The Effect of Acquirer Net Operating Losses on Acquisition Premiums and Acquirer Abnormal Returns

Abstract

This study examines whether acquirer NOL-related tax benefits generated in an acquisition are shared with the target. For a sample of 1,959 acquisitions, we find that acquisitions of profitable targets by acquirers with NOLs are associated with higher acquisition premiums than acquisitions by non-NOL acquirers. This result indicates that potential post-acquisition tax benefits from use of acquirer NOLs are shared with the target in the form of higher transaction prices. We also find that the acquirer's merger announcement stock price response is positively associated with these tax benefits, which is consistent with the conclusion that acquirers retain part of these potential tax benefits.