Financial Statement Comparability and the Efficiency of Acquisition Decisions

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Chen, Ciao-Wei; Collins, Daniel W.; Kravet, Todd D.; Mergenthaler, Richard D.
• 署名单位: University of Illinois System; University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; University of Iowa; University of Connecticut; University of Arizona
• 刊物名称: CONTEMPORARY ACCOUNTING RESEARCH
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0823-9150
• DOI: 10.1111/1911-3846.12380
• 发表日期: 2018
• 页码: 164-202
• 关键词: MANDATORY IFRS ADOPTION; free cash flow; corporate governance; earnings quality; AGENCY COSTS; Accounting information; Investment decisions; Ownership structure; bad acquisitions; firm

摘要

This study examines whether acquirers make better acquisition decisions when target firms' financial statements exhibit greater comparability with industry peer firms. We predict and find that acquirers make more profitable acquisition decisions when target firms' financial statements are more comparableas evidenced by higher merger announcement returns, higher acquisition synergies, and better future operating performance. We also find that post-acquisition goodwill impairments and post-acquisition divestitures are less likely when target firms' financial statements are more comparable. Finally, we find that acquirers benefit most from comparability when acquirers' ex ante information asymmetry is higher, acquirers operate in volatile operating environments, and management knows relatively less about the target. In total, our evidence suggests targets' financial statement comparability helps acquirers make better acquisition-investment decisions and fosters more efficient capital allocation.