1. PowerPoint Presentation by Charlie Cook The University of West Alabama Strategic Management Competitiveness and Globalization: Concepts and Cases Michael A. Hitt R. Duane Ireland Robert E. Hoskisson Seventh edition S TRATEGIC A CTIONS: S TRATEGY F ORMULATION Student Version © 2007 Thomson/South-Western. All rights reserved. CHAPTER 7 Acquisition and Restructuring Strategies

2. © 2007 Thomson/South-Western. All rights reserved. 7–2 Mergers, Acquisitions, and Takeovers: What are the Differences? MergerMerger  Two firms agree to integrate their operations on a relatively co-equal basis. AcquisitionAcquisition  One firm buys a controlling, or 100% interest in another firm with the intent of making the acquired firm a subsidiary business within its portfolio. TakeoverTakeover  A special type of acquisition when the target firm did not solicit the acquiring firm’s bid for outright ownership.

3. © 2007 Thomson/South-Western. All rights reserved. 7–3 Acquisitions: Increased Market Power Factors increasing market power when:Factors increasing market power when:  There is the ability to sell goods or services above competitive levels.  Costs of primary or support activities are below those of competitors.  A firm’s size, resources and capabilities gives it a superior ability to compete. Acquisitions intended to increase market power are subject to:Acquisitions intended to increase market power are subject to:  Regulatory review  Analysis by financial markets

4. © 2007 Thomson/South-Western. All rights reserved. 7–4 Acquisitions: Increased Market Power (cont’d) Market power is increased by:Market power is increased by:  Horizontal acquisitions: other firms in the same industry  Vertical acquisitions: suppliers or distributors of the acquiring firm  Related acquisitions: firms in related industries

5. © 2007 Thomson/South-Western. All rights reserved. 7–5 Acquisitions: Overcoming Entry Barriers Entry BarriersEntry Barriers  Factors associated with the market or with the firms operating in it that increase the expense and difficulty faced by new ventures trying to enter that market Economies of scaleEconomies of scale Differentiated productsDifferentiated products Cross-Border AcquisitionsCross-Border Acquisitions  Acquisitions made between companies with headquarters in different countries Are often made to overcome entry barriers.Are often made to overcome entry barriers. Can be difficult to negotiate and operate because of the differences in foreign cultures.

6. © 2007 Thomson/South-Western. All rights reserved. 7–6 Acquisitions: Cost of New-Product Development and Increased Speed to Market Internal development of new products is often perceived as high-risk activity.Internal development of new products is often perceived as high-risk activity.  Acquisitions allow a firm to gain access to new and current products that are new to the firm.  Returns are more predictable because of the acquired firms’ experience with the products.

7. © 2007 Thomson/South-Western. All rights reserved. 7–7 Acquisitions: Lower Risk Compared to Developing New Products An acquisition’s outcomes can be estimated more easily and accurately than the outcomes of an internal product development process.An acquisition’s outcomes can be estimated more easily and accurately than the outcomes of an internal product development process.  Managers may view acquisitions as lowering risk associated with internal ventures and R&D investments.  Acquisitions may discourage or suppress innovation.

8. © 2007 Thomson/South-Western. All rights reserved. 7–8 Acquisitions: Increased Diversification Using acquisitions to diversify a firm is the quickest and easiest way to change its portfolio of businesses.Using acquisitions to diversify a firm is the quickest and easiest way to change its portfolio of businesses. Both related diversification and unrelated diversification strategies can be implemented through acquisitions.Both related diversification and unrelated diversification strategies can be implemented through acquisitions. The more related the acquired firm is to the acquiring firm, the greater is the probability that the acquisition will be successful.The more related the acquired firm is to the acquiring firm, the greater is the probability that the acquisition will be successful.

9. © 2007 Thomson/South-Western. All rights reserved. 7–9 Acquisitions: Reshaping the Firm’s Competitive Scope An acquisition can:An acquisition can:  Reduce the negative effect of an intense rivalry on a firm’s financial performance.  Reduce a firm’s dependence on one or more products or markets. Reducing a company’s dependence on specific markets alters the firm’s competitive scope.Reducing a company’s dependence on specific markets alters the firm’s competitive scope.

10. © 2007 Thomson/South-Western. All rights reserved. 7–10 Acquisitions: Learning and Developing New Capabilities An acquiring firm can gain capabilities that the firm does not currently possess:An acquiring firm can gain capabilities that the firm does not currently possess:  Special technological capability  A broader knowledge base  Reduced inertia Firms should acquire other firms with different but related and complementary capabilities in order to build their own knowledge base.Firms should acquire other firms with different but related and complementary capabilities in order to build their own knowledge base.

