ISBN:  Unavailable

Category: Unavailable

Page count: 58

We document market anticipation of merger bids and that less anticipated bids earn significantly higher announcement returns. Subsequent bidders experience significant and positive returns surrounding initial industry bid announcements. These results suggest that announcement period returns underestimate the wealth effects of bidding. After recognizing anticipation, bidding activity is, on average, a significant wealth-creating event. Moreover, bidders pursuing public targets increase shareholder wealth and bidders in stock swaps do not lose. These results are in contrast to conventional wisdom. Our results shed light on the correct magnitude of acquisition returns and on information transfer throughout an industry surrounding an economic shock.