This study raises the question of whether the nature of the merger and acquisition (M&A) strategy per se, that is reflected throughout the M&A process, may lead to a potential…
Abstract
Purpose
This study raises the question of whether the nature of the merger and acquisition (M&A) strategy per se, that is reflected throughout the M&A process, may lead to a potential trade-off between the two main objectives of M&As – synergy success and efficiency gains, which may explain the high failure rate of the M&A strategy. The purpose of this paper is to present a mediation model to explore the potential trade-off that may exist between synergy success and efficiency gains. The model examines whether the change in the workforce size during the M&A process mediates the relationship between the types of M&A and M&A success, resulting in a trade-off.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses a sample of 394 public firms.
Findings
The study reveals that if the management over-increases the workforce size to realize the synergy potential, then it heightens the risk of the “win synergy-lose efficiency” trade-off, resulting in an increase in revenue growth but a decrease in profitability. The results even show that international M&As lead to an “over” increase in the workforce size to maximize the synergy potential, but at the same time, an increase in the workforce size harms the efficiency gains, resulting in a decrease in profitability. However, vertical and conglomerate M&As may lead neither to synergy success nor to efficiency gains, which reflects a situation of no benefits from the M&A for the acquirer.
Originality/value
The study emphasizes that one of the main challenges in the implementation of the M&A strategy is to strike a balance between the objective of improving efficiency through cutting costs and workforce reduction during the integration stage and the objective of realizing the synergy potential, despite the workforce reduction during the M&A process.
Details
Keywords
Due to the high failure rate of the M&A strategy, this paper aims to raise the question of whether the pre-M&A performances could predict integration success in cross-border M&As…
Abstract
Purpose
Due to the high failure rate of the M&A strategy, this paper aims to raise the question of whether the pre-M&A performances could predict integration success in cross-border M&As with the aim of reducing the integration risk. Cross-border M&A is considered an important strategy for gaining access to foreign markets, but at the same time, cross-border M&As involve a high risk for failure, particularly due to the problematic integration stage in cross-border M&As.
Design/methodology/approach
The study presents a research model that includes six pre-M&A performances – the revenue and profitability of the acquirer and the target, the revenue ratio and profitability ratio – with the aim of analysing if the pre-M&A performances could predict integration success. The sample of the study includes 68 public firms that were engaged in cross-border M&As from 13 countries. The database of the study is based on 272 annual reports (10-K) of the public companies that are included in the sample.
Findings
The results show that the revenue and profitability of the acquirer and the target predict integration success. However, the revenue ratio predicts integration success, but not the profitability ratio. The results also show that a larger target leads to a complicated integration process that ends in a failure of the integration stage, while a larger acquirer could help to facilitate the integration stage. The study also indicates that buying a small target in relation to the acquirer decreases the risks of the integration stage. Moreover, the pre-performances of the acquirer more predict integration success compared to the pre-performances of the target.
Originality/value
The study suggests that buying an inefficient target creates opportunities for removing redundancies, while buying profitable target may hinder the possibilities for eliminating duplicate jobs and operations. This mixed effect highlights the challenges in implementing of M&A strategy in cross-border-M&As.