文献出处: Comell B., Financial risk control of Mergers and Acquisitions [J]. International Review of Business Research Papers, 2014, 7(2): 57-69.原文Financial risk control of Mergers and AcquisitionsComellAbstractM&A plays a significant part in capital operation activities. M&A is not only important way for capital expansion, but also effective method for resource allocation optimization. In the world around, many firms gained high growth and great achievement through M&A transactions. The cases include: the merger between German company Daimler-Benz and U.S. company Chrysler, Wal-Mart’s acquisition for British company ADSA, Exxon’s merger with Mobil and so on.Keywords: Enterprise mergers and acquisitions; Risk identification; Risk control1 Risk in enterprise mergers and acquisitionsMay encounter in the process of merger and acquisition risk: financial risk, asset risk, labor risk, market risk, cultural risk, macro policy risk and risk of laws and regulations, etc.1. 1 Financial riskRefers to the authenticity of corporate financial statements by M&A and M&A enterprises in financing and operating performance after the possible risks. Financial statements is to evaluate and determine the trading price in acquisition of important basis, its authenticity is very important to the whole deal. False statements beautify the financial and operating conditions of the target enterprise, and even the failing companies packing perfectly. Whether the financial statements of the listed companies or unlisted companies generally exists a certain degree of moisture, financial reporting risk reality In addition, the enterprise because of mergers and acquisitions may face risks, such as shortage of funds, a decline in margins has adverse effects on the development of enterprises.1. 2 Asset riskRefers to the assets of the enterprise M&A below its actual value or the assets after the merger failed to play a role of original and the formation of the risk. Enterprise merger and a variety of strategies, some of them are in order to obtain resources. In fact, enterprise asset accounts consistent with actual situation whether how much has the can be converted into cash, inventory, assets assessment is accurate and reliable, the ownership of the intangible assets is controversial, the assets disposal before delivery will be significantly less than the assets of the buyer to get the value of the contract. Because of the uncertainty of the merger and acquisition of asset quality at the same time, also may affect its role in buying businesses.1. 3 Labor riskRefers to the human resources of the enterprise merger and acquisition conditions affect purchase enterprise. Surplus staff and workers of the target enterprise burden is overweight, on-the-job worker technical proficiency, ability to accept new technology and the key positions of the worker will leave after the merger, etc., are the important factors influencing the expected cost of production.1. 4 Market riskRefers to the enterprise merger is completed, the change of the market risk to the enterprise. One of the purposes of mergers and acquisitions may be to take advantage of the original supply and marketing channels of the target enterprise save new investment enterprise develop the market. Under the condition of market economy, the enterprise reliance on market is more and more big, the original target enterprise the possibility of the scope of supply and marketing channels and to retain, will affect the expected profit of the target enterprise. From another point of view, the lack of a harmonious customer relationship, at least to a certain extent, increase the target enterprise mergers and acquisitions after the start-up capital.1. 5 Culture riskRefers to whether the two enterprise culture fusion to the risks of mergers and acquisitions, two broad and deep resources, structure integration between enterprises, inevitably touches the concept of corporate culture collision, due to incompleteinformation or different regions, and may not be able to organizational culture of the target enterprise become the consensus of the right. If the culture between two enterprises cannot unite, members will make the enterprise loss of cultural uncertainty, which generates the fuzziness and reduce dependence on enterprise, ultimately affect the realization of the expected values of M&A enterprises.2 Financial risk of M&AHowever, there are even more unsuccessful M&A transactions behind these exciting and successful ones. A study shows that 1200 Standard & Poor companies have been conducting frequent M&A transactions in recent years, but almost 70%cases ended up as failures.There are various factors that lead to the failures of M&A transactions, such as strategy, culture and finance, among which the financial factor is the key one. The success or failure of the M&A transactions largely depends upon the effectiveness of financial control activities during the process. Among the books talking about M&A, however, most focus on successful experience but few on lessons drawn from unsuccessful ones; most concentrate on financial evaluation methods but few on financial risk control. Therefore, the innovations of this thesis lie in: the author does not just talk about financial control in general terms, but rather specify the unique financial risks during each step of M&A transaction; the author digs into the factors inducing each type of risks, and then proposes feasible measures for risk prevention and control, based on the financial accounting practices, and the