This paper aims to acquaint managers with a little known mergers and acquisitions (M&A) diagnostic tool that made its debut in the book Deals from Hell – M&A Lessons that Rise Above the Ashes (NY: Wiley, 2005) by Robert Bruner.
This paper offers a retrospective case study using Bruner's risk assessment framework to examine Berkshire Hathaway's 1998 Gen Re acquisition by CEO Warren Buffet, which proved to be a problematic deal. The case study makes use of recent post‐deal reports.
The case study supports the findings of Bruner's research regarding the utility of the M&A risk assessment framework presented in his book.
Tthe field of real disasters could be the subject to further strategy‐based research.
Bruner's disaster‐based M&A risk assessment framework could be practically utilized in M&A.
This paper is practically‐oriented commentary on recently published M&A risk assessment research, which is analyzed via case study.
