Acquisition of Private Firms

Date Issued:: 2018
Abstract/Description:: Mergers and acquisitions (M&As) of private target firms is a common phenomenon and being acquired is the desired outcome for some private firms, as it is the path to wealth creation for these firm’s owners and investors. However, this M&A type has received limited attention in the literature, especially from the perspective of the target firm. Furthermore, neither a theoretical model to explain the phenomenon where the goal of the target firm is to be acquired in M&A, nor an indicator to gauge wealth creation for such firms were identified in the review of the literature. This paper established that, because being acquired in a M&A may be the goal, the wealth generated from the M&A is the outcome or performance indicator for such firms. The outcomes of M&As depend, among other factors, on the acquiring firm’s perception of the target firm’s value. Thus, this paper coined the term ‘private firm’s attractiveness as an acquisition target’, and built on the resource based view of the firm and signaling theory to identify factors that influence a private firm’s attractiveness to acquirers. Furthermore, private firm’s attractiveness as an acquisition target was used as the bridge between the acquiring firm perspective and target firm perspective in a M&A. The resource-based view of the firm and the signaling theory were used jointly in building the theoretical framework for hypotheses development. Hypotheses were tested using a sample of 222 acquisitions of US private target firms by US public acquiring firms. Hierarchical regression with inverse mills ratio, as well as two-step Heckman model were used to address the potential selection hazard. Results provided strong support for most hypotheses, and showed that investor involvement, target firm’s industry innovativeness, and target firm’s emphasis on growth in human capital were positively related to the private firm’s attractiveness as an acquisition target. Furthermore, the effects of emphasis on growth in human capital were stronger when the target firm’s growth in revenue was lower and when the target firm operated in a more innovative industry. The effects of emphasis on growth in revenue were stronger when the target firm operated in a less innovative industry.

Title:	Acquisition of Private Firms.	85 views 60 downloads
Name(s):	Faifman, Leon, author Ellis, Kimberly, Thesis advisor Golden, Peggy, Thesis advisor Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor College of Business Department of Management
Type of Resource:	text
Genre:	Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Date Created:	2018
Date Issued:	2018
Publisher:	Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication:	Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form:	application/pdf
Extent:	148 p.
Language(s):	English
Abstract/Description:	Mergers and acquisitions (M&As) of private target firms is a common phenomenon and being acquired is the desired outcome for some private firms, as it is the path to wealth creation for these firm’s owners and investors. However, this M&A type has received limited attention in the literature, especially from the perspective of the target firm. Furthermore, neither a theoretical model to explain the phenomenon where the goal of the target firm is to be acquired in M&A, nor an indicator to gauge wealth creation for such firms were identified in the review of the literature. This paper established that, because being acquired in a M&A may be the goal, the wealth generated from the M&A is the outcome or performance indicator for such firms. The outcomes of M&As depend, among other factors, on the acquiring firm’s perception of the target firm’s value. Thus, this paper coined the term ‘private firm’s attractiveness as an acquisition target’, and built on the resource based view of the firm and signaling theory to identify factors that influence a private firm’s attractiveness to acquirers. Furthermore, private firm’s attractiveness as an acquisition target was used as the bridge between the acquiring firm perspective and target firm perspective in a M&A. The resource-based view of the firm and the signaling theory were used jointly in building the theoretical framework for hypotheses development. Hypotheses were tested using a sample of 222 acquisitions of US private target firms by US public acquiring firms. Hierarchical regression with inverse mills ratio, as well as two-step Heckman model were used to address the potential selection hazard. Results provided strong support for most hypotheses, and showed that investor involvement, target firm’s industry innovativeness, and target firm’s emphasis on growth in human capital were positively related to the private firm’s attractiveness as an acquisition target. Furthermore, the effects of emphasis on growth in human capital were stronger when the target firm’s growth in revenue was lower and when the target firm operated in a more innovative industry. The effects of emphasis on growth in revenue were stronger when the target firm operated in a less innovative industry.
Identifier:	FA00013168 (IID)
Degree granted:	Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018.
Collection:	FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s):	Includes bibliography.
Subject(s):	Mergers and Acquisitions Consolidation and merger of corporations Private companies
Held by:	Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Sublocation:	Digital Library
Persistent Link to This Record:	http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013168
Use and Reproduction:	Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction:	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution:	FAU
Is Part of Series:	Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.

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