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Acquisitions, Overconfident Managers and Self-attribution Bias

Petmezas, Dimitris; Doukas, John

Authors

Dimitris Petmezas

John Doukas



Contributors

D Petmezas dbr0dp@durham.ac.uk
Other

Abstract

We examine whether acquisitions by overconfident managers generate superior abnormal returns and whether managerial overconfidence stems from self-attribution. Self-attribution bias suggests that overconfidence plays a greater role in higher order acquisition deals predicting lower wealth effects for higher order acquisition deals. Using two alternative measures of overconfidence (1) high order acquisition deals and (2) insider dealings we find evidence supporting the view that average stock returns are related to managerial overconfidence. Overconfident bidders realise lower announcement returns than rational bidders and exhibit poor long-term performance. Second, we find that managerial overconfidence stems from self-attribution bias. Specifically, we find that high-order acquisitions (five or more deals within a three-year period) are associated with lower wealth effects than low-order acquisitions (first deals). That is, managers tend to credit the initial success to their own ability and therefore become overconfident and engage in more deals. In our analysis we control for endogeneity of the decision to engage in high-order acquisitions and find evidence that does not support the self-selection of excessive acquisitive firms. Our analysis is robust to the influence of merger waves, industry shocks, and macroeconomic conditions.

Citation

Petmezas, D., & Doukas, J. (2007). Acquisitions, Overconfident Managers and Self-attribution Bias. European Financial Management, 13(3), 531-577. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-036x.2007.00371.x

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jun 1, 2007
Deposit Date Aug 19, 2008
Journal European financial management
Print ISSN 1354-7798
Electronic ISSN 1468-036X
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 13
Issue 3
Pages 531-577
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-036x.2007.00371.x
Public URL https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1574703