Merger & Acquisition in Pharmaceutical Industry Dissertation

Merger & Acquisition in Pharmaceutical Industry - Dissertation Example This essay stresses that M&As can be motivated from multiple sources. This conclusion is supported by industry surveys of pharmaceutical firms who report having multiple M&A goals: grow the core business, realize cost synergies, acquire new technologies, gain competitive advantage, generate fiscal advantage, and so on. Such a phenomenon is not unique to pharmaceutical firms; firms in other industries typically have multiple objectives in pursuing M&As. It is possible, of course, that many positive aspirations are voiced to disguise underlying motivations for cost synergies. This paper makes a conclusion that the problem with multiple rationales noted in these other industries may also pertain to pharmaceuticals: the lack of a clear focus in the merger and the presence of conflicting agendas. In the presence of multiple goals, the intentions of the two firms (particularly if one acquires the other) are likely to diverge, if not conflict. Moreover, there may be a simultaneous (and confusing) effort to cut costs and pursue growth. Other problems that stem from multiple rationales concern the merger implementation effort – for example, the difficulty in mapping out the implementation steps due to the need to accommodate a variety of potentially conflicting interests and directions. Multiple rationales may thus prove dysfunctional during the merger transition and lead to unresolvable conflicts. Industry analysts argue that one party in clear control, with a dominant economic rationale, a simple program, great communication, and excellent execution, is the critical ingredient for M&A success.