Purpose - Defining co-opted directors as those who join a company's board after an incumbent chief executive officer assumes office, this study aims to investigate the influence of co-opted boards on bidder performance. Design/methodology/approach - This study applies ordinary least squares...

We use hand-collected board data around the issuance of two distinct government-led board structure mandates in the U.K. to establish the effect of outside directors on acquirer performance. Increases in outside director representation are associated with better acquirer returns in deals...