Bidder-Specific Synergies and the Evolution of Acquirer Returns

Bidder-Specific Synergies and the Evolution of Acquirer Returns

Olivier Dessaint, B. Espen Eckbo, Andrey Golubov

Series number :

Serial Number: 
767/2021

Date posted :

June 24 2021

Last revised :

June 24 2021
SSRN Share

Keywords

  • mergers and acquisitions • 
  • acquirer returns • 
  • bidder uniqueness • 
  • bidder-specific synergies

Largely constant average acquirer returns over the past four decades mask fundamental changes in the takeover market. Controlling for bidder composition, the common component of acquirer returns has increased by five percentage points relative to the 1980s. Offsetting this increase, the average bidder-specific component has declined.

We propose a theory of bidder-specific synergies to help interpret these opposing trends. In our theory and in the data, acquirer returns increase with the extent to which synergies are unique to that bidder. The composition effect reflects bidder uniqueness. Overall, the evidence is consistent with rising merger synergies that have become less bidder-specific.

Authors

Real name:
Olivier Dessaint