Do multinational enterprises with better social performance have a higher likelihood of cross-border acquisition completion? Analyzing the role of reputation for social performance in cross-border acquisitions

The social performance (SP) of a firm is associated with many positive organizational outcomes. Nonetheless, little is known about the effect of the SP of a multinational enterprise (MNE) on the likelihood of cross-border acquisition completion (CBAC). Investigating the link between MNEs’ SP and the likelihood of CBAC is important because it will increase our understanding of how stakeholders reward MNEs with better reputations. Drawing on the signaling and reputation for SP literature, we explore how acquisition complexity, reputational risk, and firm visibility influence CBAC. Based on a sample of 578 cross-border deals undertaken by acquirers in the noncyclical consumer industry (NCCI), our results support a positive relationship between MNEs’ SP and the likelihood of CBAC and strengthening moderating effects of acquirer size and public targets. JEL CLASSIFICATIONS: G34, M16