Why compliance experts are the new key to mega-deals
Last week, Hertz (HTZ) won final approval for its Dollar Thrifty deal from the Federal Trade Commission. China-based Shuanghui International Holdings is trying to gobble up Smithfield Foods (SFD), though the proposed deal is being examined by the U.S. Senate Agricultural Committee. The merger of Office Depot (ODP) and OfficeMax (OMX) was recently approved by shareholders. Involved in all these deals were highly skilled compliance and risk officers, often the “stop” and “go” lights for business.
In fact, having spent decades as a lawyer in Washington, D.C., I have observed first-hand business and government taking the speed of business to a screeching halt –often through regulations and compliance.
Conversely, I have watched new regulations serve as a launching pad for the proliferation of unimaginable growth and change of an industry.