Takeovers, acquisitions and mergers: strategies for rescuing companies in distress

Rescuing and reviving companies in distress is vital not only for the companies concerned and their staff, but also for the national economy. This book breaks new ground in the study of companies in trouble by highlighting the role that other companies, and sometimes even management or workers, can play.

Not all takeovers, however, are friendly. There are also hostile raiders, whose activities can cause a company to look for a white knight. Companies may employ devices such as the golden parachute, the pac-man defence or a poison pill in order to deter junk bonders. The takeover syndrome has generated a new jargon which this book cuts through with detailed analysis of a large number of takeovers, acquisitions and mergers worldwide. There are many lessons to be learned from the experiences of companies like Guinness, Westland and Hanson and this highly practical book shows managers how to recognise the signs of company being in trouble, and also the road to recovery. Fully documented case studies show how companies have developed effective management strategies for handling decline, exposing a wide range of possibilities and highlighting the management qualities essential to successful rescue operations.