Cross-border Merger and Acquisitions (M&As) are an increasingly important strategy adopted by firms in order to create value in fiercely competitive global markets. Cross-border M&A value creation, that is, wealth creation for shareholders from cross-border M&As, is therefore of considerable theoretical and practical importance. However, our understanding of the sources of cross-border M&A value creation remains limited. Researchers have found that the most commonly researched variables have little effect on cross-border M&A value creation. We therefore still do not understand the processes behind cross-border M&As. In this is dissertation I examine the main effects of host country regulatory, economic and physical infrastructure institutions on cross-border M&A value creation. I further examine the moderating effects of host country political institutions on the relationship between host country regulatory institutions and cross-border M&A value creation. Moreover, I investigate the effects of institutional distance between host and home country on cross-border M&A value creation. I argue that the effects of institutional distance (regulatory and economic distance) on cross-border M&A value creation are not symmetric, but rather the effects are contingent upon the direction of the distance. My hypotheses are tested on a sample of 6141 cross-border M&As between 1995 and 2003. Results of this analysis show that acquirers are more likely to create value by acquiring targets in countries with less advanced regulatory institutions. Further, my results indicate that host country political institutions positively moderate the relationship between host country regulatory institutions and cross-border M&A value creation. Host country economic institutions have an inverted U-shaped relationship with cross-border M&A value creation, and host country physical infrastructure institutions have a positive relationship with cross-border M&A value creation. Additionally, results show that there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between institutional distance and cross-border M&A value creation. The findings suggest that the effects of regulatory and economic institutional distance on cross-border M&A value creation are not symmetric. The effects are contingent upon the direction of the distance. That is whether the level of host country institutions is higher or lower than that of home country institutions. Implications for management and public policy are discussed.

This study examines the influence of host country economic development and cultural distance on the creation of firm value by UK-based firms through cross-border acquisitions, analyzing the announcement effect. To assess the announcement effect, the cumulative abnormal returns (CAR) of a seven-day trading window around the announcement date are used. The sample consists of 839 acquisitions by 280 firms in 41 countries from 1997-2019. The results show that more value is created when acquiring a target firm from a developing country and cultural distance negatively influences value creation. Further research is required to investigate if cultural distance has a moderating effect on the relationship between host country economic development and value creation.

There is a paradoxical realism as the number of cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&As) increases on a global scale, despite the fact that organizations’ failure rate to generate the expected value from these cross-border M&As remains high. Researchers have argued that these failures have been connected to the post-merger integration (PMI) process in which multiple challenges are imposed. However, the findings within the area are both limited and scattered, and researchers have emphasized the need to enhance the understanding of how different sociocultural factors impact the integration process of merging organizations in an international context.   Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate how sociocultural factors impact the PMI process in cross-border M&As. The empirical data was collected through a qualitative multiple case study from a Swedish company that has conducted numerous cross-border M&As. Four acquisitions in different international settings were examined, and 16 interviews were carried out with employees from both the case company and the acquired firms.   The findings demonstrate that sociocultural factors on four different levels need to be considered; national, company, team and individual. Interestingly, the findings highlight that there is no apparent connection concerning the level of psychic distance between national cultures and the challenges imposed in the PMI process, as previously suggested by research. However, national culture still matters, but this study suggests that the most substantial impact on the PMI process derives from sociocultural factors on a company cultural level. This is surprising as most research on culture has been focusing on the national level, and this suggests that future research should shift focus to incorporate and investigate additional levels of culture as well.

There is a paradox in the literature where the amount of cross-border M&As are increasing, even though there is a high volume of unsuccessful cross-border M&As. According to researchers, it can be due to lack of knowledge regarding the knowledge transfer process. Therefore, this study aims to grasp the technological knowledge transfer process and how enablers and constraints influence it during the post-acquisition phase. To fulfil the aim, data was collected through a qualitative case study where eight interviews were held with managersand non-managerial employees that had an important role in the studied technological knowledge transfer process. In addition, case documents were provided by the case company and a site visit was conducted. The results indicate that the technological knowledge transfer process is complex and dynamic, making it difficult to distinguish different phases as they overlap. The results also show that the technological knowledge transfer process is influencedby certain enablers and constraints, which in turn either facilitate or challenge the process. However, the enablers and constraints can vary depending on if the perspective of the senderor receiver of knowledge is applied.

