Employment Protection and Takeovers

55 Pages Posted: 16 Jun 2015 Last revised: 9 May 2017

See all articles by Olivier Dessaint

Olivier Dessaint

INSEAD

Andrey Golubov

University of Toronto - Rotman School of Management; European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI)

Paolo F. Volpin

Drexel University - Bennett S. LeBow College of Business; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI); City University London - Faculty of Finance

Date Written: September 9, 2016

Abstract

Labor restructuring is a key driver of takeovers and the associated synergy gains worldwide. In a difference-in-differences research design, we show that major increases in employment protection reduce takeover activity by 14-27% and the combined firm gains (synergies) by over half. Consistent with the labor channel behind these effects, deals with greater potential for workforce restructuring show a greater reduction in volume, number, and synergies. Increases in employment protection impede layoffs, resulting in wage costs that match the magnitude of synergy losses. Offer prices are not fully adjusted, with both bidders and targets exhibiting lower returns following the reforms.

Keywords: Employment Protection, Takeovers, Mergers and Acquisitions, Synergy Gains, Premiums, Efficiency

JEL Classification: J30, G14, G34, K31

Suggested Citation

Dessaint, Olivier and Golubov, Andrey and Volpin, Paolo F., Employment Protection and Takeovers (September 9, 2016). Journal of Financial Economics (JFE), Forthcoming, Rotman School of Management Working Paper No. 2619028, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2619028 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2619028

Olivier Dessaint

INSEAD

Boulevard de Constance
77305 Fontainebleau Cedex
France

Andrey Golubov (Contact Author)

University of Toronto - Rotman School of Management ( email )

105 St. George Street
Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E6
Canada

European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI) ( email )

c/o the Royal Academies of Belgium
Rue Ducale 1 Hertogsstraat
1000 Brussels
Belgium

HOME PAGE: http://https://ecgi.global/users/andrey-golubov

Paolo F. Volpin

Drexel University - Bennett S. LeBow College of Business ( email )

101 N. 33rd St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
United States

Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

London
United Kingdom

European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI)

c/o ECARES ULB CP 114
B-1050 Brussels
Belgium

HOME PAGE: http:/www.ecgi.org

City University London - Faculty of Finance ( email )

London, EC2Y 8HB
Great Britain

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
982
Abstract Views
8,202
Rank
43,120
PlumX Metrics