When two companies negotiate a merger or acquisition agreement, the result can be impressively good or downright bad. Deals worth jaw-dropping figures in the millions or even billions often dominate news headlines. Mergers and acquisitions are an important part of business – leading to greater financial strength for both companies involved. Greater economic power can create a reduced competitive threat, higher market share, and increased profits.
However, these ventures are not always successful – failure can be caused by issues like cultural integration, geopolitical issues, executives being fired, or bankruptcy. Mergers and acquisitions are extremely risky, without the proper strategy and knowledge they can cost companies billions making them memorable for all the wrong reasons. When it comes to M&A’s, some are so significant that we can’t remember a time when the companies were separate: Where would Disney be without Pixar? Here we look at the best, and worst, mergers of all time: The good, the bad, and the ugly.
