Governing the Deal: Board Oversight Across the M&A Lifecycle
Recording
1.0 CPE Credit
in the field of Specialized Knowledge (SK)
Boards play a pivotal role in shaping transaction strategy and outcomes, but effective oversight looks very different from management execution. From strategic alignment and target identification to deal terms, decision skepticism and discipline, risk identification, and post close integration, boards must govern the entire transaction lifecycle, not just the deal approval.
This session examines the board’s governance responsibilities across M&A strategy formulation and target identification through diligence, negotiation, approval, and integration oversight. We will clearly distinguish management’s role in execution from the board’s role to challenge, oversee, and maintain accountability, and explore how boards can govern effectively under tight timelines and incomplete or changing information.
We’ll also address common process breakdowns (and how boards can prevent them), leading practices for documentation and communications, and what “good oversight” looks like across buy-side and sell-side transactions.
The session also addresses the external support boards rely on—including financial, legal, regulatory, and risk advisors—and how directors’ engagement can protect independence, manage conflicts, and support high quality decisions.