Post-operating performance of construction mergers and acquisitions of the United States of America

Abstract

A previous study assessed stock market returns (ex ante expectations), and this study examines the actual operating performance (ex post-operating performances) of the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) observed during the past two decades (1980-2002) in the construction industry in the United States of America. Utilizing various statistical tools and longitudinal data analysis modeling techniques, three hypotheses were tested. First, the level of synergistic gains, measured as operating cash flow returns, was not improved significantly after firm integration. Second, regarding the management wealth maximization hypothesis, the size of firms dramatically increased after the integration of the firms, and the operating performance was slightly improved compared with that before the event. Research outcomes also indicated that the previous research findings concerning stock market returns on M&A were consistent with the long-term operating performance, and thus supported the market efficiency hypothesis. Lastly, M&A guidelines for the construction industry are presented based on the research outcomes from both stock market return and operating performance analysis. Key words: mergers and acquisitions, diversification strategy, operating performance.