Cherry Picking in Cross-Border Acquisitions

45 Pages Posted: 6 Aug 2012

See all articles by E. Han Kim

E. Han Kim

University of Michigan, Stephen M. Ross School of Business

Yao Lu

Tsinghua University - School of Economics & Management

Date Written: August 5, 2012

Abstract

This paper attempts to explain the tendency of foreign acquirers to choose better performing firms in emerging markets, which limits underperforming firms’ access to foreign capital. Using a simple law and finance model, we offer an explanation based on emerging countries’ weaker investor protection (IP) compared to acquirers’ home countries, predicting a positive relation between the gap in the strength of IP (between acquiring and target countries) and the intensity to cherry pick. To test this prediction, we identify among our sample countries 20 economies that enacted major corporate governance reforms (CGRs). These CGRs change the gap in IP between an acquirer and a target country in a staggered fashion, enabling us to estimate differences-in-differences. Estimation results reveal that cherry picking moderates after a target country undertakes a CGR, which narrows the IP gap. Conversely, cherry picking intensifies after an acquirer’s home country enacts a CGR, which enlarges the IP gap. These results imply emerging economies must strengthen investor protection if they want to increase underperforming firms’ access to foreign capital.

Keywords: Investor Protection, Corporate Governance Reforms, Target Selection, Private Benefits of Control, Control Premiums

JEL Classification: F21, G34, K22

Suggested Citation

Kim, E. Han and Lu, Yao, Cherry Picking in Cross-Border Acquisitions (August 5, 2012). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2124713 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2124713

E. Han Kim (Contact Author)

University of Michigan, Stephen M. Ross School of Business ( email )

701 Tappan Street
Ann Arbor, MI MI 48109
United States
734-764-2282 (Phone)
734-763-3117 (Fax)

Yao Lu

Tsinghua University - School of Economics & Management ( email )

Beijing, 100084
China

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