Originally published in 2012.

"With its inception at the end of the nineteenth century as a means of consolidation and reorganization, mergers and acquisitions (M & A) have since become quasi-institutionalized as one of the primary strategic options for organizations, as they seek to secure their position in an ever more competitive and globalizing market place. Despite the optimism surrounding M & A as strategic moves, research on post-merger company performance suggests that most firms engaging in M & A activity do not achieve the sought-after performance targets, either immediately or in the years following the deal. What is it that drives M & A activity when research results do not support the performance expectations of these undertakings? Alternatively, have M & A scholars got it all wrong in the way that M & A performance is measured? Is the topic too complex, enduring, and multifaceted to study? The handbook argues that the field of M & A is in need of a re-rooting: past research needs to be critically reviewed, and fundamental assumptions revisited. A key issue preventing efforts in the practice and study of M & A from achieving dynamic syntheses has been the disciplinary gulf separating strategy, finance, and human relations schools. The handbook aims to bridge the hitherto separate disciplines engaged in the study and practice of M & A to provide more meaningful results. Toward this end, the handbook brings together a set of prominent and emerging scholars and practitioners engaged in the study of M & A to provide thought-provoking, state of the art overviews of M & A through four specific 'lenses' - strategic, financial, socio-cultural, and sectoral approaches. By summarizing key findings in current research and exploring ways in which the differing approaches could and should be 'synthesized', it aims to highlight the key issues facing M & A practitioners and academics at the dawn of the third millennium"-- Provided by publisher.

"The handbook bridges hitherto separate disciplines engaged in research in mergers and acquisitions (M & A) to integrate strategic, financial, socio-cultural, and sectoral approaches to the field. It examines the management processes involved, as well as valuations and post-acquisition performance, and considers international and sectoral dimensions"-- Provided by publisher.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

10. Acquiring Distressed and Bankrupt Concerns / Scott Moeller and Maria Carapeto -- 11. Takeover Strategies, Competitive Bidding and Defensive Tactics / Brendan McSweeney -- 12. Leveraged Buyouts / Viktoria Dalko -- 13. Shareholder Value: a Driver of M & A Activity / Bill Ryan -- Section III: A Socio-Cultural Lens for M & A -- 14. Post-M & A Integration: An Overview / Satu Teerikangas and Richard J. Joseph -- 15. Individual Response to Mergers and Acquisitions / Susan Cartwright -- 16. Culture in M & A: A Critical Synthesis and Steps Forward / Satu Teerikangas and Philippe Very -- 17. Country Cultural Differences in Acquisition Management / David Faulkner, Robert Pitkethly, and John Child -- 18. Knowledge Management in Mergers and Acquisitions / Sajjad Jasimuddin -- 19. A Social Identity Analysis of Mergers and Acquisitions / Steffen Giessner, Johannes Ullrich, and Rolf van Dick -- 20. Power and Politics in M & A / Janne Tienari and Eero Vaara.

21. Silent Forces Shaping the Performance of Cross-border Acquisitions / Satu Teerikangas -- Section IV: A Sectorial Lens for M & A -- 22. Characteristics of Emerging Market Mergers and Acquisitions / Harbir Singh and Prashant Kale -- 23. Financial Mergers and Acquisitions: From Regulation to Strategic Repositioning to Geo-economics / Gary A. Dymski -- 24. Mergers between Professional Service Firms: How the Big 8 Became the Big 5 / Nicholas Fairclough and Samantha Fairclough -- 25. Examining Resource and Expectational Ambiguity in Technology M & A Integration / Annette Ranft, Adelaide Wilcox King, and Jennifer C. Sexton -- 26. Characteristics of Biotechnology Mergers and Acquisitions / Lars Schweizer -- Section V: Synthesis -- 27. A Synthesis / David Faulkner, Satu Teerikangas, and Richard J. Joseph -- Appendix 1: M & A Motives, Definitions, and Defining Characteristics.