Deals of the Century: Wall Street, Mergers, and the Making of Modern America

By Charles R. Geisst

Book Overview

DEALS OF THE CENTURY Throughout history, mergers and acquisitions have been the major game played on Wall Street. These deals have had far-reaching effects, on the worlds of finance and industry - more than most commentators or financiers are publicly willing to admit. Deals of the Century captures this dynamic moment in history by taking an in-depth look at the most notable merger and acquisition deals of the twentieth of Carnegie Steel in 1901 to the creation of the former AOL Time Warner, renowned business historian and bestselling author Charles Geisst traces the deals that have had the most dramatic impact on the worlds of both finance and industry over the past century. Decade by decade, you'll be introduced to the personalities behind each event, as industries are built, dismantled, and reorganized by "professionals" driven mainly by the profits extracted from the deals themselves. Engaging and informative, Deals of the Century paints an exciting portrait of the incredible M&A journey and illustrates how many of these deals changed the face of business, creating a modern capitalist society that continues to grow.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0471263974
• ISBN13: 9780471263975
• Release Date: October 2003
• Publisher: Wiley
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.2" x 6.2"

Customer Reviews

A Good Read!

For all the headlines they grab, mega-mergers typically aren't a good deal for anyone but corporate executives and investment bankers. And guess what? This was just as true when J.P. Morgan created U.S. Steel in 1901 as it was when Steve Case engineered the AOL-Time Warner merger in 1999. Financial expert Charles R. Geisst dissects a century's worth of deals in fascinating detail. His conclusion: investor and regulator beware. Geisst's accessible style is a plus, and he manages to be skeptical but not jaundiced in this thorough, clear-eyed analysis. We suggest this book to any executive contemplating an M & A deal, and to any investor trying to cut through the hype surrounding mergers.