Whether you are thinking of a potential merger or acquisition or already in the process of an M&A, here are some important questions we can help you answer:

• Do you have the right team in place to evaluate the targets?
• Is all of operational management involved in the process?
• Have you given more importance to the advice of external advisors rather than your own managers?
• Does the proposed merger or acquisition comply with regulatory agencies?

• Do the negotiators understand the benchmarks and company risk appetite?

• Are there environmental risks hidden in the selected target?

• Are the deal-makers more concerned with closing the deal than whether the target is a good fit with acceptable risk?

• Were steps missed or overlooked during the negotiations or deal structure?

• Do accounting rules or preferences drive the payment method instead of growth or risk considerations?
• Have key employees with the most knowledge been identified and measures been taken to retain them?
• Were employee roles and the organizational structure defined early on?
• Were key elements missed or not given value during the initial risk assessment? 

Risk Management experts can help assess the strategic risks of M&A activities.  Contact us to provide insight as to how Internal Audit can add significant value throughout the M&A process.