Post-Merger and Acquisition Performance and Risk Factors: An International Study

After the completion of a merger and acquisition (M&A), a number of factors may affect the performance, probability of default and actual delisting of the acquirer. In this paper, we present a simple methodology for identifying risk factors and then proceed to identify and investigate deal-related factors which may pose a risk to the survival of the acquirer after a deal is closed. We find that the method of financing and the differences in industry are the main deal-level risk factors to an M&A deal after it closes as they are associated with low performance, high probability of default and high likelihood of performance-induced delisting of acquirers post-merger. We find no support for the ownership level of the acquirer and the time until deal completion as a potential risk factor.