The Determinants of Merger Withdrawals’ Abnormal Returns in The Australian Market

Abstract:This paper examines the abnormal returns in merger withdrawals in Australia, especially distinguishing the market response between private and public targets. We also study the determinants of those abnormal returns, including the method of payment and the impact of financial crisis periods. Using the event study method, we document that in the Australian context, the announced withdrawal of mergers involving private targets creates significantly negative valuation effects in comparison with the valuation effects in withdrawal of mergers involving public targets. We also find that a financial crisis period strongly affects abnormal returns of merger withdrawals. However, the method of payment does not have any impact on the abnormal returns.