Latest posts
The Relationships That Create Successful Acquisitions
A study of start-up acquisitions shows important patterns on both sides lead to a successful integration.
Blending Public and Private Value Creation at Natura
One major, home-grown firm in Brazil offers a successful, impactful business model to overcome skill and talent scarcity.
The Cost of Geopolitics to M&As
When geopolitical relations between nations are strained, states are more inclined to intervene to block mergers and acquisitions on national security grounds. But this makes mergers more difficult and more expensive, putting them at odds with the national interest.
Volkswagen: Still Too Much Power with Majority Shareholders?
Regulations protecting minority shareholders are not enough. States must enforce them.
AB InBev’s Acquisition Formula
The beer giant applies three core principles to swallowing its competitors.
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Protecting Minority Shareholders Pays
Where minority shareholders are protected, more investment takes place.
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How Foreign Acquisitions Boost Productivity at Home
Foreign expansion can be more than just a gateway to new markets. When acquired in context, overseas companies can provide the capabilities and skills to raise productivity in operations back home.
“Build, Borrow or Buy” Your Talent?
Germany’s two leading football clubs are about to go head-to-head in the final of the German Cup. The talent management principles that got them there went well beyond just buying players.
INSEAD's Global Thought Leaders: Laurence Capron
INSEAD professor of strategy Laurence Capron, nominated for the 2013 Thinkers50 "Strategy Award," explains the three factors preventing business leaders from making crucial changes.
Warning Against Binge Buying. When is M&A the Right Answer to Your Growth Challenges?
By Laurence Capron & Will Mitchell
One of the truisms of business life is that mergers and acquisitions often create more headlines than value. Some studies indicate that 70% of deals fail to achieve their objectives. In our research on 150 ICT firms (“Build, Borrow or Buy: Solving the Growth Dilemma”, Harvard Business Review Press, 2012), only 27% of the responding firms reported they were able to extract the value that they wanted to achieve from their target firms’ capabilities following their acquisitions.
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Why Chinese Firms’ Cross-Border Deals Fall Apart
By Laurence Capron & Will Mitchell
During the past decade, Chinese firms have become aggressive cross-border acquirers. Unfortunately they have been struggling to actually close their deals.
Some deals have failed because of national security concerns in the U.S., including CNOOC’s attempt to purchase Unocal in 2005 and Huawei’s attempt to buy 3Leaf Systems in 2011.
Yahoo’s challenge: Finding a viable growth path via acquisitions
Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer recently announced her plan to make acquisitions to revitalize and grow Yahoo. Her announcement generated a lot of reaction, but not so much about her ability to execute M&As — Mayer brings M&A experience gained at Google, and if she sticks with relatively small, educational acquisitions, failure on one deal will not break the company.
