Harmonising terms and conditions following the acquisition of a business - a guide

Introduction

The management of change following acquisitions and mergers is a necessary, but potentially complex, exercise, which needs to be handled with care from both the legal and the human resources point of view.

Is the acquisition a share sale or a business transfer?

An employer's ability to make changes following a business acquisition depends on whether the business was acquired through the purchase of the share capital of the company, or through the purchase of a business or the taking on of a services contract.