Mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and other restructurings : a practical guide to investment banking and private equity.

Abstract

Mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and other restructurings (M&A) have arguably existed as long as the history of business. The processes of merging, purchasing, divesting entities or assets, and restructuring businesses are all major methods of providing growth and value to both large and small corporations alike. The Wall Street–coveted analysis of understanding the drivers leading to growth through M&A has remained somewhat of a mystery to the public, until now. Although M&A activity has its origins arguably with the dawn of commerce, M&A as a greater business strategic phenomenon began in the nineteenth century in a period known as “The Great Merger Movement.” It was at this time that very small businesses were consolidated into large public entities that dominated the markets. Companies like U.S. Steel, International Paper, and Standard Oil created near-monopolistic entities. Today M&A has evolved and changed with regulation, market, and industry. Despite the details of its evolution and progress, M&A still proves to be a key driver for business growth. A merger or acquisition is the purchase of or combination of at least one business asset or entity into another. The definition of mergers and acquisitions, although not directly stated, often incorporates divestitures and other restructurings as well, which is why I’ve expanded the title of the book to Mergers, Acquisitions, Restructurings, and Other Divestitures. Although the core focus of the book from a technical perspective will be on mergers, it is important to note the other aspects of M&A, which we will define in Chapter 1. This is a book in a series, and subsequent books will dive into cases that reflect the other areas, including divestitures and restructurings. Mergers and acquisitions come in varying forms, the analysis of which helps determine the impact of said purchase, combination, divestiture, or other restructurings on the financial entities involved. Such analyses are important for establishing posttransaction value and helping to determine if the transaction is potentially worth the efforts. This book seeks to give an investor the fundamental tools to help analyze such transactions and determine and interpret the results. These fundamental tools are used by investment banks and private equity funds worldwide. We will evaluate the potential merger of Office Depot and OfficeMax, utilizing the exact same methods used by the bulge bracket investment banks and top private equity firms. We will also step through the framework behind various types ofM&Atransactions and give you a conceptual understanding of the analyses. Using the model, you will learn how such transactions are implemented.We will have you step into the role of an analyst onWall Street to give you a firsthand perspective and understanding of how the modeling process works, and to give you the tools to create your own analyses. This book is ideal for both those wanting to create their own analyses and those wanting to enter the investment banking or private equity field. This is also a guide designed for investment banking or private equity professionals if they need a thorough review or simply an M&A modeling refresher.