From the Inside Flap
Merger arbitrage, also known as risk arbitrage, is not a new concept in the field of finance, yet information about this discipline has been hard to come by—until now.
Written by Thomas Kirchner, President of the Pennsylvania Avenue Funds and Manager of the Pennsylvania Avenue Event-Driven Fund—a mutual fund that uses merger arbitrage as one of its investment strategies—this is the definitive book on one of the most effective forms of arbitrage. Organized into three comprehensive parts, this reliable resource introduces you to the basics of the arbitrage process in Part One, discusses the possible pitfalls of the approach in Part Two, and deals with some practical questions of investing in merger arbitrage in Part Three.
Filled with in-depth insights and expert advice, Merger Arbitrage goes beyond the description of the arbitrage process to examine the benefits of adding merger arbitrage to your portfolio, while introducing you to the vehicles that can be used to incorporate this strategy into your everyday investment endeavors.
Initial chapters are dedicated to the ins and outs of the strategy—cash mergers versus stock-for-stock mergers, sources of risk and return, and deal structure—while later chapters focus on making merger arbitrage work in today's dynamic market. Along the way, you'll also become familiar with other essential aspects of this discipline, such as management incentives for getting mergers done, fighting for full value of shares when a company is taken over, and government involvement in the merger process. The potential for the abuse of shareholder value and conflicts of interests in mergers are highlighted throughout the text, as are the red flags to watch out for. Designed with the serious investor in mind, Merger Arbitrage addresses the most important issues in this field and will put you in a position to profit from a better understanding of leverage and options, shorting stocks, and the legal aspects of merger arbitrage, including seeking appraisal or filing lawsuits for inadequate merger consideration.
Merger arbitrage is an event-driven strategy that generally has a low correlation with market movements. If you're looking to gain an edge in the merger arbitrage arena—and profit regardless of market direction—this book has everything you need to succeed.
From the Back Cover
Praise for Merger Arbitrage"This is a knowledgeable and detailed review of risk arbitrage. Mr. Kirchner demonstrates a command of his subject and touches on a nice range of issues that confront the merger arb professional. A nice introduction and reference guide to this exciting and challenging investment strategy."
—Scott Stuart, Risk Arbitrage Columnist for the Daily Deal and thedeal.com
"Merger arbitrage is a strategy that appears to be simple but where the devil is in the details. Thomas Kirchner has done a great job explaining all the technical and legal aspects behind the business of merger arbitrage in a user-friendly way. This book is a must-read for every serious investment professional and savvy individual investor interested in this strategy."
—François Lhabitant, Chief Investment Officer, Kedge Capital, and Professor of Finance, HEC Lausanne and EDHEC Business School
Merger Arbitrage is the definitive book on one of the most effective forms of arbitrage. Organized into three comprehensive parts, this reliable resource introduces you to the basics of the arbitrage process in Part One, discusses the possible pitfalls of the approach in Part Two, and deals with some practical questions of investing in merger arbitrage in Part Three.
Filled with in-depth insights and expert advice, this timely guide goes beyond the description of the arbitrage process to examine the benefits of adding merger arbitrage to your portfolio, while introducing you to the vehicles that can be used to incorporate this strategy into your everyday investment endeavors.
