In This Issue:

The Top Five Environmental Traps in M&A Transactions; The Top Five Tax Traps in M&A Transactions; The Top Five Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Traps in M&A Transactions; The Top Five Intellectual Property Traps in M&A Transactions; The Top Five Real Estate Traps in M&A Transactions; The Top Five (Avoidable) Antitrust Traps in M&A Transactions; The Top Five Traps in Health Care M&A Transactions; The Top Five Traps in Energy M&A Transactions; The Top Five Traps in Distressed M&A Transactions; and The Top Five Traps in M&A Transactions in China

The Top Five Environmental Traps in M&A Transactions

Because environmental laws and regulations can impose substantial operating costs and liabilities, it is very important to flag and address environmental issues in M&A transactions. Such issues include operating costs and liabilities associated with current and past operations, as well as cleanup costs and liabilities arising from site contamination. In addition, a forward-looking analysis may be necessary if the industry involved in the transaction is targeted for increased regulation. Some of the pitfalls you can encounter, and how to avoid them, are summarized below.