Introductory description

The module is designed to provide students with a broad understanding of mergers and acquisitions (including strategic alliances) and, by using a multi-disciplinary approach, the impact of other disciplines/specialisms.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

M&A in context.
Multi-disciplinary approach to analysing M&A.
Strategy: M&A and alliances.
Private Equity.
Regulators and governments.
Process.
Valuation.
Defences, corporate governance and financial PR.
Integration and post-acquisition management.
Success & failure.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• To understand M&A activity including the relevance and importance of M&A as an activity in terms of volume, value, geographic and industry/sector spread.
• To understand M&A activity including the strategic importance of M&A including that to not-for profit organisations.
• To understand M&A activity including the key role process plays in M&A.
• To understand M&A activity including the principles of valuation.
• To understand M&A activity including the role and impact of regulators and governments at national, international, regional (EU) and global levels.
• To understand M&A activity including determining how acquisitions should be integrated and managed post-acquisition and the potential problems/pitfalls.
• To understand M&A activity including achieving post-acquisition success (or avoiding post acquisition failure).
• To understand the impact of other key disciplines on M&A including Economics, finance and accounting.
• To understand the impact of other key disciplines on M&A including human resource management.
• To understand the impact of other key disciplines on M&A including operations and service operations management.
• To be able to analyse M&A transactions effectively and critically using a variety of theoretical and practical techniques and from a range of disciplines from finance through to human resources.
• Finance and accounting analysis.
• Developing a balanced analysis using several disciplines.

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Subject specific skills

To be able to understand the key elements of M&A activity and its role as a corporate activity and to be able to assess potential and actual transactions and their aftermath.
Researching to gain sufficient information to be able to meaningfully analyse transactions.

Transferable skills

Clear and concise report writing.
Oral presentation skills.
Team working.