How Do Equity Analysts Impact Takeovers?

Abstract

Firms covered by more analysts are more likely to become takeover targets and more likely to enter deals in which their acquirers initiate private merger negotiations. Moreover, when equity analysts’ pre-acquisition price forecasts imply greater target undervaluation, target firms are more likely to initiate their own sale, takeover premiums are higher, those premiums tend to be revised upwards during private merger negotiations, and acquirer firms use less cash to structure the transaction. These results imply a material role for equity analysts during the M&A process: their coverage affects takeover probabilities while their price forecasts influence merger premiums and the merger consideration. Our findings support both investor recognition and information generation theories about the role of equity analysts in financial markets.