Despite the fact that mergers and acquisitions are a crucial part of the modern business landscape, the factors that can make the difference between success and failure remain little understood--as evidenced by the disappointing outcomes of the majority of acquisitions. With The Secret of Successful Acquisitions, Farsam Farschtschian focuses on the role of corporate boards in mergers--and his surprising conclusions reveal the inadequacies of current corporate governance, while also highlighting the gap between mainstream management theory and actual board practices. The book concludes with a set of far-reaching recommendations for improvement, aimed at top management, which will make the volume of value to businessmen as well as to scholars.