Green M&A Dilemma: Unravelling the Impact on High Polluting Enterprises’ Performance

Abstract

This paper investigates the impact of green mergers and acquisitions (M&As) on shareholder value within High Polluting Enterprises (HPEs). Analyzing 1,840 M&A transactions involving listed HPEs in China from 2012 to 2020, our study reveals a substantial decline in HPEs' performance post-green M&As. This effect is particularly pronounced among non-state-controlled HPEs, those with fewer financial constraints, and those with lower ESG performance. Additionally, channel analysis indicates that HPEs witness poorer post-green M&As performance when making higher cash payments or offering a premium. Overall, our findings suggest that HPEs may prioritize environmental goals in green M&As, potentially compromising shareholder value.

Keywords: M&A, High-pollution enterprises (HPEs), State ownership, Financial constraints, China