Mergers and Acquisitions
1. Introduction
Learning Objectives
By the time you have completed this module you should understand:
what a merger is and how it differs from an acquisition; some of the reasons why companies merge; the underlying merger rationales; what a merger driver is; what the primary merger drivers are; the difference between horizontal integration, vertical integration and conglomeration; the basic merger lifecycle and lifecycle phases; some basic measures of success for mergers; the difference between long-term and short-term measures of success; the basic scenarios for failure; the concept of merger waves and the major waves that have occurred since 1900.
This module acts as an introduction to the EBS text in Mergers and Acquisitions.
Note that most of the areas discussed in this module are developed in more detail in subsequent modules. This module provides an introduction and overview to some of the main issues and considerations relating to mergers and acquisitions.
Sections
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
The Concept of Mergers and Acquisitions
Why Companies Merge and Acquire
Integration and Conglomeration
The Merger and Acquisition Lifecycle
Measuring the Success of Mergers and Acquisitions
A Brief History of Mergers and Acquisitions
Learning Summary
The text has considered the following areas that candidates should now be familiar with
what a merger is and how it differs from an acquisition; some of the reasons why companies merge; the underlying merger rationales; what a merger driver is; what the primary merger drivers are;
the difference between horizontal integration, vertical integration and conglomeration; the basic merger lifecycle and lifecycle phases; some basic measures of success for mergers; the difference between long-term and short-term measures of success; the basic scenarios for failure;
the