1 Understanding mergers and acquisitions Activity Since 1990, G. Gregoriou and L. Renneboog; Part 1. International M & A activity and takeover performance: 2 Cross-border mergers and acquisitions: The facts as a guide for international economics, S. Brakman, H. Garretsen, C. van Marrewijk; 3 Searching for value enhancing acquirers, M. Lionakis and C. Pang; 4 Long-term operating performance in European mergers and acquisitions, M. Martynova, S. Oosting, and L Renneboog; 5 Bondholder wealth effects in mergers and acquisitions, L. Renneboog and P. Szilagyi; 6 Mix and Match facilities and loan notes in acquisitions, M. Goergen and J. Frecknall-Hughes; -- Part 2 Special types of mergers and acquisitions: -- 7 Mergers and acquisitions in IPO markets: Evidence from Germany, D. Audretsch and E. Lehmann; 8 Reverse mergers in the UK: Listed targets and private acquirers, P. Roosenboom and W. Schramade; 9 The profile of venture capital exits in Canada, D. Cumming and S. Johan; Part 3 Valuation and irrationality in takeover decision making: 10 Executive compensation and managerial overconfidence: Impact on risk taking and shareholder value in corporate acquisitions, S. Sudarsanam and J. Huang; 11 Opportunistic accounting practices around stock financed mergers in Spain, M. Pastor-Llorca and F. Poveda-Fuentes; -- 12 Size Does Matter -- Firm Size and the Gains from Acquisitions on the Dutch Market, R. Kr̃ussl and M. Topper.