One of the busiest areas of merger activity is in the government contracting sector.  A major subsector of merger activity within that sector is acquihires.  An acquihire is the purchase of a company, often a technology company, for the skills and expertise of its people. Acquihires have their own challenges for sellers and buyers.  Since the main asset being acquired is the skill and knowledge of the seller’s employees, retention of the employees is crucial.  That is why buyers often insist on a substantial portion of the purchase price being earned over time, and why sellers often request that buyers include stay bonuses as a deal component.  Creative compensation models for the acquired employees must be considered.  Since the main asset being acquired is basically people, the role of non-competition agreements is even more important.  The golden point here is that a team of employees with unique technology skills and knowledge is valuable and both seller and buyer must consider the best ways to motivate the employees in the overall structure of the transaction.

If you have any questions about this or any other M&A issue,
please contact Glenn Solomon at gsolomon@offitkurman.com or 443-738-1522.

ABOUT GLENN D. SOLOMON

gsolomon@offitkurman.com | 443-738-1522

Glenn D. Solomon is a principal at Offit Kurman and has provided counsel to businesses and business owners for more than twenty-five years. He has extensive experience in the purchase and sale of businesses, structuring ownership agreements, and advising companies in financial distress.

ABOUT OFFIT KURMAN

Offit Kurman is one of the fastest-growing, full-service law firms in the Mid-Atlantic region. With over 180 attorneys offering a comprehensive range of services in virtually every legal category, the firm is well positioned to meet the needs of dynamic businesses and the people who own and operate them. Our twelve offices serve individual and corporate clients in the Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and Northern Virginia markets, as well as the Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City metropolitan areas. At Offit Kurman, we are our clients’ most trusted legal advisors, professionals who help maximize and protect business value and personal wealth. In every interaction, we consistently maintain our clients’ confidence by remaining focused on furthering their objectives and achieving their goals in an efficient manner. Trust, knowledge, confidence—in a partner, that’s perfect.

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