Does continuous disclosure affect the market reaction to mergers and acquisitions announcements?

We examine the association between the degree of continuous disclosure by bidders and the market reaction to the announcement of 3512 mergers and acquisitions (M&As) by Australian bidders during the period 2000–2017. Using four proxies for continuous disclosure (total number of disclosures, total number of sensitive disclosures, total number of pages, and total number of sensitive pages), we find a positive association between the market reaction to M&A announcements and the level of continuous disclosure made by bidders. These findings imply that investors, when assessing M&A deals, find bidders' disclosures to be informative and value relevant. Further analyses reveal that this positive association is more pronounced for private target acquisitions, stock-financed acquisitions, and unrelated acquisitions. • Continuous disclosure has a positive and significant influence on acquirers' announcement period abnormal return. • The influence of continuous disclosure on abnormal return is more pronounced for private target, stock financed and unrelated acquisitions. • The relationship between continuous disclosure and announcement period abnormal return appears to be more pronounced for small acquirers.