Integrating Acquisitions An examination of which variables affect the level of integration: a case study

Abstract

This thesis studies mergers & acquisitions and its integration process. The main focus has been to examine the variables that affect the level of integration. An initial literature review was conducted where the authors found a slight discrep-ancy within the M&A literature about which factors should determine the level of integration. The authors found this interesting and decided to investigate it fur-ther, wherefore a case study was conducted. The empirical findings were ana-lyzed using the theoretical frame of reference and the authors found the varia-bles in the theories to be applicable. However, there might be a common ground where the theories intersect wherefore a framework was developed, taking all variables affecting the level of integration into consideration simultaneously. The findings, both theoretical and empirical, suggest that the variables that do affect the level of integration are the motives behind the acquisition, the organi-zational relatedness and the need for strategic interdependence or organization-al autonomy.