Impact of Acquisition on cost efficiency, operational hedging and returns of acquirer firms in Pakistan

Abstract

The current study is aimed at checking the impact of the acquisition on the various short-run and long-run firm characteristics like abnormal returns, cost efficiency, and operational hedging of acquirer firms. Results have been analyzed for Pakistan Stock Exchange for a period of 2006 to 2019.  The acquisition may signal the future prospects of both acquirer and target firms.  The event study technique indicates the significant abnormal returns after 3 days of the acquisition announcement. However, pre-event statistics indicate abnormal returns for 5 out of 7 days before acquisition announcement. Researchers have calculated the cost efficiency scores for bidding firms three years prior to the acquisition and three years post-acquisition. Overall results suggest an improvement in the efficiency of the financial firms' overtime period. The non-financial sector is indicating opposite results where most of the firms are showing a declining trend in efficiency after the acquisition. Next, the impact of the acquisition on the operational volatility is checked. The empirical results have shown a large level decrease in the operational income volatility after the takeover deal. It shows that combined firms after acquisition brings the benefit of diversification thus reducing volatility and increasing operational hedging which may ultimately reduce financial hedging. The findings of the study may help regulators as well as acquiring companies to know the potential effects of the acquisition announcement.