Publications

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October 2007 (Revised December 2008)
Background Note

Evaluating M&A Deals: How Poison Pills Work

By: Carliss Y. Baldwin

The poison pill defense against hostile takeovers was invented in 1982 by Martin Lipton, of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen and Katz. Pills are considered the most effective of all the normal defenses against a hostile bidder. Describes the two basic types of poison pills... View Details

Keywords: Negotiation Deal; Mergers and Acquisitions

2006
Article

The Long-Term Value of M&A Activity to Enhance Learning Organizations

Viewing the automobile industry as being made up of independent learning-organisations may reveal some tie-ups that can generate value not easily revealed by traditional financial metrics. The key question to be answered when considering M&A activity between automakers... View Details

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Business Processes; Manufacturing Industry; Auto Industry

January 2005 (Revised April 2006)
Case

Four Deals

By: Carliss Y. Baldwin

Describes four disguised deals with different characteristics from the perspective of the acquirer. Asks students to compare, contrast, and rank the opportunities. View Details

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Negotiation Deal

16 Mar 2010
First Look

First Look: March 16

measurement and analytics in translating TD-Canada Trust's service model of "comfortable banking" into operational terms. In 2000, in a banking market where consumers and regulators were typically hostile to mergers and... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

September 2000 (Revised May 2003)
Case

Radio One, Inc.

By: Richard S. Ruback and Pauline M Fischer

Radio One (NYSE: ROIA and RIOAK), the largest radio group targeting African-Americans in the country, had the opportunity to acquire 12 urban stations in the top 50 markets from Clear Channel Communications, Inc. (NYSE: CCU) in the winter of 2000. The stations were... View Details

Keywords: Negotiation; Valuation; Race; Mergers and Acquisitions; Financial Strategy; Media and Broadcasting Industry; Indiana; United States; North Carolina

15 Oct 2001
Research & Ideas

Four Questions for David Garvin and Michael Roberto

assess the decision-making process at their companies. How often should leaders do such self-assessment? A: They should use the litmus test—in real time—as they wrestle with all major strategic decisions. This is not as often as it sounds, since major strategic... View Details

Keywords: by Martha Lagace

07 Apr 2003
Research & Ideas

Three Steps for Crisis Prevention

merger would sail through the antitrust review. But while it did pass easily through the U.S. review—no doubt further reinforcing his confidence—it smashed on the rocks in Europe. Had Welch recognized the potential for a negative decision... View Details

Keywords: by Michael D. Watkins & Max H. Bazerman

23 Feb 2016
First Look

February 23, 2016

paid. Download working paper: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=50623 Harvard Business School Case 516-058 BRF In 2015, BRF's new leadership team is transforming several aspects of the Brazilian protein giant, which had grown sluggish after the 2011 View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

01 Aug 2012
What Do You Think?

Should CEOs Worry About ‘Too Big to Succeed?’

cause the lack of sufficient organic growth as opposed to the growth by mergers and acquisitions. As he put it, "Toobigs are enormously complex, with massive, self defeating strategies at war within, producing a lower return."... View Details

Keywords: by James Heskett; Manufacturing; Financial Services

February 2011 (Revised May 2011)
Case

Marlin & Associates and the Sale of Riverview Technologies

By: Richard S. Ruback and Royce Yudkoff

Riverview Technologies was a Stockholm, Sweden-based company that had developed software hedge funds. After spending more than a year in an organized sale process, the winning bidder had become increasingly difficult to work with and the closing had been substantially... View Details

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Entrepreneurship; Negotiation Deal; Negotiation Offer; Negotiation Process; Business and Shareholder Relations; Financial Services Industry

March 2008
Supplement

Patel Food and Chemicals Private Limited (C)

By: Felda Hardymon and Ann Leamon

Alok Patel, the founder and chairman of a Gujarat-based, privately held edible oils processor, is considering long-term liquidity opportunities for the company and its investors. He could list the company on one of the Indian exchanges, opt for a trade sale, or acquire... View Details

Keywords: Financial Liquidity; Financial Management; Mergers and Acquisitions; Going Public; Opportunities; Chemical Industry; Food and Beverage Industry; Gujarat

Find at Harvard

08 Jun 2010
First Look

First Look: June 8

economic theory of the costs and benefits of corporate culture—in the sense of shared beliefs and values—in order to study the effects of 'culture clash' in mergers and acquisitions. I first use a simple analytical framework to show that... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

18 Jul 2017
First Look

First Look at New Research and Ideas, July 18, 2017

May 11, 2017 New England Journal of Medicine Good Riddance to Big Insurance Mergers By: Dafny, Leemore S. Abstract—Federal judges issued preliminary injunctions halting mergers of four of the five largest... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

10 Jul 2000
Research & Ideas

The State of the Markets

Worldwide financial markets are in a period of extraordinary change, as they gear up for more and more volume, work out an assortment of mergers and consolidations, contemplate the reality of 24-hour global trading, adopt new advances in... View Details

Keywords: by James E. Aisner

March 2022
Case

Shanghai Pudong Science and Technology Investment Co., Ltd.: December 2014

By: Josh Lerner, Luyang Zhang, Xinlai Tong and Yue Kong

In early December 2014, the senior team of Pudong Science and Technology Investment (hereafter, Pudong S&T) gathered in the offices of their chairman, Dr. Xudong Zhu. Before completing its cross-border acquisition of Montage Technology, Pudong S&T—wholly owned by the... View Details

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Ownership Stake; Risk Management; Ownership Type; China

2010
Supplement

Berkshire Partners: Bidding for Carter's, Spreadsheet Supplement

By: Malcolm Baker and James Quinn

Keywords: Auctions; Valuation; Leveraged Buyouts; Mergers and Acquisitions; Apparel and Accessories Industry; Retail Industry; Massachusetts

Read Now

December 2006 (Revised May 2008)
Case

Lion Capital and the Blackstone Group: The Orangina Deal

By: G. Felda Hardymon, Josh Lerner and Ann Leamon

The managing partners of two private equity firms are hoping to forestall a third bidding round for a target company, the European beverage division of Cadbury Schweppes. As they wait to meet with the CEO, they revisit their assumptions on the deal and review the... View Details

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Private Equity; Negotiation Deal; Negotiation Process; Partners and Partnerships; Valuation; Europe

March 2003
Case

Compaq's Struggle

By: Carliss Y. Baldwin and David Lane

In 1997, Compaq Computer was locked in price competition with industry leader Dell. Although Compaq sought to escape difficulty by acquiring Digital Equipment Corp. ,a maker of more lucrative servers and minicomputers, in 1998 the simultaneous effort to remain a... View Details

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Business Exit or Shutdown; Asset Pricing; Alliances; Competitive Strategy; Computer Industry