Mergers And Acquisitions: Considerations In The COVID-19 Era

This is part five of a series focusing on current M&A trends, opportunities and challenges.

With positive news with respect to vaccines, there are reasons for optimism that the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic and the corresponding governmental health restrictions may ease in 2021. However, it also seems increasingly clear that this easing is still months away, and that pandemics and other unforeseen crises are a reality that businesses will need to address on an on-going basis in the future, including in the context of M&A transactions.

This article provides a brief overview of a few key considerations for M&A transactions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Previous articles in this M&A series have looked at specific considerations for boards of directors of acquirors, target entities, for companies in financial distress, as well as valuation issues impacting transactions during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article addresses general transaction considerations.