Valuation of Private, Innovative Targets: Evidence from Cisco’s Acquisitions

By Chandrasekhar Mangipudi, Krishnamurthy Subramanian, Rajkamal Vasu

Citation

Mangipudi, Chandrasekhar., Subramanian, Krishnamurthy., Vasu, Rajkamal. (2017). Valuation of Private, Innovative Targets: Evidence from Cisco’s Acquisitions .

2017

Abstract

We study how the value paid for private, innovative targets is affected by its knowledge-related intangible assets. We use unique data from Google Patents for the targets acquired by serial acquirer Cisco. We minimize bias in estimates of the value paid by comparing across deals undertaken within the same year by an acquirer that represents the “gold standard for M&A practices.” We find that acquirers pay for the target’s (i) intellectual property rights, (ii) expertise/technology especially that overlapping with the acquirer’s, and (iii) employees’ human capital. Ours is the first study to examine the value paid for knowledge-related intangible assets in mergers and acquisitions.

K. V. Subramanian is a Professor of Finance (currently on leave) at the Indian School of Business (ISB). He has served as an Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund and was the 17th Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India from 2018 to 2021.

As Chief Economic Advisor, Professor Subramanian conceptualised India’s economic policy during the once-in-a-century COVID-19 pandemic. By correctly identifying COVID-19 as a huge supply-side shock, Professor Subramanian balanced supply- and demand-side measures, transformed fiscal policy to focus on public capital expenditure, and initiated path-breaking reforms to address structural problems. His foresight and vision enabled the Indian economy to emerge with high growth and strong macro fundamentals despite the Ukraine war following the pandemic.

His policy ideas drew on the path-breaking Economic Surveys. He authored Ethical Wealth Creation for a Prosperous India (2019-20), a Strategic Blueprint for India to Become a $5 Trillion Economy (2018-19), and the post-COVID-19 economy using public capital expenditures in infrastructure and healthcare to further counter-cyclical fiscal policy (2020-21). Acknowledging his contributions, the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri. Narendra Modi, praised his “academic brilliance, unique perspectives on economic and policy matters, and reformatory zeal.”

Professor Subramanian has been conferred the Distinguished Alumnus award by both his alma maters at IIT Kanpur and IIM Calcutta. He holds a PhD from the University of Chicago. His research spanning banking, law and finance, innovation and economic growth, and corporate governance has been published in the world's leading academic journals.

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Krishnamurthy Subramanian