Global Merger and Acquisition (M&A) activity: 1992–2011

•We study a global sample M&A deals across 47 countries in the period from 1992 to 2011.•M&A activity generates value for bidder and target shareholders.•Targets enjoy higher CARs in deals where they sell control rights to bidders.•Bidder and target CARs in developed countries are higher than in emerging countries. In our global sample of 263,461 deals in 47 countries, 3-day target cumulative abnormal returns (CARs) average 6.9% and bidder CARs average 1.4%. When we impose the common filters used in the literature which restrict the sample to completed acquisitions of public firms, target CARs increase from 6.9% to 13%. Our findings indicate that M&A activity (particularly in deals where control rights are sold) generates value. We also find that the magnitudes of bidder and target CARs in developed countries are higher than those in emerging-market countries.