Understanding and Managing Mergers and Acquisitions Utrecht Summer School

Overview

Many executives say they use M&A (Mergers & Acquisitions) as a means to consolidate or expand the market position or increase its production efficiency. Most mergers and acquisitions, however, fail to create value, leading to the so-called ‘merger paradox’. By adopting a multidisciplinary and institutional perspective, this course aims to increase the understanding of merger determinants and effects.

The Understanding and Managing Mergers and Acquisitions course from Utrecht Summer School will provide its participants with answers to these questions and make a good introduction into the world of merger market as well as a discussion on the topic of Material Adverse Change (MAC) clauses. 

Merger markets in times of Covid-19 are as various as never before. While prominent companies like Google Cloud, Nestle SA and Boohoo have announced their openness for acquisition, others appear to be the reason of a current "stop" in the emerging markets. 

The economic pressure reflected from postponing the deal activity between acquisitions and followed to late stage operations and final transactions. But on the other hand, the time of Covid-19 crisis gave an opportunity for companies to headhunt for benefits and win bids. 

But what is happening on the markets in terms of new strategic objectives and their barriers? What is the result of comparison of previous capabilities and expected volumes for the nearest future? Which are the legal consequences of the Covid-19 crisis for M&A contracts?

Study load

Contact hours daily: 4-5 hours (lectures, group assignments). Self-study daily: 4 hours (preparation and research).

Participants will make an online final exam on the last day of the course. Grading is based on a 10-point scale on the weighted sum of different elements.