The Law of Mergers and Acquisitions
As taught in: Spring 2003
The New York Stock Exchange. (Image courtesy of U.S. Department of Commerce.)
Instructors:
Prof. John Akula
Senior Lecturer in Law
MIT Course Number:
15.649
Level:
Course Features
Course Description
This course is designed to give students an introduction to the law-sensitive aspects of Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A). In Module I, we examine the legal implications of key roles and deal structures, and walk through some of the issues that would typically arise in a simple and friendly transaction. We also give a class to the legal issues arising in LBOs and the legal concerns of financial sponsors more generally, and another class to employment-related issues, including those relating to managers facing unsettled circumstances.
In Module II, we look at a variety of complications, including those that arise in the friendly or unfriendly purchase of a publicly-held company; deals involving distressed and hi-tech companies; antitrust concerns; allegations of misconduct by management or board members; and deals involving non-U.S. companies.
*Some translations represent previous versions of courses.


