Are fairness opinions fair? The case of mergers and acquisitions

Darren J. Kisgen, Jun Qian and Weihong Song

Journal of Financial Economics, 2009, vol. 91, issue 2, 179-207

Abstract: Over the period 1994-2003, 80% of targets and 37% of acquirers obtain a third-party assessment of the fairness of a merger or acquisition. These fairness opinions do not affect deal outcomes when used by targets, but they affect deal outcomes when used by acquirers. The deal premium is lower in transactions if the acquirer obtains a fairness opinion, and is further reduced if multiple advisors provide an opinion. However, the acquirer's announcement-period return is 2.3% lower if the acquirer has a fairness opinion, especially if the acquirer pays a high premium, indicating that investors are skeptical of these transactions.

Keywords: Fairness; opinion; Merger; Conflict; of; interest; Deal; premium; Announcement; return (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (44)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jfinec:v:91:y:2009:i:2:p:179-207

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