director, Batten Institute; University of Virginia	user correction
ABSTRACT	In the wake of the largest M&A wave in history, it is appropriate to assess the evidence on the profitability of this activity. One popular view is that merger activity is highly unprofitable. Does research sustain this view? This paper reflects on what it means for M&A to “pay ” and summarizes the evidence from 130 studies from 1971 to 2001. The review comments on various research approaches, and highlights findings for the broad activity as well as niches of special note. The mass of research suggests that target shareholders earn sizable positive marketreturns, that bidders (with interesting exceptions) earn zero adjusted returns, and that bidders and targets combined earn positive adjusted returns. On balance, one should conclude that M&A does pay. But the broad dispersion of findings around a zero return to buyers suggests that executives should approach this activity with caution.	user correction
YEAR	2001	user correction
CITATIONS	129 found	ParsCit 1.0