People Risk in M&A

M&A risks: The unrealised potential of people in deal value creation
M&A transactions are on the upswing as businesses undergo transformations to adapt to a post-pandemic world. How do people risks factor into your deal process?
Of all the capital and resources a company has, people remain the most important asset. The rise of new work ecosystems that support a mobile and decentralised workforce emphasises how essential an agile and resilient workforce is to most bottom lines. The importance of people also holds true in deals.
Dealmakers’ top priorities are bespoke value creation, operational stability and client retention. These cannot be achieved without proactively anticipating and addressing people acquisition risks, such as leadership effectiveness, organisational culture alignment, and retention and attraction of key talent.
See how companies are leveraging M&As to transform business and focus on people-related acquisition risks throughout the deal life cycle to drive success.
Deal Insights
of failed deals are the result of poor strategic people-risk planning.
of survey respondents indicate an increasing appetite for M&As over the next 12 to 24 months.
Merger and acquisition solutions
-
Mergers and acquisitions
For the best outcomes, invest in companies with development potential, and aim to elevate return streams relative to public equity markets. Doing so may add new sources of alpha and open up a much larger universe of investments. -
Divestitures
Divestitures are essential to any organisation striving to grow and innovate. Paying close attention to workforce acquisition risks can maximise sale price, increase speed of sale and ensure profitability. -
Restructuring and turnaround
The current high-velocity market requires quick decision-making and accelerated strategies for dealing with unexpected M&A risks. Managing both the daily challenges and the long-term financial and operational risks can be daunting. -
Joint ventures and strategic alliances
Accelerating growth through joint ventures may seem like a faster alternative to deals. Yet achieving strategic objectives requires rigorous upfront planning to drive outperformance.
Related solutions
-
People strategyDriving deal value by facilitating Day 1 HR services delivery and enabling business leaders to align the operating environment with deal objectives. We do this in…
Related insights
-
People in M&A
Delivering the deal: The keys to successful transactions in 2025
With the M&A landscape set for transformation in 2025, what are the essential keys to successful transactions? Gain insights from Mercer on navigating economic and… -
People in M&A
Mercer recognised as M&A Advisory leader
Mercer's exceptional expertise in mergers and acquisitions was recognised as it secured the fourth position in The Top 50 M&A Consulting Firms of 2024, a testament… -
Benefit strategies
Leverage AI and digital transformation to address people risks in M&A
Mercer's expertise in AI and digital transformation can help organisations navigate the complexities of M&A, harnessing the power of these technologies to drive…