The Art of M&A: A Merger Acquisition Buyout Guide [Hardcover]

Synopses of nearly three dozen landmark cases give real life insights into legal rulings from previous high profile mergers. Over the past decade, The Art of M&A has helped thousands of executives make sound decisions. Now, let it provide all the information you will need to buy or sell companies, whether public or private, domestic or foreign.

Many of you who own the Second Edition of this title (published in 1995) may wonder what's new in the Third Edition (1999). For your convenience, here is the new Table of Contents.

As you can see, we have added three new chapters on:

· M&A Integration (Chapter 10)

· M&A in Family Businesses, Partnerships, Franchises, and Nonprofits (Chapter 13)

· Spin-Offs and Strategic Alliances (Chapter 14)

The Third Edition also features an Epilogue that reviews the history of past merger waves, and makes predictions about the current "Megamerger Wave" now upon us.

Finally, we have updated the entire text.

We hope you find the new edition useful.

As always, we welcome your comments. (Our e-mail addresses are included in the new edition.)

Alexandra R. Lajoux (for Reed and Lajoux)

PS: Scroll down for our new Table of Contents.

The Art of M&A A Merger/Acquisition/Buyout Guide Third Edition Stanley Foster Reed Alexandra Reed Lajoux

CHAPTER 1: GETTING STARTED IN MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS Introduction. Basic Terms. Concluding Comments.

CHAPTER 2 PLANNING AND FINDING Introduction. Strategic Planning for Operating Companies. In-house Search. Brokers and Finders. Using Intermediaries. Role of Investment and Commercial Banks in M&A. General Regulatory Considerations for Buyers. Antitrust Considerations for Acquisitions. Hart-Scott-Rodino. Concluding Comments. Appendix 2A-Revision to the Horizontal Merger Guidelines Issued by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission.

CHAPTER 3 VALUATION AND PRICING Introduction. Valuation Fundamentals. Pricing Issues. Expressing The Purchase Price in the Acquisition Agreement. Concluding Comments. Exhibit 3-1-Estimating the Cost of Capital.

CHAPTER 4 FINANCING AND REFINANCING Introduction. Highly Leveraged Transactions. Minimizing Borrowing. Pros and Cons of Preserving Debt and Lease Obligations. Determining Financing Structure. Senior Debt. Sale Leasebacks. The Bank Book and Commitment Letter. Fraudulent Conveyance and Other Litigation Concerns. Other Principal Issues in Senior Loan Agreements. Insurance Company Financing. Junk Bonds. Bridge Loans. Equity Investment Funds. Seller Takeback Financing. Registration Rights. Intercreditor Issues. Subordination Issues. Intercreditor Agreements. Refinancing Issues. Concluding Comments. Appendix 4A-Typical Subordination Provisions of Publicly Issued Notes. Appendix 4B-Typical Subordination Provisions of Privately Placed Institutional Notes. Appendix 4C-Typical Subordination Provisions of Seller Notes.Exhibit 4-1, Installment Sale Models.

CHAPTER 5 STRUCTURING M/A/B TRANSACTIONS: GENERAL, TAX, AND ACCOUNTING CONSIDERATIONS Introduction. General Considerations. Tax Considerations. Accounting Considerations. Concluding Comments. Transaction Diagrams [Figure 5-1 through Figure 5-11.].

CHAPTER 6 THE DUE DILIGENCE INQUIRY Introduction. Getting Started. Litigation Analysis. Environmental Exposure Analysis. Emerging Legal Issues. Do-It-Yourself Due Diligence. Assessing Information. Duration of Due Diligence. Concluding Comments. Appendix 6A-Due Diligence Checklist. Appendix 6B-Sample Confidentiality Agreement.

CHAPTER 7 PENSION, LABOR, AND COMPENSATION CONCERNS Introduction. Compensation Basics. Employee Benefit Plans. Determining Plan Assets and Liabilities and Their Effect on Company Books. Plan Split-Ups and Partial Terminations. Underfunded and Overfunded Plans. Employee Stock Ownership Plans. ESOP Securities Issues. Using Non-ESOP Stock Plans. Plans Holding Stock. Effect of Corporate Structure. Problems in Acquisitions of Unionized Companies. Concluding Comments.

