Mergers and acquisitions in Japan: Lessons from a Dutch-Japanese case study

✍ Scribed by Frits D. J. Grotenhuis

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 105 KB
• Volume: 28
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1932-2054
• DOI: 10.1002/joe.20258

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

This article deals with lessons learned from mergers and acquisitions in Japan. In general, such combinations are not success stories, since 50–80 percent of them do not bring the benefits that were expected. Several reasons for such failures have been brought up in the literature, but real‐life cases of the “how” and “why” are very limited or fragmented, especially in a Japanese context. This study enhances a more integral approach into Dutch‐Japanese acquisitions. Based on an in‐depth Dutch‐Japanese case study and a literature review, it can be concluded that the preparation of mergers and acquisitions with Japanese organizations should be focused on (1) knowledge about the target company and its context, (2) strategic issues, and (3) leadership and cultural issues, in order to prevent culture clashes and misunderstandings, and increase the chances of success. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.