Do Bad Boards Allow Bad Acquisitions?

52 Pages Posted: 11 Feb 2009

See all articles by Shail Pandit

Shail Pandit

University of Illinois at Chicago; University of Illinois at Chicago

Date Written: February 10, 2009

Abstract

A large proportion of acquisitions results in shareholder wealth destruction. This study examines who is responsible for allowing bad acquisitions. Using a sample of 349 tax-free, stock-for-stock, pooling acquisitions over 1993-2001, the announcement period abnormal returns of acquirers are found to be negatively associated with weak corporate governance, e.g., staggered boards, infrequent board meetings and a single person serving as both the CEO and chairman. The presence of external stakeholders also influences announcement returns, which are positively associated with larger debt and stock ownership by trust funds. The presence of external monitors continues to be associated with superior performance in the long run, whereas the role of the board appears to diminish. Overall, the results indicate that active boards, stronger governance structures and external monitors are associated with value-enhancing acquisitions. In contrast, weak boards, dominant management and the absence of external monitoring appear to allow bad acquisitions to occur.

Keywords: mergers, acquisitions, takeovers, corporate governance, performance

JEL Classification: G14, G31, G34, L25, M41

Suggested Citation

Pandit, Shailendra and Pandit, Shailendra, Do Bad Boards Allow Bad Acquisitions? (February 10, 2009). UIC College of Business Administration Research Paper No. 09-05, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1340514 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1340514

Shailendra Pandit (Contact Author)

University of Illinois at Chicago ( email )

601 South Morgan Street
University Hall, Room 2303
Chicago, IL 60607
United States
(312) 355-1331 (Phone)
(312) 996-4520 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://business.uic.edu/faculty/shailendra-shail-pandit

University of Illinois at Chicago ( email )

601 South Morgan Street
2323 University Hall
Chicago, IL 60607
United States
(312) 355-1331 (Phone)
(312) 996-4520 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://business.uic.edu/faculty/shailendra-shail-pandit

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
206
Abstract Views
4,056
Rank
266,290
PlumX Metrics