The Acquisition Illusion: Diagnosing Cultural Risk Before the Deal Destroys Value
Post-acquisition value destruction in UK private equity remains a persistent and costly phenomenon, yet the root cause is rarely found in the financial model. Cultural misalignment — underweighted in due diligence and frequently invisible until the integration phase — accounts for a disproportionate share of deal underperformance. This piece offers institutional leaders a rigorous framework for identifying and managing cultural risk before it becomes a crisis.