For my staff pick this month, I’m reaching back to the 1970s — yes, the same decade that brought us disco, stagflation, polyester leisure suits and the energy crisis.
And, if you’ve ever tried to get a general grasp of the mergers and acquisitions field — the 1970s gave lawyers (and the librarians that research for them!) a classic: James C. Freund’s Anatomy of a Merger.
And who knew that Corporate Law could be so intriguing? Author Freund discusses the meaning of merger events such as “comfort letters,” “tender offers,””symmetrical schizophrenia” and “creeping control.” Chapter titles also reflect the fun (and easy to read!) style of the author –including such smile inducing ones as “Clients are People, Too”, “Digging that Well-known Hole”, and “The Jaundiced Eye Meets Deep Throat”.
But Anatomy of a Merger doesn’t just explain corporate terms in a breezy and humorous manner; its continued popularity rests with the inside baseball advice on how to get the best deal — from ‘fencing’ during the negotiation phase, details of employment contracts, and best management of the in-between time between signing and closing.
So don’t be fooled by the puns and pop culture references! Author James C. Freund is your M & A coach offering shrewd tactics and analysis that will get the best deal for your client, and may get you the corner office.
