In this paper we develop various measures of M&A failure for an intra-European
sample during the fifth takeover wave: inferior long-term stock performance,
inferior operating performance, and target divestment. After documenting the
extent of M&A failure, we test the relation between short-term abnormal returns at
deal announcement and M&A failure. We examine a sample where listed bidders
acquire listed targets (267 deals) as well as privately-held targets (336 deals). Our
results indicate M&A failure rates up to 50% in both samples. When acquirers
and targets are listed, lower M&A announcement returns are consistently and
significantly associated with higher M&A failure probabilities and long-term
losses. In contrast, when targets are privately held, we find no evidence of such
an association.
The