11. © 2007 Thomson/South-Western. All rights reserved. 7–11 Problems in Achieving Acquisition Success: Integration Difficulties Integration challenges include:Integration challenges include:  Melding two disparate corporate cultures  Linking different financial and control systems  Building effective working relationships (particularly when management styles differ)  Resolving problems regarding the status of the newly acquired firm’s executives  Loss of key personnel weakens the acquired firm’s capabilities and reduces its value

12. © 2007 Thomson/South-Western. All rights reserved. 7–12 Problems in Achieving Acquisition Success: Inadequate Evaluation of the Target Due DiligenceDue Diligence  The process of evaluating a target firm for acquisition Ineffective due diligence may result in paying an excessive premium for the target company.Ineffective due diligence may result in paying an excessive premium for the target company. Evaluation requires examining:Evaluation requires examining:  Financing of the intended transaction  Differences in culture between the firms  Tax consequences of the transaction  Actions necessary to meld the two workforces

13. © 2007 Thomson/South-Western. All rights reserved. 7–13 Problems in Achieving Acquisition Success: Large or Extraordinary Debt High debt (e.g., junk bonds) can:High debt (e.g., junk bonds) can:  Increase the likelihood of bankruptcy  Lead to a downgrade of the firm’s credit rating  Preclude investment in activities that contribute to the firm’s long-term success such as: Research and developmentResearch and development Human resource trainingHuman resource training MarketingMarketing

14. © 2007 Thomson/South-Western. All rights reserved. 7–14 Problems in Achieving Acquisition Success: Inability to Achieve Synergy SynergySynergy  When assets are worth more when used in conjunction with each other than when they are used separately. Firms experience transaction costs when they use acquisition strategies to create synergy.Firms experience transaction costs when they use acquisition strategies to create synergy. Firms tend to underestimate indirect costs when evaluating a potential acquisition.Firms tend to underestimate indirect costs when evaluating a potential acquisition.

15. © 2007 Thomson/South-Western. All rights reserved. 7–15 Problems in Achieving Acquisition Success: Inability to Achieve Synergy (cont’d) Private synergyPrivate synergy  When the combination and integration of the acquiring and acquired firms’ assets yields capabilities and core competencies that could not be developed by combining and integrating either firm’s assets with another company. Advantage: It is difficult for competitors to understand and imitate.Advantage: It is difficult for competitors to understand and imitate. Disadvantage: It is also difficult to create.Disadvantage: It is also difficult to create.

16. © 2007 Thomson/South-Western. All rights reserved. 7–16 Problems in Achieving Acquisition Success: Too Much Diversification Diversified firms must process more information of greater diversity.Diversified firms must process more information of greater diversity.  Increased operational scope created by diversification may cause managers to rely too much on financial rather than strategic controls to evaluate business units’ performances.  Strategic focus shifts to short-term performance.  Acquisitions may become substitutes for innovation.

17. © 2007 Thomson/South-Western. All rights reserved. 7–17 Problems in Achieving Acquisition Success: Managers Overly Focused on Acquisitions Managers invest substantial time and energy in acquisition strategies in:Managers invest substantial time and energy in acquisition strategies in:  Searching for viable acquisition candidates.  Completing effective due-diligence processes.  Preparing for negotiations.  Managing the integration process after the acquisition is completed.

18. © 2007 Thomson/South-Western. All rights reserved. 7–18 Problems in Achieving Acquisition Success: Managers Overly Focused on Acquisitions Managers in target firms operate in a state of virtual suspended animation during an acquisition.Managers in target firms operate in a state of virtual suspended animation during an acquisition.  Executives may become hesitant to make decisions with long-term consequences until negotiations have been completed.  The acquisition process can create a short-term perspective and a greater aversion to risk among executives in the target firm.

19. © 2007 Thomson/South-Western. All rights reserved. 7–19 Problems in Achieving Acquisition Success: Too Large Additional costs of controls may exceed the benefits of the economies of scale and additional market power.Additional costs of controls may exceed the benefits of the economies of scale and additional market power. Larger size may lead to more bureaucratic controls.Larger size may lead to more bureaucratic controls. Formalized controls often lead to relatively rigid and standardized managerial behavior.Formalized controls often lead to relatively rigid and standardized managerial behavior. The firm may produce less innovation.The firm may produce less innovation.

20. © 2007 Thomson/South-Western. All rights reserved. 7–20 Restructuring A strategy through which a firm changes its set of businesses or financial structure.A strategy through which a firm changes its set of businesses or financial structure.  Failure of an acquisition strategy often precedes a restructuring strategy.  Restructuring may occur because of changes in the external or internal environments. Restructuring strategies:Restructuring strategies:  Downsizing  Downscoping  Leveraged buyouts