In this era of immediately relying on the Internet to get information, we sometimes forget about the power of hardbound books. For instance, when learning about how to successfully close business deals, a mergers and acquisitions book can still be your perfect guide. Know about some of the suggested books about mergers and acquisitions below.
How does mergers and acquisitions work in Canada?
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are transactions where two businesses combine their assets and operations to form a single, yet stronger, new business. It’s a multi-stage transaction aimed at:
- on the side of the buyer or acquiring company: expanding their business or acquiring competitors
- on the side of the seller or acquired company: saving their existing company and continuing operations
As simple as it sounds, there are a lot of laws and regulations that affect the completion of a successful M&A.
Read more: Why you need a lawyer to buy a business in Canada?
Here’s a video that briefly explains how M&As work and how to start the process:
If you need legal help for your own M&A process in your company or business, check out this directory of the best M&A lawyers in Canada as ranked by Lexpert.
What are some of the recommended mergers and acquisitions books in Canada?
There are many books about mergers and acquisitions that you can grab if you want to know more about these deals or if your business is undergoing one. These books can guide you through the process and identify some problems that you may want to prevent along the way.
When reading these mergers and acquisitions books, you’re assured that it’s a reliable source of good information. Authored by the industry’s notable people, these books are based on scholarly analysis and real-life deals that have set the precedence for what to do and what not to do in M&A deals.
Note that the lists of books below are not exclusive. If you want alternatives and more books to read, you can also reach out to an M&A lawyer in Canada for their most recommended ones.
Books about laws applicable to M&As
The following books are perfect for lawyers and corporate executives who want to expand their knowledge of M&As. Most of these books are written by lawyers themselves, who can give you a fresh, different perspective when looking at M&A deals.
- Canadian Competition Law and Policy (John S. Tyhurst): A major law affecting M&As in Canada is the Competition Act and its regulations. As such, learning about this law is a must for parties in M&A transactions and the professionals in this practice. This book provides an analysis of the Competition Act, and the regulations issued by the Competition Bureau. It also contains discussions on the evolution of the Canadian competition law and other related topics.
- Corporate Acquisitions and Mergers in Canada (Vivian Poon, Kelli Patel): Citing actual M&A deals, this book offers a clear explanation of each M&A step, from the perspectives of both the buyer and the seller. It also includes practical analysis of the current law and practice relating to M&As of public and private companies. This multi-perspective book can help you wherever side you’re on or whatever sector of M&A transactions you’re dealing with.
- Mergers, Acquisitions and Other Changes of Corporate Control (Christopher C. Nicholls): This book is a great illustration of the laws that govern M&As in Canada. These include corporate law, securities law, and other related legal principles and practice areas. In addition to discussions on M&A laws, the book discusses standard practices in M&As that have developed over time. Its latest edition also includes developments on Canadian M&A laws and regulations, which will help keep you updated on the legal side of these deals.
- Mergers and Acquisitions from A to Z (Andrew J. Sherman): This book is a good source for how an M&A process works and its necessary steps, such as starting from the due diligence, the valuation of subject business, the closing process, and up until the integration. This also includes expert advice, case studies, checklists, and sample documents which you can use for your own M&A transaction.
- Private M&A in Canada: Transactions and Litigation (Fasken LLP): Written by one of Canada’s leading law firms, this guide is a practice-oriented review of private M&A caselaw and contractual interpretation disputes. This book can be used both by transactional lawyers and litigators. It also discusses how a private M&A transaction unfolds, guiding readers of its elements from start to finish.
Books on M&As’ financial aspect
As with any other business transaction, a key element of an M&A deal that can ensure its success is taking care of its financial aspect. For instance, one overlooked part is the valuation of the companies, since it greatly affects the transaction price. Another financial aspect, although it involves all others, is due diligence. Some key people in the field of M&A have even segregated "financial due diligence," which just shows how important this aspect is.
For the most part, the financial aspect of M&As will guide the parties whether to eventually proceed with the transaction. This is why learning about this aspect, including through books about M&As, is of great help.
Here are some of the books about M&A that discusses the financial side of it:
- Corporate Finance by Jonathan Berk and Peter DeMarzo
- Corporate Valuation: A Practical Approach with Case Studies by Benedicto Kulwizira Lukanima
- Financial Analysis of Mergers and Acquisitions by Eli Amir, Marco Ghitti
- Financial Valuation: Applications and Models by James R. Hitchner
- Practical Guide to Financial Due Diligence by B.D. Chatterjee
Practical books about M&As
While the other books discuss the whole process of M&As, there are books about M&As that focus on one part of it, such as its preparatory stages. These books stray from discussing the rigid laws that apply to M&As, but talk about the practical side of the transaction, especially the how’s and what’s.
Below are just some of the best practical books about M&As that you can refer to:
- Negotiation and Decision Making in Mergers and Acquisitions: Intercultural Due Diligence by Iulian Warter
- The Art of M&A: A Merger, Acquisition, and Buyout Guide by Alexandra Reed Lajoux
- The Essentials of M&A Due Diligence by Peter Howson
- Things I Wish I Knew Before I Sold to Private Equity by Jason Hendren
- Winning at the Acquisition Game: Tools, Templates, and Best Practices Across the M&A Process by Timothy J. Galpin
Get more recommendations on the best mergers and acquisitions books or learn more about how M&As work in Canada, by reaching out to the Lexpert-ranked best law firms in Canada for mergers and acquisitions.