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CEO Narcissism and the Takeover Process: From Private Initiation to Deal Completion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2016

Nihat Aktas*
Affiliation:
[email protected], WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management, Vallendar D-56179, Germany
Eric de Bodt
Affiliation:
[email protected], Université de Lille, SKEMA Business School, Lille F-59000, France
Helen Bollaert
Affiliation:
[email protected], Université de Lille, SKEMA Business School, Lille F-59000, France
Richard Roll
Affiliation:
[email protected], California Institute of Technology, Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences, Pasadena, CA 91125.
*
*Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

Chief executive officer (CEO) narcissism affects the takeover process. Acquirer shareholders react less favorably to a takeover announcement when the target CEO is more narcissistic. Narcissistic acquiring CEOs negotiate faster. They are also marginally more likely to initiate deals. Acquirer CEO narcissism and target CEO narcissism are associated with a lower probability of deal completion and reduce the likelihood that the target CEO will be employed by the merged firm. Our findings highlight the importance of both acquirer and target CEO psychological characteristics throughout the takeover process.

Type
Research Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Michael G. Foster School of Business, University of Washington 2016 

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