In considering the security risks of mergers and acquisitions, one must first consider the type of business in which they are making an acquisition. Many large corporations make acquisitions to take advantage of a lucrative but risky business opportunity.
These businesses may be energy companies with natural gas or oil assets that are a “sure thing.” However, if these companies do not adequately address the security risks related to the acquisition, they could find themselves at a disadvantage in their new endeavor.
One of the primary security risks of a merger or acquisition is how the acquired company will be able to keep its intellectual property to protect its competitive position from competitors. Another risk is how the acquired company will be able to finance its operations in the new location.
Some large corporations have found that combining their operations in a new location with financing problems has made them a liability as well as a credit risk. In these cases, the combined company may be subject to lawsuits related to breach of contract and other securities and fiduciary issues.
Address the Security Risks of Mergers and Acquisition by Creating a Board of Directors focused on the strategic objectives of the company. The strategic objectives of the company should include a long-term plan that clearly identifies the financial needs of the company as well as the expansion plans it will undertake as it grows.
The strategic plans should also include the identification of the short-term and long-term goals of the company. The short-term goals should be in relation to the day-to-day operations of the business. Long-term goals should be determined in relation to the company’s strategic objectives.
The creation of a corporate board will not only address the security risks of a merger or acquisition, but will also provide necessary structure and leadership to the business. The structure and leadership should be in place before the acquisition or merger closes.
This will provide a clear path for the companies to which the acquired or merged company will belong. By creating a board, the companies that make up the partnership will have a stronger sense of accountability to one another and to their investors.
The strategic and operating plans that are created as a result of a mergers and acquisitions will be dependent upon the nature of each of the transactions and the expected effect on the business. These plans should address the overall goals of the business as well as the means by which those goals will be achieved.
The strategies will be designed around the operational expectations of the company. These plans will be effective if they are based on the assets, liabilities, capital, and knowledge of the company. Each of the factors should be evaluated in depth and analyzed in order to determine their relative strengths and weaknesses.
It is important that the acquisition strategy be aligned with the long-term strategies of the company. This will enable an effective integration and alignment of the two organizations. A successful acquisition strategy must address security risks in a manner that is consistent with the legal structure and will minimize the negative effects of the acquisition on the organizational structure.
This may mean that an exit-oriented decision is required in order to mitigate the risk of employee-related lawsuits as a result of the security breaches that take place as a result of the acquisition. Any acquisition strategy should also consider the effect of any debt or equity financing obtained in the acquisition as it relates to its purpose.
Address the security threats through careful consideration of the risks to the business arising from mergers and acquisitions. Addressing these issues will not only enhance the ability of the combined company to address security threats, but will also help to ensure that the company’s strategic objectives are effectively met.
For example, in a transaction that involves a security issue, the focus will need to be on how to mitigate the threat, while the focus will need to be on the strategic objectives of the company. This will allow the acquisition to move forward while addressing security issues in a manner that is consistent with the corporate purpose and without negatively affecting the organization’s balance sheet.
In addition to addressing the potential security threats that can arise from mergers and acquisitions, companies must also address security risks that may be present at the time of the acquisition. For example, the financial and technical information that is a part of proprietary information is very sensitive.
While some companies can mitigate the risk by keeping this information secure, other companies cannot do so. Companies must therefore determine how they will go about securing this sensitive information in a manner that is consistent with their corporate purpose and how they will go about securing the information going forward.
This will help to ensure that the acquisition is a successful one that will not result in the loss or damage of any confidential information or harm to the business.