"Given the high failure rate of mergers and acquisitions, 'due diligence' is an essential tool in deciding whether to undertake a corporate merger or specific corporate finance transaction. The book provides a conceptual approach to undertaking 'due diligence' in the context of strategy and shareholder value analysis, dividing it into nine distinct audit areas, namely compatibility, financial, macro-environmental, legal/environmental, marketing, production, management, information systems and reconciliation. The book considers South Africa's developing market issues (such as Black Economic Empowerment) and compares them to the issues of a developed economy (namely the USA)."--P. [4] of cover.