Does Target Firm’s Earnings Management Affect Shareholder’s Gains? Evidence from China

Abstract

This study tests the hypothesis that the target firms are involved in earnings management activities in quarters leading to a takeover announcement. Using a sample of 3,455 Chinese listed firms that are targets of successful acquisitions over the period 2007–2020, and for a matched sample of non-targets, we find that target firms manipulate earnings in quarters leading to the announcement date. Further, we find evidence of a negative relationship between earnings management and short-term gains to shareholders. Our result remains robust after controlling for various deal characteristics. The study also suggests that pre-merger earnings management in target firms is not fully anticipated by the market before the takeover announcement. We find no evidence of earnings management immediately after the announcement quarter.