Chapter 1. The foundations

Acquisitions are a powerful strategic tool that can be used to grow and even transform companies. However, they are not a quick fix for operational, strategic or even financial problems. As we shall see in this book, acquisition can be a risky business. Because of the dangers, acquirers need to ensure that they are using them for the right strategic reasons and that they carefully manage the whole acquisition process. It is too easy for the deal to become a goal in itself. Essential, complex questions can end up being dismissed as irrelevant, boring or too mundane to be answered properly. This would not happen when installing a new machine or a new IT system, and it should not happen with acquisitions, but buying a company ...

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