We examined mergers and acquisitions in the service sector and the effects of the transition to foreign ownership. We analyzed firm-level data encompassing 1,243 service sector acquisitions that occurred from 2009–2018. The most foreign acquisitions occurred in the health and social services, business services, and trade; the largest shares were noted in health and social services, IT services, and communication. Larger firms with lower levels of cash flow and firms characterized by a growth-resource imbalance were most likely to be the targets of foreign acquisitions. After an acquisition, the target company’s equity ratio and profit before taxes decreased; however, effects on growth and employment remained limited.
