The Art of M&A Integration: A Guide to Merging Resources, Processes and Responsibilities (Hardcover)

by Alexandra Reed-Lajoux (Author) "Every year, thousands of companies large and small, public and private, join forces through merger or acquisition, hoping to accomplish together what they could not..." (more)
Key Phrases: postmerger compensation, postmerger plans, postmerger integration teams, New York, United States, Financial Times (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Broad-scale guidance on all facets of M&A. Corporate integration expert Alexandra Reed Lajoux's The Art of M&A Integration gives you time-tested strategies and practices on handling the hundreds of details that spell the difference between corporate growth or financial disaster. More than theoretical research and details, The Art of M&A Integration brings you the stories of companies both large and small currently involved in the M&A process. Learn the M&A essentials of Bell Atlantic and NYNEX in telecommunications, NationsBank and Boatmen's in banking, Columbia/HCA and HealthTrust Inc, Glaxo/Welcome in healthcare, Martin Marietta and Lockheed Martin in aerospace, and many others. Find out what they did, how they did it, and what they wish they had done differently! Lajoux's book is the only place you will find: detailed explanatory endnotes--these unique additions keep the information flow moving forward while allowing you more in-depth study of specific points; international tips and tactics--one in four mergers announced by U.S. companies involves a foreign partner. Here are proven rules for success!; a dynamic postmerger plan--discover how those before you kept everybody on the same page.

From the Back Cover
Your Roadmap To success in the world of Postmerger Integration ``An indispensible guide for the greenest rookie and the most senior deal maker on the most critical part of putting two companies together. Covers every integration issue that needs attention.''--Martin Sikora, Editor, Mergers & Acquisitions ``M&A integration is truly an art; easy to get wrong, hard to get right. Alex Lajoux has worked with a number of M&A experts to produce a must-read book on how to make your M&A integration a success.''--Michael L. Davis, Vice President, Compensation & Benefits General Mills-- ``Alex Lajoux travels beneath the surface to examine the true challenges and opportunities inherent in M&A integration. She provides great insight into the ethical and relationship issues and shows readers how to assess the post-merger environment and make informed decisions throughout the process.''--Susan B. Lione, Manager, Standards and Ethics. The Institute of Internal Auditors ``Not only is this work an excellent overview of the complex myriad of issues arising out of corporate mergers, but it is also a superb summary of the major trends now impacting modern corporate governance.''--Professor Charles M. Elson, Stetson University College of Law.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 448 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (November 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786311274
• ISBN-13: 978-0786311279
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #309,501 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Before embarking on M&A integration, read this book!, July 16, 1999

By A Customer

Alex Lajoux, an unusually gifted writer, has done it again. Having worked to make one large and difficult merger - and a host of smaller acquisitions - succeed, I wish her book had been published years ago. Succeeding at post-merger integration is tough. However, this book carefully documents the biggest challenges in aligning systems, operations, and people. Its insights are backed up with plenty of real-world examples and the latest research data available. If more top executives and managers read The Art of M&A Integration, we might very well see more mergers and acquisitions actually create rather than destory shareholder value.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Practical Treasure, September 30, 1998

By A Customer

Alexandra Lajoux's new book greatly expands on her considerable earlier commentary on M&A activity, focusing on what happens after the knot is tied and the many loose ends that need tending to: employee communications, financial controls, information technology, management misunderstandings, compensation issues, and cultural clashes, to name but a few. Regardless of the amount of thought and planning that may have shaped the prenuptial agreement, the actual merging, or integration, of two corporate entities inevitably brings surprises. One purpose of this comprehensive book is to help the reader to minimize the impact of unforeseen problems. The book is rich with examples of both historically significant and current mergers, yet because of its question-and-answer format is easily accessible and in fact a good read. Ms. Lajoux, having observed and reported on M&A and corporate governance for over twenty years, knows whereof she writes but nonetheless calls on the knowledge of many others as well. The fifty experts in various facets of M&A who contributed in one way or another to this book are identified for the readers' convenience. One measure of the scope of this book is the fact that its index, in fine print, takes up a good dozen pages. In summary, The Art of M&A Integration: A Guide to Merging Resources, Processes, and Responsibilities, is a thorough guided tour through the field and, not incidentally, a giant check list of potential pitfalls and opportunities along the way.

I've recommended this book to several friends.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A comprehensive textbook on a very timely topic, October 1, 1998

By A Customer

Alex Lajoux cut her professional teeth on this subject, and knows her stuff! Fortunately, she also is a surperb writer, and is able to organize and explain often difficult material in a very readable and clear manner. THE ART OF M&A offers a step-by-step textbook that will prove valuable for anyone contemplating or going through the merger process. The book is logically broken down into appropriate topics (Basic Definitions and Data, Integration Planning and Communication, Integrating Financial and Tangible Resources, etc.) and sub-topics (Preserving Brand Identity after a Merger, Merging Senior Management Teams, etc.) making this a valuable reference book which will become a keeper in any executive library. Read this book before you merge or acquire, and you won't be disappointed. The small investment will save you a fortune in legal fees and headaches later!