Global Mergers and Acquisitions: Combining Companies Across Borders

Beginning in the 1990s the number and size of global mergers and acquisitions (M&A) has been increasing. The value of global M&As in 1995, was $980 billion, peaked to $4169 billion in 2007, and then dropped to $2705 billion in 2010. During the same period an increasing number of enterprises from emerging market economies have become active in cross-border merger and acquisitions. The emergence of these enterprises in the international M&A markets are motivated by a desire to achieve competitive advantage through the acquisition of natural resources, brands, technology, and knowledge . Among the most active M&A players from the emerging market countries are the Chinese, the country with which this book will be primarily, though not exclusively, concerned. This book will take the reader through all steps of a global merger or acquisition, including targeting companies, closing optimal deals, enterprise valuation and due diligence. How to optimize deal structures for the host company from the financial, accounting, and tax standpoints of the host country will be discussed along with the importance of first assessing the likelihood of securing approval from the agencies charged with determining the national security implications of the proposed deal. Finally, readers will learn how to maximize shareholder value through executing post-merger initiatives that will harmonize the structure and performance of the transformed enterprise.