Amsterdam School of International Business

When do acquirers invest in the R&D assets of acquired science-based firms in cross-border acquisitions?

the role of technology and capabilities similarity and complementarity

Article

Drawing on a multiple case study of acquisitions of UK biopharmaceutical firms, we develop an analytical framework that elucidates how key determinants of the knowledge base of science-based firms and their combinations through M&As interact and affect post-acquisition investment in the target's R&D projects.

We show that two factors - the complementarity/similarity of the technology, and the complementarity/similarity of the discovery and development capabilities of the target and acquiring firm - interact to produce different outcomes in terms of investment in the acquired firm's R&D assets and for the local science and technology system.

Reference Miozzo, M., DiVito, L., & Desyllas, P. (2016). When do acquirers invest in the R&D assets of acquired science-based firms in cross-border acquisitions? the role of technology and capabilities similarity and complementarity. Long range planning, 49(2), 221-240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lrp.2015.07.002

Publication date

Apr 2016

Author(s)

Marcela Miozzo
Panos Desyllas

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