combination of international experience and national conditions.The thesis develops into 3 chapters. Chapter 1 defines “M&A” and several related words, and then looks back on the five M&A waves in western history. Chapter 2 talks about 3 types of financial risks during M&A process and digs into factors inducing each type of risks. Chapter 3 proposes feasible measures for risk prevention and control. At the beginning of chapter 1, the author defines M&A as follows: an advanced form of property right transaction, such as one company (firm) acquires one or more companies (firms), or two or more companies (firms) merge as one company (firm). The aim of M&A transaction is to control the property andbusiness of the other company, by purchasing all or part of its property (asset). In the following paragraph, the thesis compares and contrasts several related words with “M&A”, which are merger, acquisition, consolidation and takeover.In the chapter 1, the author also introduces the five M&A waves in western history. Such waves dramatically changed the outlook of world economy, by making many small and middle-sized companies to become multinational corporations. Therefore, a close look at this period of time would have constructive influence on our view with the emergence and development of M&A transactions. After a comprehensive survey of M&A history, we find that, with the capitalism development, M&A transactions presented diverse features and applied quite different means of financing and payment, ranging from cash, stock to leveraged buyout. Chapter 2 primarily discusses the different types of financial risks during M&A, as well as factors inducing such risks.According to the definition given by the thesis, financial risks during M&A are the possibilities of financial distress or financial loss as a result of decision-making activities, including pricing, financing and payment.Based on the M&A transaction process, financial risks can be grouped into 3 categories: decision-making risks before M&A (Strategic risk), implementation risks during M&A (Evaluation risk, financing risk and payment risk) and integration risks after M&A. Main tasks and characteristics in each step of M&A transaction are different, as well as the risk-driven factors, which interrelate and act upon each other. Considering limited space, the author mainly discusses target evaluation risk, financing and payment risk, and integration risk. In chapter 2, the thesis quotes several unsuccessful M&A cases to illustrate 3 different types of financial risks and risk-driven factors. Target evaluation risk is defined as possible financial loss incurred by acquirer as a result of target evaluation deviation. Target evaluation risk may be caused by: the acquirer’s expectation deviation for the future value and time of target’s revenue, pitfalls of financial statements, distortion of target’s stock price, the deviation of evaluation methods, as well as backward intermediaries. Financing and payment risks mainly reflect in: liquidity risk, credit risk caused by deterioratedcapital structure, financial gearing-induced solvency risk, dilution of EPS and control rights, etc.Integration risks most often present as: financial institution risk, capital management risk and financial entity risk. Chapter 3 concludes characters of financial risks that mentioned above, and then proposes detailed measures for preventing and controlling financial risks. Financial risks during M&A are comprehensive, interrelated, preventable, and dynamic. Therefore, the company should have a whole picture of these risks, and take proactive measures to control them.As for target evaluation risk control, the thesis suggests that (1) Improve information quality, more specifically, conduct financial due diligence so as to have comprehensive knowledge about the target; properly use financial statements; pay close attention to off-balance sheet resource. (2) Choose appropriate evaluation methods according to different situations, by combining other methods to improve the evaluation accuracy. Meanwhile, the author points out that, in practice the evaluation method is only a reference for price negotiation. The target price is determined by the bargaining power of both sides, and influenced by a wealth of factors such as expectation, strategic plan, and exchange rate.In view of financing and payment risk control, the author conducts thorough analysis for pros and cons of different means of financing and payment. Then the author proposes feasible measures such as issuing convertible bonds and commercial paper, considering specific conditions. To control integration risk, the author suggests start with the integration of financial strategy, the integration of financial institution, the integration of accounting system, the integration of asset and liability, and the integration of performance evaluation system. Specific measures include: the acquirer appoints person to be responsible for target’s finance; the acquirer conducts stringent property control over target’s operation; the acquirer conducts comprehensive budgeting, dynamic prevision and internal auditing.3 ConclusionsAt the end of the thesis, the author points out that many aspects still worth further investigation. For instance, this thesis mainly concentrates on qualitativeanalysis, so it would be better if quantitative analysis were introduced. Besides, the thesis can be more complete by introducing financial risk forecast model.译文企业并购中的财务风险控制作者：康奈尔摘要企业并购是资本营运活动的重要组成部分，是企业资本扩张的重要手段，也是实现资源优化配置的有效方式。