Our purpose is to understand how learnings are drawn from previous experiences of cross-border acquisition integration, to later be utilized for integration of subsequent acquisitions. Elaborately, we intend to empirically study how learnings from previous endeavors are captured and built upon. Thus, there are two research questions given the sequence: learnings are first captured, then utilized. The study aims to extend current body of literature and deepening the understanding on deliberate learning through case study aspects. To answer this, we have constructed two research questions:    (1)  How can learnings be captured from previous experience in integration after cross-border acquisition?    (2)  How can learnings from previous experience of cross-border acquisition integration be utilized in subsequent deals?   The founding pillars of our literature review are perspectives on M&A and perspectives on learning. More specifically, the first perspective focuses on cross-border aspects and post-merger integration phases. Regarding the perspective on learning, our study particularly focuses on deliberate learning theory. Beyond named focus is dynamic capabilities, serial acquirers and previous experience discussed due to its connection to deliberate learning theory and our study. The literature review concludes in a theoretical tool, which summarizes the literature and is portrayed through a model.   The case study method was constructed with a qualitative and interpretive approach, which we found appropriate to reach a deeper in-depth understanding regarding the purpose and to answer our research questions. Six semi-structured interviews with managers were conducted to understand how they operated. We collected primary data by using snowball sampling and received secondary data of documentation from the studied firm. Further, this was qualitatively analyzed from a coding procedure of categories.    Our findings disclose how previous experience of post-merger integrations in cross-border acquisition is deliberately captured by our case company through learning mechanisms discussed in deliberate learning theory. The mechanisms are accordingly articulation, codification, sharing and internalizing. However, the findings disclosed a discrepancy between the literature and our empirical case due to the rotation of integration team members, which caused a disruption in sharing and internalizing of previous experience.    The contributions are both theoretical and managerial. First, the theoretical contribution is given through our revised theoretical tool, in which the findings regarding the different mechanisms are discussed and elaborated. The managerial findings provide recommendations in the assembling of an M&A integration team to preserve experience from previous endeavors and disseminate to new members.

由於科技進步、國與國之間的監管制度放寬，使得產業邁向全球化，進而帶動金融業的跨國併購浪潮，並開啟了併購領域之實證研究。過去學者對於銀行併購動機與併購績效之研究，所探討的因子層面有所不同，因此，本研究欲探討影響銀行進行跨國併購動機的國家特性差異，對主併銀行的併購績效有何影響。 由SDC併購資料庫選取2002年至2014年，已開發和新興市場國家之商業銀行跨國併購案件作為研究樣本，以事件研究法探討主併國與被併國之國家特性因子，如：經濟規模、經濟成長率、金融產業發展程度，以及兩國間心理距離等，對主併銀行宣告效果之影響。 結果發現僅目標國之金融產業發展程度與主併銀行宣告效果呈顯著負相關，即併購金融發展程度較低的國家銀行，能為主併銀行獲得更多成長機會，故市場對於主併銀行短期的績效反應較為正面，主併銀行擁有正的異常報酬。 此實證結果符合「獲利機會理論 (Focarelli and Pozzolo, 2001b) 」故當銀行選擇併購策略時，建議可考慮往金融產業發展程度較低的新興市場國家，以獲取更多的成長機會與獲利空間。 / With the advancement of technology and deregulation between countries, industries around the world have entered into a globalized era. Therefore, waves of cross-border merger and acquisition (M&A) among financial institutions have opened new area in M&A empirical research. Different factors were used in previous literatures on M&A motives and performance. As a result, this study examines whether country characteristic factors, which influence acquirer’s M&A motives, have impact on acquirer’s announcement effect. We use event study methodology with 105 final samples, which made of listed commercial banks in developed and emerging market countries (EMC) between 2002 and 2014, to analyze the effects of country characteristic factors (like GDP, GDP growth, financial development, and psychic distance) on the acquirer’s short-term performance. According to our results, we find that: First, on average, the acquirer’s announcement effect of EMC is higher than developed countries, but it is not statistically significant. Second, only the degree of financial development in target countries has significant impact on acquirer’s announcement effect, which is consistent with profit opportunity theory. Therefore, we suggest that acquirers can target commercial banks in financially underdeveloped countries to obtain more growth and profit opportunity.

Le sujet de cette thèse de doctorat s’articule autour de l’analyse des politiques de la Chine, des investissements directs étrangers, et de la collaboration internationale en matière d’innovation. Le premier chapitre, co-écrit avec Ilja Rudyk, explore la montée des inventions chinoises en Europe, ainsi que le développement des politiques d’innovation de la Chine. Notre étude évalue les effets de ces politiques sur la propriété nationale dans les technologies stratégiques en utilisant des données sur les brevets européens. De plus, notre méthodologie permet d’évaluer les effets de ces politiques sur les caractéristiques des brevets, réémettant la qualité de ces derniers. Le second chapitre est un travail conjoint avec Anthony Howell et Jia Lin qui examine les effets des fusions et acquisitions transfrontalières sur les innovations chinoises et sur la performance financière des entreprises qui réalisent ces investissements directs étrangers. Le troisième chapitre traite de la relation entre la collaboration internationale et la qualité des brevets en analysant les demandes de brevet chinois en Europe. Il examine la structure des co-inventions internationales chinoises en Europe et analyse le rôle que joue les co-inventions transfrontalières sur la qualité des demandes de brevet chinoises à l’étranger. Ce chapitre contribue ainsi à la compréhension de l’internationalisation et du rattrapage technologique de la Chine. / The subject of this doctoral thesis revolves around the analysis of China’s policies, foreign direct investment, and international collaboration with regard to innovation. Chapter one, co-written with Ilja Rudyk, explores the rise of Chinese inventions in Europe, China’s innovation policies, and assesses their effect with regard to domestic ownership in strategic technologies through the lens of European patent data. Further, our methodology allows for an assessment of effects of the policies on characteristics of the patents, reflecting their quality. Chapter two, joint work with Anthony Howell and Jia Lin, investigates the effects of Chinese cross-border mergers and acquisitions on the domestic innovation activities and financial performance of the firms engaging in such foreign direct investment. The third chapter addresses the relationship between international collaboration and patent quality through an analysis of Chinese patent applications in Europe. It investigates the pattern of Chinese international co-inventions in Europe and scrutinizes the role cross-border co-invention play for the quality of Chinese overseas patent applications. It thereby contributes to the understanding of China’s internationalization and technological catch-up.

