Measuring the Value of Strategic Alliances in the Wake of a Financial Implosion: Evidence from Japan's Financial Services Sector

54 Pages Posted: 11 Nov 2008

See all articles by Ingyu Chiou

Ingyu Chiou

Eastern Illinois University

Lawrence J. White

Stern School of Business, New York University; New York University (NYU) - Leonard N. Stern School of Business, Department of Economics

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Date Written: October 2003

Abstract

This paper examines the wealth effects of financial-institution strategic alliances on the shareholders of the newly allied firms. Our paper is different from previous studies of non-financial joint ventures, financial and non-financial mergers and acquisitions, and non-financial strategic alliances in three important aspects/ways: First, we focus on financial institutions that form strategic alliances. Second, while most related studies use U.S. data, this paper employs Japanese data for the late 1990s, directly testing financial theory in a different setting. Finally, we study whether different types of alliances result in differing magnitudes of stock market responses.Our primary results are as follows: First, we find that a strategic alliance, on average, increases the value of the partner firms. This is consistent with the â¬Ssynergyâ¬? hypothesis. Second, the gains from the alliance are spread more widely among the partners than would be suggested by a random alternative, supporting a â¬Swin-winâ¬? hypothesis. Third, smaller partners tend to experience larger percentage gains, which is consistent with a â¬Srelative sizeâ¬? hypothesis. Fourth, the market values inter-group alliance announcements more than intra-group alliance announcements; the latter may well be seen as redundant. This is consistent with an â¬Sinter-group synergiesâ¬? hypothesis. Fifth, we do not find a significant difference in the abnormal returns showed by domestic-foreign alliances and domestic-domestic alliances, although both sets of alliances show significantly positive returns. We thus do not find support for a â¬Sforeign firm superiorâ¬? hypothesis. Finally, we find that an investment-banking alliance has a strong positive effect on abnormal returns, indicating that investment banking, which has been underdeveloped in Japan relative to the U.S., may be a promising business for financial institutions.Overall, this paper complements the existing literature in that we analyze the value of financial institution alliances. Our analysis reconfirms that strategic alliances are value-enhancing. This is consistent with previous studies that find increased value in the announcement of a strategic alliance or a merger. Our results are consistent with the notion that financial deregulation tends to increase competition, which, in turn, encourages firms to adopt aggressive corporate strategies. This is viewed as a positive move by investors, as evidenced by the average gains of the shareholders of these alliance-forging firms.

Suggested Citation

Chiou, Ingyu and White, Lawrence J. and White, Lawrence J., Measuring the Value of Strategic Alliances in the Wake of a Financial Implosion: Evidence from Japan's Financial Services Sector (October 2003). NYU Working Paper No. S-FI-03-09, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1297776

Ingyu Chiou (Contact Author)

Eastern Illinois University ( email )

Charleston, IL 61920-3099
United States

Lawrence J. White

New York University (NYU) - Leonard N. Stern School of Business, Department of Economics ( email )

44 West 4th Street
Suite 9-160
New York, NY NY 10012
United States

Stern School of Business, New York University ( email )

44 West 4th Street
New York, NY 10012
United States
212-998-0880 (Phone)
212-995-4218 (Fax)

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