Nov 2014 Chairman's Message - M&A Experts Face New Challenges


As we solve many past challenges to successful M&A, new issues arise driven by technology advances and changing demands for products and services.  The global economy has expedited intense cross-border M&A migration.  So, everything changes as it has consistently over the past decades, but today’s issues require unique answers. 

Issues like:

  • Cyber Security
  • Strategy – Setting a new course.  Setting the right course
  • Big Data – How to validate a target’s claim that they leverage it?
  • Legal and regulatory changes across global jurisdictions
  • Smart-Sourcing – advisors, consultants or “do it ourselves”?
  • How do we keep our talent in a society where people change companies on a regular basis?
  • Determining the value of an emerging technology
  • Managing the TSA in todays “carve-outs”
  • Integrating across languages, cultures and business models
  • Divesting assets for a more balanced and sustainable future – the new M&A

These challenges and more have been raised by over 600 recent alumni from our training programs.  We have been diligent over the past four years in trying to address the multifold fundamentals and countless nuances for effective M&A, and we will continue our determination to serve up answers to the M&A community. 

Because the M&A Leadership Council is made up of the best professional services companies and various luminaries in the industry, the Council doesn’t have to create the answers on its own, but can tap into the wealth of knowledge across the entire value chain of M&A. In 2015, we are introducing “The Art of M&A Strategy,” featuring Ken Smith, co-author of the book by the same name. Baker and McKenzie will deal with the likes of cyber security, global legal and regulatory issues in our new “The Art of M&A Risk Management” conference.  M&A Partners will address the Big Data issues along with all people and integration issues in “The Art of M&A Integration” and “The Art of IT Integration.”  Crowe Horwath will address the concerns and solutions for comprehensive due diligence and valuation in “The Art of M&A Due Diligence.”

We have 15 exciting seminars scheduled for 2015.  Please join us and get your answers.

Best,

Jim