Why cultural awareness training for managing international mergers and acquisitions? In today’s global environment, mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures are increasingly becoming an expectation rather than exception for companies and managers working in a multinational context.

Although such fusions are often near-perfect matches in terms of product and/or technical expertise, it is estimated that between 60% and 80%* of cross-cultural mergers fail—largely because the issue of cultural difference was not taken into account during the preparation and implementation process. Indeed, direct losses, underperformance, opportunity costs and poor return on investment can all be related to a failure to apply cultural awareness throughout the pre and post-merger planning and implementation processes.

In response to a growing need for a culturally sensitive approach to effecting cross-cultural mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures, IBA Global’s Managing International Mergers and Acquisitions courses take an intercultural approach, linking the cultural dimension as a central component to every stage of the merger process.

Benefits

A IBA Global’s Managing International Mergers and Acquisitions course will provide you with:

• The necessary awareness of the central role of culture in international mergers and acquisitions
• An understanding of the added value of incorporating intercultural approaches to mergers and acquisitions planning and implementation
• The opportunity to identify and analyse fundamental cultural components in mergers and acquisitions planning, preparation and implementation
• The opportunity to develop strategies linking culture with the organisational components of merger planning and implementation
• The tools to develop cultural awareness and cross-cultural competence to effectively manage the cultural challenges inherent in any merger processes

Who should attend

A IBA Global’s Managing International Mergers and Acquisitions course will be of benefit to you if:

• You are involved in conducting a cross-cultural merger or joint venture
• You are in a managing position in a recently effected merger or joint venture
• Your work involved close and/or contact with colleagues from other cultures in the development of cross-cultural R&D programmes and/or ventures

Course content

All our Managing International Mergers & Acquisitions training courses are designed to meet the specific needs of our clients depending on their specific requirements and existing skills set. A Managing International Mergers &Acquisitions course typically includes:

• The role of individual, national and organisational culture
• Planning and preparing for an international merger or acquisition
• Intercultural due diligence
• The implementation process
• Building trust and relationships
• Cross-cultural management skills
• Challenges and solutions

Approach

Managing International Mergers & Acquisitions courses are available seven days a week, 365 days a year, either at one of our training centres in Cape Town and Johannesburg or at your offices in any location worldwide. We usually recommend a one or two day course but can also offer a more flexible format to suit your schedule.

Suitably tailored materials will be used throughout your course and your trainer will provide a balance of structured input and discussion of case studies and scenarios relevant to your own particular context.

The most appropriate training format, content and approach for your Managing International Mergers & Acquisitions course will be discussed during your diagnostic consultancy.

Managing International M & As course trainer

Your Managing International Mergers & Acquisitions trainer will be assigned to you following the results of your diagnostic consultancy according to your objectives and areas of focus.