Corporate restructuring (acquisitions, alliances and divestment) is a visible form of corporate strategy. For example, firm investments in buying and selling assets exceed the gross domestic product of the majority of nations. Most research in this area examines acquisitions, but informing practice is limited by examining acquisitions in isolation or using a narrow focus. For example, a lingering problem is that average acquisition performance is consistently around zero, suggesting a need to identify practically relevant relationships. In addressing this need, research on three fundamental questions is covered: 1) How do acquisitions relate to other corporate strategy options?; 2) What helps to predict acquisition performance?; and 3) What are persistent acquisition research issues? The first question is intended to overcome a research limitation that acquisitions are often examined independent of other corporate strategies, including internal development, alliances, and divestment. The second question addresses novel relationships associated with the primary focus of acquisition research in examining what drives acquisition performance. The third question reflects on the underlying complexity of the phenomenon that makes it a challenge to identify what drives acquisition performance. Overall, the intent of presenting ideas on these fundamental questions is to illustrate promising areas for future research. This book presents the latest state of knowledge on the topic and will be of interest to researchers, academics, and advanced students in the fields of strategic management, international business, and organizational studies.

The goal of the book is end-to-end automation of M&A processes. With this book, the following tasks can be carried out: 1.Determination of the tasks to be automated: In this book, all tasks in due diligence are described. The tasks relevant for a company can be selected and then automated in a targeted manner. 2.Overview of the automation options for the M&A process: The automatability described for the tasks allow an overview of which tasks in the M&A process can already be automated in which way. 3.Determination of the automation potential of M&A processes: The methodology contained in this book and the details of the tasks and their automatability allow the determination of the digitization potential. 4.Familiarization with M&A processes: In this book all tasks in the Due Diligence phase are documented with their objectives, a description and with questions during the execution. This enables a quick familiarization with the details of the Due Diligence phase.

Seize the competitive advantage with today’s most powerful strategic tool—M&A “Given the influence of technology, globalization, and regulatory change, M&A will continue to shape our industries. For most companies, therefore, the consideration of M&A in strategy is now fundamental.” –from the Introduction to Part I The Art of M&A Strategy is exactly what you need to build mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures into your overall business strategy—to make M&A a competitive advantage and avoid landing on the long list of M&A failures. Experts in the field of M&A, Smith and Lajoux demystify this otherwise complex subject by taking you through the types of M&A strategy and the key steps to successful M&A strategy development and implementation. The Art of M&A Strategy is conveniently organized into three sections: Part I presents a range of possible corporate strategy situations and provides the role and rationale for M&A in each, such as building and managing a portfolio, participating in industry consolidation, spurring corporate growth, and using acquisitions to create “real options.” Part II outlines how to determine the role of M&A in your strategy—taking into consideration industry context, competitive imperatives, and strategy options—and explains how to find and screen partners, decide whether to buy or sell, and engage the board of directors in M&A decisions. Part III covers M&A as a sustained corporate program, particularly in the context of international growth, outlining the most strategic aspects of post-merger integration, describing how to use advisors throughout the process, and examining core competencies required for successful M&A programs. The authors illuminate the purpose and process of applying M&A with real-world success stories involving Cisco, GE, Google, and many other companies that have leveraged M&A for strategic success. Use The Art of M&A Strategy to create a powerful strategy position for success in today’s changing business environment and to seize and hold competitive advantage.

This short research paper provides an easy-to-read research study and overview of M&A as a corporate strategy. Business leaders may often ponder why mergers and acquisitions are so popular as a corporate growth strategy? And perhaps why the published failure rates of M&A are seemingly so high? Perhaps whether the primary purpose of embarking on a corporate M&A strategy is focused on delivering investor and/or shareholder return on investment, i.e. wealth creation? This research work includes summary overviews of a few high profile M&A events like the recent $1 billion Facebook acquisition of Instagram. Moreover, "M&A" strives to specifically explore the logic and reason behind questions business leaders often ponder when pursuing a corporate growth strategy via M&A. Additional case studies in "M&A" include summaries on the perceived and/or real corporate intent and motivation behind the acquisition attempts by CNN of Mashable; UPS of TNT; SASOL of Talisman; and Manulife Financial of John Hancock. Not all of the above will be viewed as having been successful, but objectively, measuring success depends on the real reason - or success metrics - in place to determine why an executive management team embarked on a corporate acquisition strategy in the first place. Whether popular, or successful, a strategy pursuing mergers and/or acquisitions is as old as business itself. I hope that you will enjoy reading this short research paper as much as I had enjoyed writing it!

This book provides executives with an in-depth look at the consequences of M&As for acquired top management teams. It examines M&As as a corporate growth strategy, the importance of top management teams to a firm's long-term performance, the reasons why executives depart after an acquisition, and the effects of these departures on target company performance.

Solid guidance for selecting the correct strategic basis for mergers and acquisitions Examining how M & A fits in corporate growth strategies, Maximizing Corporate Value through Mergers and Acquisitions covers the various strategic reasons for companies entering mergers and acquisitions (M & A), with a look at those that are based on sound strategy, and those that are not. Helps companies decide whether M & As should be used for growth and increased corporate valueExplores why M & A deals often fail to deliver what their proponents have represented they wouldEx.

Volume 23 of this annual series explores a range of issues, from cross-border mergers and acquisitions, MNE strategies and multi-business firms to outsourcing and strategic choices.