Assessing the Risk of M&A : Brunner's Disaster Framework and the Case of the Gen Re Acquisition

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide commentary on the recently published book quot;Deals from Hell - Mamp;A Lessons That Rise Above the Ashesquot; (NY: Wiley, 2005) by Robert Bruner.Design/methodology/approach: This paper is a case study based on a risk assessment framework that was presented in a recently published book. Therefore, the case study is based on that framework, and it is based on previously published research regarding Berkshire Hathaway's 1998 Gen Re acquisition.Findings: Our case study supports the findings of Bruner's research regarding the utility of the Mamp;A risk assessment framework presented in his book. Practical and research implications: Bruner's disaster-based Mamp;A risk assessment framework could be practically utilized in Mamp;A. Furthermore, the field of real disasters could be the subject to further strategy-based research.Originality/value: This article is practically oriented commentary on recently published Mamp;A risk assessment research, which is analyzed via case study