Our study provides evidence that target firms’ low-quality financial reporting has multiple consequences for M&A deals. First, we document that acquirers pay higher premiums for targets that have low-quality financial reporting. Second, we provide evidence that lowquality financial reporting by targets increases the likelihood that deals are renegotiated and, more importantly, terminated. Specifically, we find that almost 14 percent of all deals go bust, and low-quality financial reporting by targets increases the chances of termination by over 9 percent. Third, our research identifies a new determinant of financial statement restatements as we document failed targets are more likely than other firms to file restated financial statements. Finding failed targets are more likely than other publicly traded firms to restate their financial statements supports our claim that low-quality financial reporting contributes to M&A deals being terminated.
Prior literature examines the consequences of low-quality financial reporting, linking it to higher costs of debt and equity capital. Our paper offers new evidence on the consequences of low-quality financial reporting, specifically as it relates to the market for corporate control, as we show that low-quality financial reporting constrains the exchange of ownership and control via M&A. Future research can explore how low-quality financial reporting by targets in completed M&A deals affect the quality of financial reporting of the combined entity