Merger Arbitrage

What Is Merger Arbitrage?

Merger arbitrage, also known as risk arbitrage, is event-driven investing involving taking a company position that targets a merger or acquisition. The investor aims to profit from differences between stock prices before and after the merger or acquisition, irrespective of the deal's outcome.

There are several reasons why merger arbitrage has become more prevalent in recent years. 

• The number of mergers and acquisitions has increased, providing more opportunities for investors
• The rise of automated investing has made it easier for investors to put their money into this strategy
• The increased use of leverage has made it possible to generate higher returns

As merger arbitrage becomes more popular, it is essential to understand how it works and the risks involved. This type of investing can be profitable, but it is also risky. 

Understanding Merger Arbitrage

When two companies merge, the stock prices of the companies involved usually rise and fall as investors speculate on the deal's outcome. Merger arbitrage is an investment strategy that aims to capitalize on the price uncertainty between when the deal is announced and after it comes to a close. 

Typically, in a merger, the acquirer often offers a higher-than-market price to the target company. As a result, the target's shares usually go up when this higher merger price is announced. 

Under normal circumstances, as the deal closes, the company's acquired stock price will rise to match the value of the combined company, narrowing the arbitrage spread. 

Arbitrage spread is the difference between the market price of the shares at the time of investment and the acquisition price of the target company's shares.

Investors profit from the arbitrage spread by buying the target company's shares after the announcement and selling them after the acquisition is complete.

If investors already own the target company's shares before the merger announcement, they can profit from the increase in prices when the deal is announced.

If investors buy the company's shares after the announcement and then sell them after the acquisition is complete, they would profit from the arbitrage spread.

Merger arbitrage can be a risky investment strategy, as there is always the possibility that the deal will not be completed or that the share prices will not move in the expected direction. However, investors can profit significantly if the sale is completed as planned.

Merger arbitrage can be risky, as there is no guarantee that the stock price will rise as expected. Investors should be aware of the associated risks before pursuing this strategy. However, if executed correctly, it can allow investors to earn a profit.

If you're interested in pursuing merger arbitrage, it's essential to understand the risks involved and have a solid plan.

How Merger Arbitrage Works

In any market, a multitude of factors influence the prices of financial securities. For instance, during mergers, market dynamics often value the involved companies differently following the merger announcement.

Various elements can impact these valuations, such as:

• Company Reputation
• Industry Trends
• Economic Indicators

Arbitrageurs engage in this strategy by simultaneously purchasing the target company's securities and selling the acquirer's securities. This process involves complex calculations, risk assessment, and meticulous timing.

Arbitrageurs aim to profit from the price difference between the target and acquirer by carefully analyzing deal terms, regulatory approvals, and market sentiments.

This approach demands a profound understanding of the merger process and financial markets, enabling investors to make well-informed decisions and leverage successful deal completions for profit.

Merger Arbitrage in Cash Mergers

A cash merger occurs when the acquiring firm offers to buy the target company's stock with cash. The acquiring company usually would announce the price at which it will acquire the target's stock if the deal were to be closed successfully.

In such a case, arbitrageurs would bet on the successful completion of the deal and seek to capitalize on the difference between the market price at which they purchase the stock and the final acquisition price when the deal is closed.

To understand how this works, let's look at a simple example. First, company A announces its intent to purchase a majority stake of Company B, which is currently trading at $20 per share.

Company A details within the announcement that they will be purchasing the majority stake at $40 per share since they see added value within the merger.

More often than not, a merger announcement would cause sudden upward movements in stock price, and now the stock of Company B closes at $30 per share.

Arbitrageurs might see this and decide to purchase shares of Company B at $30, betting that deal will be successful. But instead, the share price of Company B rises until it reaches $40 per share by the acquisition date, at which point arbitrageurs would sell off the shares.

The spread for this investment would be $10 ($40 – $30) per share, which indicates the profit made by arbitrageurs when they sell the shares at the acquisition price.

Merger Arbitrage in Stock Mergers

A stock merger is when the acquiring company buys the target company’s stock with some of its stock. If the deal goes through, the target company’s shareholders can trade the target’s stock for the acquiring firm’s shares.

In this case, an arbitrageur could benefit by buying (going long) the target company’s shares and shorting the acquiring company’s shares to create a spread..

Similar to a cash merger, in a stock merger, the arbitrageur can profit from the price differences of the target company’s stock as the deal comes to successful completion.

In addition, the arbitrageur can also capitalize by short-selling the acquiring company’s stock. Market reactions can influence the value of each share after a stock-for-stock merger, but dilution alone does not necessarily lead to a decrease in share value..

By offering to pay the target’s stock with its stock, the acquiring company creates more outstanding shares, thereby diluting its stock.

The technical aspects of a merger arbitrage are:

1. Find a merger deal that has been announced but not yet completed
2. Then, depending on the type of the merger (stock vs. money), long the target company's stock and short the acquiring company's stock
3. Hold these positions until the deal is completed and close out the parts

If the deal goes through as announced, you will make a profit. If the value falls apart, you will lose money. Merger arbitrage is a risky investment strategy, but knowing what you're doing can be a very lucrative way to make money.

How Do Investors Predict the Outcome of Mergers

Predicting the deal's outcome is one of the most important aspects of any merger or acquisition. However, this can be a difficult task, as several factors can influence the success or failure of a union. 

However, there are a few key indicators that investors typically look at when trying to predict the outcome of a deal.

One of the indicators investors consider is the degree of hostility of the acquirer. The deal is more likely to come to a smooth close if the merger is friendly and the target company agrees to be acquired or merged. 

In addition, the financial health of the two companies involved in the deal is crucial to its successful completion. If one company is significantly stronger financially than the other, it is more likely that the sale will be profitable. 

Moreover, the cultural fit of the two companies is also essential. If the two companies cultures are compatible, it is more likely that the employees will be able to work together effectively and that the deal will be successful.

Furthermore, the strategic fit of the two companies should not be overlooked. If the companies are complementary in terms of horizontal or vertical integration, the operability of the resulting company increases.

Lastly, investors often attempt to predict the outcome of mergers and acquisitions by analyzing the financial statements of the companies involved. By looking at: revenue, profitability and debt levels.

Investors can better understand how the two companies might fare if they combine forces.

In addition to financial analysis, investors also look at other factors that could affect the outcome of a merger, such as:

• The industry the companies operate in
• The synergies between the two companies
• The overall health of the economy

Considering all these factors, investors can form a more accurate picture of what to expect from a particular merger.

Active Arbitrage vs. Passive Arbitrage

Arbitrage is the simultaneous buying and selling of assets to profit from discrepancies in the price. There are two main types of arbitrage: active and passive.

Active arbitrage is when an arbitrageur seeks to influence a deal by deliberately holding a significant amount of the target company’s stock. It typically requires more work and is generally riskier than passive arbitrage.

Passive arbitrage occurs when an arbitrageur is not in a position to influence the deal. Passive arbitrageurs invest based on the probability of success. They increase their bets as this probability increases.

Let's look a the table below to understand the difference better:

Researched and authored by Jake Heimowitz | LinkedIn

Free Resources

To continue learning and advancing your career, check out these additional helpful WSO resources:

• Acquirer
• Acquisition
• Cash Offer
• Hostile Takeover
• Stock Acquisition