This dissertation identifies key determinants of outbound cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&As) by emerging Asian acquirers during 2001-2012. Using a zero-inflated model that takes into account different mechanisms governing country pairs that never engage in cross-border M&As and country pairs that actively participate in cross-border M&As, I uncover unique patterns for emerging Asian acquirers. Emerging Asian acquirers originate from countries with lower corporate tax rates than those countries where their targets are located. Furthermore, the negative impact of an international double tax burden is significantly larger than that found in previous studies. While country governance differences and geographical and cultural differences are important determinants of international M&As, relative valuation effects are muted. Coefficients of these determinants vary substantially, depending on whether targets are located in developing or advanced nations. Also, determinants differ considerably between active and non-active players in cross-border M&As. Moreover, comparisons of empirical models illustrate that estimating a non-linear model and taking into account both the bounded nature and non-normal distributions of fractional response variables lead to different inferences from those drawn from a linear model estimated by the ordinary least squares method. Overall, emerging Asian acquirers approach the deals differently from patterns documented in developed markets. So, when evaluating foreign business combinations or devising policies, managers or policymakers should consider these differences.

Cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have become a prominent internationalization and growth strategy of today’s global business landscape. However, the practice faces significant failure in terms of value creation. To this end, the post-merger integration of information systems (IS) is critical for the failure rate of M&As due to the complexity and ambiguity of how and what systems should be consolidated. Research has been carried out to provide frameworks illustrating IS integration methods and the relationship between business strategies and IS integration strategies but omits potential factors that influence the level of IS integration. Hence, the aim of this study is to examine what factors influence how information systems are integrated in cross-border M&As. This was carried out through a qualitative multiple-case study of 9 Swedish multinational corporations with recent M&A activity. The study finds that there are five IS integration methods, one of which was added by this study in order to cover all levels of how IS are integrated. Additionally, a mixture of factors was found to influence specific IS integration methods where the M&A context, design of the IS integration, and organizational characteristics were on a general level found to be most influential. This suggests previous findings focused on alignment of business strategies and IS integration strategies need a nuanced view to further explain the failure rates of M&As.

全球化下，企業之競爭日益激烈且為了整合資源與拓展新市場，全球跨國購併案件逐漸增加。全球跨國購併案件增加的同時，也彰顯了財務顧問在跨國購併案件中扮演之角色與價值。財務顧問之職責主要為客戶降低各方面之成本，以及為客戶談妥好議價、購併後帶來綜效。本研究主要從財務顧問之角度出發，探討不同特性財務顧問之價值以及聚焦在跨國購併案件。跨國購併案件較複雜，更能彰顯財務顧問在跨國購併案件中之價值與效應。 本研究主要從兩個角度探討不同特性之財務顧問，分別為精品（Boutique）之財務顧問以及過去績效好之財務顧問，探究兩者在跨國購併案件中能為主併公司帶來多少價值。更進一步探究，在不同且複雜之交易特性下，不同特性之財務顧問在跨國購併案件中能為主併公司帶來何價值。 本研究之結果發現，精品（Boutique）財務顧問與過去三年績效佳之財務顧問，兩者皆能為主併公司帶來顯著的正向效應。且在跨國購併案件中，若被併公司屬於未上市公司，兩種特性之財務顧問皆能為主併公司帶來顯著之正效果。進一步發現，精品（Boutique）且過去三年績效佳之財務顧問，能為主併公司帶來較大之價值。在跨國購併案件中，不僅在被併公司為未上市時帶來顯著之正效應外，且在交易特性為非現金支付的情況下，也能為主併公司帶來顯著之正向價值。 / This study examines the value of financial advisors for acquirers in cross-border M&As and the impacts of deal outcomes. Two hypotheses are tested in the study:“Boutique” financial advisors create much more values for acquirers in cross-border M&As. The other one is financial advisors whose prior client performances were good, create much more values for acquirers in cross-border M&As. The study finds that“Boutique” financial advisors and financial advisors whose prior client performances were good both can create positive value for acquirers in cross-border M&As. Moreover, both can deal with complex transactions. While the target are private firms, both can create positive value for acquirers in cross-border M&A. In conclusion, the“Boutique” financial advisors whose prior clients performances were good create much more values for acquirers in cross-border M&As, and it can deal with more complex transactions.