Financing Bidders in Takeover Contests
53 Pages Posted: 16 Mar 2012 Last revised: 8 Jun 2019
Date Written: November 30, 2014
Abstract
This paper argues that endogenizing how acquirers finance their cash bids is just as important for understanding bidding in takeovers as endogenizing acquirers' payment method choice. The paper shows that acquirers finance their cash bids with equity only if they lack access to competitive financing. This leads to underbidding and lower takeover premiums. Conversely, competitive financing results in debt financing for cash bids and overbidding. Endogenizing the payment method reveals that premiums are lower when acquirers offer securities instead of cash financed at competitive terms. These insights find empirical support and could help explain existing evidence, which contradicts prior theory.
Keywords: Takeover premia, acquirer financing, takeover contests, financial constraints, security design
JEL Classification: D44, G32, G33, G34
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation