Astra + Zeneca (A): "Merger of equals"
Consolidations and paradigm shifts in the pharmaceutical industry in the 1990s induced Astra and Zeneca to review potential merger partners. Both companies were confident of surviving on their own, banking on organic growth. However, escalating costs in R&D and sales and marketing, patent expiries, benefits of scale, and pressure on prices made this increasingly difficult to sustain. After 6 months of discussion, Astra and Zeneca announced a “merger of equals” in December 1998. This first part of a two-part case series looks at some of the “black box issues,” how they were negotiated to ensure that this was indeed a merger of equals and the final outcome of the negotiations.
September 1998
Cranfield University
Wharley End Beds MK43 0JR, UK
Tel +44 (0)1234 750903
Email [email protected]
Harvard Business School Publishing
60 Harvard Way, Boston MA 02163, USA
Tel (800) 545-7685 Tel (617)-783-7600
Fax (617) 783-7666
Email [email protected]
NUCB Business School
1-3-1 Nishiki Naka
Nagoya Aichi, Japan 460-0003
Tel +81 52 20 38 111
Email [email protected]
IMD retains all proprietary interests in its case studies and notes. Without prior written permission, IMD cases and notes may not be reproduced, used, translated, included in books or other publications, distributed in any form or by any means, stored in a database or in other retrieval systems. For additional copyright information related to case studies, please contact Case Services.
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
The case study delves into strategic transformation and leadership transitions at Unilever since 2009. Unilever has been an industry leader of busi...
The case study examines recent aviation safety concerns at Boeing, focusing on manufacturing issues, leadership decisions and regulatory oversight....
The case is seen through the eyes of the newly appointed supply chain director at a cosmetics company based in Berlin. The general manager has task...
Few Business to Business (B2B) marketplaces have succeeded. Metalshub has successfully combined a software platform as a service, with a marketplac...
The case focuses on Contabilizei, a Brazilian startup providing online accounting services for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The case ...
Companies that modularize and externalize their best capabilities are in a strong position to seize unexpected opportunities. Prediction is hard. T...
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
in I by IMD 24 June 2024
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Case reference: IMD-7-2457 ©2024
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Case reference: IMD-7-2546 ©2024
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
in MIT Sloan Management Review Summer 2024, vol. 65, no. 4
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications