| Abstract | This thesis investigates the various factors that contribute to a successful merger or acquisition through the case studies of companies in various industries since 1999. The thesis first provides a brief history of mergers and acquisitions and discusses the various considerations behind mergers and acquisitions. Each case study is evaluated on a framework that incorporates strategic logic, organizational factors, and financial considerations to arrive at the relative success of each merger. The four case studies discussed are: Exxon and Mobil (1999), America Online and Time Warner (2000), Disney and Pixar (2006), and Sirius and XM Radio (2007). Ultimately, the thesis highlights the importance of sound strategic logic, a vision for future industry trends, similarity and ease of incorporating assets across companies while mitigating distracting external factors, such as the requirements to be met by government agencies, and internal factors, such as cultural compatibility. |
