Does insider trading explain price run-up ahead of takeover announcements?

Angelo Aspris, Sean Foley, Alex Frino

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This study empirically examines the impact of changes in substantial shareholdings ahead of 450 Australian takeover offers between the years 2000 and 2009. Previous studies have attributed a significant proportion of the price run-up effect in takeover targets to insider-trading behaviour. This study examines the contribution of a broad range of public information sources that are known to typically generate market anticipation, including the acquisition of toeholds ahead of takeover announcements. Our findings show no significant pre-bid run-up for takeover targets after considering these sources. We conclude from these results that previous findings attributing pre-bid share price run-up to illegal insider trading may overstate the existence of such conduct.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)25-45
Number of pages21
JournalAccounting and Finance
Volume54
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2014

Keywords

  • Insider trading
  • Market anticipation
  • Market efficiency
  • Substantial shareholder notices
  • Takeovers
  • Toeholds

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