The study offers a contribution to the debate about shareholder wealth creation following corporate restructuring transactions. Including market cycle and industry factors, it provides an analysis of merger and acquisition (M&A) and corporate divestiture success between 1989 and 2008 in Europe. The first part of the study focuses on effects of market valuation levels and market cycles on the value creation potential of corporate restructuring. The second part discusses mergers and acquisitions and divestment success from an industry perspective. The results provide surprising insights into drivers of shareholder value creation.