CONCLUSION
This study provides clear evidence that well-executed domestic mergers and acquisitions in the Indian steel
sector can deliver both immediate shareholder value and sustained operational gains. Short-term market
reactions were largely positive, reflecting investor confidence in the strategic rationale of the analysed deals,
while post-merger financial performance indicated measurable improvements in profitability, efficiency, and
growth relative to non-acquiring peers. The findings further demonstrate that these benefits are not uniformly
distributed; rather, they are significantly amplified when the acquired assets possess high VRIO
characteristics—valuable, rare, difficult to imitate, and well-supported by organisational capability. Such
strategic alignment appears to be the decisive factor in translating integration efforts into a durable competitive
advantage. The results carry important implications for corporate decision-makers, highlighting the need for
rigorous pre-acquisition resource evaluation and careful post-merger integration planning. For investors, the
study underscores the value of assessing strategic resource fit alongside conventional financial metrics when
evaluating M&A prospects. Policymakers, too, may draw lessons in encouraging consolidation strategies that
promote resource complementarity and long-term competitiveness. Overall, the evidence affirms that in
capital-intensive, cyclical industries like steel, mergers create the greatest value when they combine
operational execution with a strong and distinctive strategic resource base.
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