This paper argues that firms can best realize the value of their investments in R&D by exploiting the associated information asymmetries. Attention is directed away from the physical results of R&D and towards the firm’s ability, more generally, to earn rents from the private information...

What is the reason for acquisitions? Till now, strategies related to the daily operations of the firm like increased sale, reduced cost or managerial ambitions have been the prevalent motive. However, a new dynamic motive, the competence explanation is emerging. The purpose of this paper is to...