Regional aspects of acquisition activity in British manufacturing industry

Abstract

Leigh R. and North D. J. (1978) Regional aspects of acquisition activity in British manufacturing industry, Reg. Studies 12, 227–245. The paper is based on an empirical study of the spatial aspects of acquisition activity in four manufacturing industries. Dominant themes resulting from an aggregate level analysis of the regional incidence of acquisitions were the concentrated pattern of acquirers compared to the dispersed distribution of acquired firms, and the high incidence of extra-regional takeovers affecting most peripheral regions. Detailed study of post-acquisition spatial changes showed that middle management functions normally remained with the acquired firm, expansions of output at acquired plants were more common than closures, and that whereas service linkage changes were normal, material and market linkage changes were rare.