With the breadth of the charter of internal auditing reaching into all facets of an organization's activities, it is essential that control mechanisms be in place for the consideration of risk resulting from business combinations. The research targets the challenges to the control processes that emerge as different business cultures are blended into one entity. Similarly, this research examines the participation of internal audit departments in organizing, staffing, reporting, and monitoring the business combination activities. This research serves to codify the activities of leading-edge companies and evolve consensus regarding elements of effective internal audit practice. 

 

This report, based on a global study involving 22 United States and European organizations, highlights the role of internal audit in various stages of the mergers, acquisitions, and divestiture process, including:

It covers the research methodology; comprehensive research findings; recommendations for improvement in the mergers, acquisitions, and divestiture arena; and prerequisites for delivering on those recommendations.