Mergers

This subject is not offered in 2016.

150 hours

Students are expected to log into the LMS and familiarise themselves with the subject, layout, navigation, activities, readings and assessments the week before formal teaching begins.

Students will not be expected to complete any set tasks or readings but will be encouraged to make a start on readings for the module if they so choose.

Applicants without legal qualifications should note that subjects are offered in the discipline of law at an advanced graduate level.

The Melbourne Law Masters welcomes applications from students with disabilities. The inherent academic requirements for study in the Melbourne Law Masters are:

• The ability to use a computer, including read material on screen, to a competent standard;
• The ability to read, analyse and comprehend complex written legal materials and complex interdisciplinary materials;
• The ability to clearly and independently communicate in writing a knowledge and application of legal principles and interdisciplinary materials and to critically evaluate these;
• The ability to clearly and independently communicate orally a knowledge and application of legal principles and interdisciplinary materials and critically evaluate these;
• The ability to work independently and as a part of a group;
• The ability to present orally and in writing legal analysis to a professional standard.

Students who feel their disability will inhibit them from meeting these inherent academic requirements are encouraged to contact Student Equity and Disability Support.

This subject will provide students with an in-depth understanding of the legal rules and economic principles that underpin the review of mergers and acquisitions and the types of information and analyses used to assess the competitive effects of these transactions. Students will examine how ‘special’ cases, such as joint ventures, failing firms, strategic and minority stakes, and creeping acquisitions are dealt with, and will learn about the procedures used by competition authorities and the strategies employed by merger parties in the review context.

Highlights of the subject include:

• Critical examination of the approaches taken to the design and application of merger laws, review processes and remedies, drawing on examples from different jurisdictions around the world;
• Use of the rich body of theoretical and empirical research relating to mergers as well as analysis of actual cases and competition authority policy documents and guidelines to aid this examination; and
• Insights and perspectives from leading stakeholders such as competition authority officials and practitioners to assist students in grappling with the challenges posed by the design and enforcement of merger rules and processes.

On completion of this subject, students will have developed:

• An advanced knowledge of the economic principles, legal rules and enforcement approaches that apply to mergers and acquisitions;
• Sophisticated cognitive and technical skills that equip them to critically analyse and assess merger laws and review processes;
• A capacity to use the knowledge and skills students have gained in the subject in a way that demonstrates effective autonomy, judgment, adaptability and responsibility as an expert learner and practitioner in the field of international competition law.

• Participation in and contributions to discussion board and tutorials, Throughout term: weeks 1-8 (20%)
• Mid-term assessment task (practical exercise) (max 4000 words), Week 5 (30%)
• Final assessment task (reflective essay) (max 6000 words), Week 9 (50%)

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.