This study examines the prevalence of informed trading around proximate-date versus far-date mergers and acquisitions (M&As). Further, different options strategies pursued by informed traders in proximate-date M&As are identified. The results highlight that proximate-date M&As are associated with a significantly higher level of informed trading vis-à-vis far-date M&As. Results on the choice of options strategies highlight that risk-averse, informed traders may pursue a straddle strategy to profit from their private information, while risk-seeking, informed traders may use a vertical call spread strategy. Informed traders desirous of hedging their existing positions may employ a protective put strategy.

Purpose -Informed trading has a strong liaison with the options market, as the risk in the options market is limited to the premium, leverage is high and the transaction cost is less. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effect of options availability on the informed trading, occurring well before the merger and acquisition (M&A) announcements along with the crisis period and regulation effect. Design/methodology/approach -The study employs event study methodology for 864 M&A announcements done by Indian acquiring companies in order to compute the abnormal returns and also examine the implied volatility and volume of call, putting options for the robustness check. Findings -The results indicate that option listing status increases the possibility and magnitude of informed trading in the M&As, which gets more/less pronounced during and immediately after the crisis period when new regulatory reforms are introduced. Originality/value -This study contributes to the efficient market theory and affirms that stock market of acquiring companies in India follow a semi-strong form of market efficiency around M&A announcements in the presence of options market.

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