Impact of Domestic and Cross-Border Acquisitions on Acquirer Shareholders’ Wealth: Empirical Evidence from Indian Corporate

The present paper compares the impact of domestic acquisitions and cross-border acquisitions on Indian acquirer shareholders’ wealth during 2003-2008. A segregated analysis has also been conducted to measure the impact of stake/control acquired, based on a sample of acquisitions of 268 domestic and 255 target firms across border. Further, this paper also analyses the short-run performance of percentage of stake/control acquired in both type of acquisitions. The stake/control acquired is divided into two categories: (i) complete acquisition and (ii) partial/majority control acquisition. Event study methodology has been conducted to analyse the share price performance of Indian acquirers in short-term. The findings reveal that cross-border as well as domestic acquisitions enhance shareholders’ wealth of the acquirer company on the announcement. The results indicate that cross-border acquisitions generate higher returns than domestic acquisitions. Nonetheless, the segregated analysis makes it evident that the shareholders of acquiring firms of complete cross-border acquisitions earn higher abnormal returns (significant at 5 per cent). The abnormal returns are higher (though statistically insignificant) for partial/majority control domestic acquisitions.