CHAPTER 8 NEGOTIATING THE ACQUISITION AGREE- MENT AND THE LETTER OF INTENT Introduction. The Letter of Intent. The Acquisition Agreement. Components of the Agreement. Introductory Material. Representations and Warranties. Covenants. Conditions to Closing. The Indemnity Section. Termination Procedures. Auctions. Acquisitions from an Affiliated Group. Transactions Involving Public Companies. Negotiating and Documenting An MBO. Employment Agreements. Stockholders' Agreements. Concluding Comments. Appendix 8A-Sample Letter of Intent. Appendix 8B-Typical Merger Agreement and Commentary.

CHAPTER 9 CLOSING Introduction. The Basics of Closing. Pre-Closing. Closing. Wire Transfers. Post-Closing. Planning Aids. Closing Memorandum. Concluding Comments. Appendix 9A-Merger of Target Acquisition Corp. into Target Co. Inc., Closing Memorandum.

CHAPTER 10 POSTMERGER INTEGRATION Introduction. Postmerger Performance: The Basics. Integration Elements in the Acquisition Agreement. The Integration Plan. The Role of Outsiders in Planning M&A Integration. Communicating the Integration Plan. Integrating Human Resources. Integrating Assets (on Paper and in Reality). Integrating Commitments to Employees. Concluding Comments. Appendix 10A-Principles of Business: The Caux Roundtable. Appendix 10B-A Master Checklist for Postmerger Integration.

CHAPTER 11 WORKOUTS, BANKRUPTCIES, AND LIQUIDATIONS Introduction. Workouts. Bankruptcies. Prepackaged Bankruptcies. State Insolvency Procedures. Investment Opportunities. Bankruptcy Information Sources. Concluding Comments.

CHAPTER 12 SPECIAL ISSUES FOR M&A IN PUBLIC COMPANIES Introduction. Legal and Business Considerations. Tender Offer Basics. Proxy Solicitation Disclosures. Merger Disclosure Issues. Director Responsibilities in Responding to Unsolicited Bids. Insider Trading. Financing the Public Transaction. Considerations Applicable to Hostile Acquisitions. Antitrust Defenses. Restructuring Defenses. Poison Pills. Charter and Bylaw Amendments. Defensive Sales or Acquisitions. Defensive Payments. Related State Laws. Concluding Comments.

CHAPTER 13 M&A IN FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESSES, PARTNERSHIPS, FRANCHISES, AND NONPROFITS Introduction. Family Businesses. Partnerships. Franchises. Nonprofits. Concluding Comments.

CHAPTER 14 BEYOND M&A: SPIN-OFFS AND STRATEGIC ALLIANCES Introduction. Spin-Offs. Strategic Alliances. Concluding Comments. Appendix 14A-The AT&T Spin-Offs. Appendix 14B-The Joint Venture Agreement: A Checklist from the Regional and Economic Development Services of Saskatchewan, Canada. Appendix 14C-Diagrams of Spin-Offs, Split-Offs, and Split-Ups.

CHAPTER 15 SPECIAL TOPICS RELATING TO TRANSACTIONS WITH INTERNATIONAL ASPECTS Introduction. Nontax Issues Regarding Foreign Investment in the United States (Inbound). Nontax Issues Regarding U.S. Investments Abroad. International Tax and Disclosure Considerations. Tax Considerations in Inbound Acquisitions. Tax Considerations in Outbound Acquisitions. Concluding Comments.

EPILOGUE: M&A IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM Introduction. The Megamerger Wave. The "Merger Wave" Concept. Problems with the Merger Wave Concept. The First Wave (Crest: 1890s). The Second Wave (Crest: 1920s). The Third Wave (Crest: 1960s). The Fourth Wave (Crest: 1980s). The Fifth Wave (Crest: 1990s). The Sixth Wave (Crest: ?). M&A: The Ultimate Entrepreneurship.

CASE: A WHEEL OF OPPORTUNITY/FIT CHART CASE STUDY: J.T. SMITH CONSULTANTS.

TABLE OF CASES

LANDMARK LEGAL CASE SUMMARIES

INDEX