The Morning After: Making Corporate Mergers Work After The Deal Is Sealed

At the dawn of the twenty-first century, the corporate marriage frenzy had reached fever pitch: the spectacular announcement of the AOL-TimeWarner merger was only the latest in a series of high-profile deals -- from Daimler-Chrysler to Citicorp-Travelers -- with a total value exceeding two trillion dollars. This phenomenon is not a flash in the pan; today's business environment requires that companies go outside their boundaries to gain access to the resources and expertise that will allow them to compete effectively and increase the value of the enterprise. But after the ink is dry, most experiments in corporate acquisition fail to live up to expectations. In The Morning After , Stephen and Shannon Rye Wall examine dozens of cases to identify the seven common warning signs that an acquisition is in danger and outline practical strategies for making corporate marriages successful in the long run. From pre-merger planning to launching the integration process to defining new roles for executives and managers, The Morning After offers a wealth of concrete tools for leading and sustaining successful collaborations.

Stephen J. Wall and Shannon Rye Wall are consultants with Right Manus, a firm specializing in strategy implementation. Experts in corporate mergers and acquisition, they advise corporations worldwide and write and speak frequently on the topic. Authors of The New Strategists, they live in Wilton, Connecticut.