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Mergers and Acquisitions
(M&A)

The purpose of this module is to discuss some crucial financial issues surrounding takeover decisions. Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) constitute an economically extremely important mechanism to reallocate resources. However, adding value with M&A deals is often easier said than done, especially for the acquiring company. The core element of the course is a fairly simple model that allows us to better understand the value allocation among the deal parties as well as the market reaction to the announcement of a deal.

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Useful Tools

The module proceeds as follows:

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  • The introductory section highlights the economic relevance of M&A transactions and inquires into the various reasons why firms engage in M&A.
     

  • We discuss the different Forms of Takeover and how a firm can actually gain control over another firm.
     

  • We present the typical steps in the Takeover Process, from the pre-purchase decision activities over the negotiation phase, to the post-purchase decision activities.
     

  • We briefly summarize the main valuation steps on the way to an Offer Price.
     

  • We discuss the main forces that determine the Initial Offer Price and we highlight the difference between value and value creation.
     

  • We present a simple model that allows us to go from the Acquisition Price to the Value Implications of a Deal, and that provides a better understanding of how and why the market reacts to the announcement of a specific transaction.
     

  • Finally, we discuss how hard it is to Create Value with M&A. We show that, as a rule of thumb, the expected synergies from the deal have to be at least 50% of the targets value for the transaction to make financial sense for the acquirer!

 

Each section consists of a short reading assignment, followed by a quiz that tests the key takeaways of the section

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