Institutional distance and ownership in foreign acquisitions

Abstract In this study, we take a balanced view on cross-border distances and argue that there are both costs and benefits when multinational companies (MNCs) operate in distant environments. When conducting cross border acquisitions (CBAs), MNCs attempt to minimize the costs while also maximizing the benefits offered by institutionally distant host countries. MNCs do so by sharing the equity ownership with the local partners who help MNCs navigate the local environment and derive location-specific advantages. We also propose that the effect of institutional distance is directional such that firms are more likely to opt for shared ownership when the target is located in a country with less developed institutions than in a country with more developed institutions. Further, firm-specific and context-specific factors impact the costs and benefits of operating in distant countries and condition the relationship between institutional distance and the likelihood of a firm opting for shared ownership in CBAs. We test our arguments on a sample of 37,588 CBAs involving 52 home and 54 host countries over 17 years (1996–2013).