fb

ACCA SUMMER SALE 20% OFF

Anyone got a spare £9.8bn ?

Anyone got a spare £9.8bn ?

Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) are an important part of the ACCA P4 syllabus and are also featured in CIMA F3. Those of you that have read our free ExPress notes (/students/free-acca-resources/) will be aware that to minimize the risk of failure in the M&A process, acquiring companies should follow a systematic series of steps prior to launching a bid.

Namely:

1. Clarify strategic reasons for wanting to acquire a company;
2. Draw up a short list of possible takeover targets and select the preferred one;
3. Value the target based on publicly available information and to establish an opening bid;
4. Identify financing options for the transaction

There has been a lot of coverage recently about the attempt by the American food producer Kraft to acquire the British chocolate maker Cadbury.  After Kraft announced their intention to acquire Cadbury, another company (Hersey) announced their interest in acquiring Cadbury.

The sums of money involved are significant. Identifying financing options for the acquisition (point 4 above) is therefore going to be key. Kraft’s bid is £9.8bn and press reports indicate that a syndicate of 8 banks has been brought together to finance the approach. The interesting thing though is that it is reported that these 8 banks have been tied into a non-compete agreement. This means that Hersey cannot approach the same banks to finance their approach. As a result it is going to be more difficult for Hersey to raise such amounts of funds.

Whatever happens over the next few weeks this will be an interesting story to follow.

Share this entry

Recent articles

View All Articles
It’s all hands on deck moving from Big 4 to 4 people…
Jun 17, 2025
Title
It’s all hands on deck moving from Big 4 to 4 people…
Excerpt

When multinational companies switch auditors, it’s usually a move that signals routine rotation, cost management, or strategic realignment. […]

From whisky to wickets…
Jun 16, 2025
Title
From whisky to wickets…
Excerpt

Diageo, the global drinks giant behind brands like Guinness, Smirnoff and Johnnie Walker, is reportedly considering a sale […]

“Just Build It” – the Nike LEGO collaboration
Jun 12, 2025
Title
“Just Build It” – the Nike LEGO collaboration
Excerpt

Nike and LEGO are teaming up to launch co-branded products and experiences aimed at inspiring kids through active […]

Laziness and intelligence.
Jun 12, 2025
Title
Laziness and intelligence.
Excerpt

Whilst a lot of you won’t admit to being lazy (and I’m sure most of you aren’t in […]

The road to electric cars is full of potholes…
May 28, 2025
Title
The road to electric cars is full of potholes…
Excerpt

The electric vehicle (EV) market has seen tremendous growth in recent years, with major car manufacturers and startups […]

Is the stage set for airline pricing at the theatre?
May 26, 2025
Title
Is the stage set for airline pricing at the theatre?
Excerpt

Imagine paying £300 for a theatre ticket, only to find there’s more to pay if you want to […]

WeightWatchers files for bankruptcy as drugs take over…
May 12, 2025
Title
WeightWatchers files for bankruptcy as drugs take over…
Excerpt

Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have revolutionised the weight management market, leaving companies which were once dominant […]

A whole new world: Disney’s Middle East move
May 08, 2025
Title
A whole new world: Disney’s Middle East move
Excerpt

The Walt Disney Company has announced its first-ever theme park in the Middle East, set to be built […]