Like many elements of corporate life, mergers and acquisitions will never be the same now that The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 is in full force. The law and the heightened sense of accountability of corporate boards of directors and senior executives is causing companies to carefully reconsider how they manage every element of M&A transactions, from the buy decision to the post-deal integration.
“The biggest impact has been at the top of the organization in terms on the focus on accountability,” says Paul Reszutek, northeast regional managing partner for Deloitte & Touche’s Merger & Acquisition Services. “There is a greater degree of involvement at the board level with greater emphasis on due diligence because the stakes are higher.”
