Gods at War - Paperback

by Steven M. Davidoff (Author)

An engaging exploration of modern-day deals and deal-making

Gods at War details the recent deals and events that have forever changed the world of billion-dollar deal-making. This book is a whirlwind tour of the players determining the destiny of corporate America, including the government, private equity, strategic buyers, hedge funds, and sovereign wealth funds.

It not only examines many of the game-changing takeover events that have occurred in the past years, but also puts them into context and exposes what is really going on behind the scenes on Wall Street. Gods at War completely covers the strategic issues that guide the modern-day deal, and since they unfold under the shadow of the law, it also focuses on the legal aspects of deal-making and takeovers.

• Each chapter unfolds through the lens of a recent transaction, from the battle between Yahoo! and Microsoft to the United Rental/Cerberus dispute
• Provides in-depth explanations and analysis of the events and actors that have shaped this fast-moving field
• Examines the federal government's regulation by deal approach to saving the financial system and explains the government's biggest "deals", including its bail-outs of AIG, Bank of America, and Citigroup

Filled with in-depth insights that will enhance your understanding of this field, Gods at War offers an engaging look at deals and deal-makers in the context of recent historical events. It's a book for those who want to understand deals, takeovers, and the people and institutions who shape our world.

Back Jacket

"Gods at War brilliantly analyzes the legal issues, the politics, and the players in high-profile merger and acquisition transactions. Steven Davidoff is a master of the tactics and rules of deal-making, and he has once again shown why he is one of the country's most respected legal writers."
--ROB KINDLER, VICE CHAIRMAN AND GLOBAL HEAD OF MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS, MORGAN STANLEY

"In Gods at War, Steven Davidoff, aka The Deal Professor, delivers a detailed and lucid treatise of the fascinating historical precedents that resulted in the frenzied deal-making activity that ended abruptly with our current financial crisis and then goes on, in impressive fashion, to discuss what deals will look like in a new era dominated by government ownership and a lack of acquisition financing. Deal practitioners--and those just curious about all the fuss--will want this book at the top of their reading list."
--WILLIAM D. COHAN, AUTHOR OF HOUSE OF CARDS: A TALE OF HUBRIS AND WRETCHED EXCESS ON WALL STREET AND THE LAST TYCOONS: THE SECRET HISTORY OF LAZARD FRÈRES & CO.

"Davidoff is one of the most insightful and perceptive minds in the world of deal-making. With an ability to distill the most complicated legal issues into clear prose, he has become a must-read inside the nation's boardrooms and corner offices."
--ANDREW ROSS SORKIN, EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK TIMES'S "DEALBOOK" AND AUTHOR OF TOO BIG TO FAIL

"Where will M&A go next? Any answer depends on an understanding of the merger wave of 2002-2008, which this book affords. Rich in fresh insights, carefully researched, and well written, Gods at War gives a threshold to the future of M&A. I recommend it to students, practitioners, and fans of high finance."
--ROBERT F. BRUNER, DEAN AND CHARLES C. ABBOTT PROFESSOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, DARDEN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA; AUTHOR OF DEALS FROM HELL: M&A LESSONS THAT RISE ABOVE THE ASHES; AND COAUTHOR OF THE PANIC OF 1907

Author Biography

STEVEN M. DAVIDOFF is a nationally known authority on takeovers and corporate law. He writes as "The Deal Professor" for the New York Times's "DealBook." Davidoff also writes in trade journals, such as the Deal, lectures, has testified before the United States Senate, and is frequently quoted in the national media on issues related to our capital markets. He is a professor of law at the University of Connecticut School of Law and a graduate of the Columbia Law School, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. Davidoff practiced for almost a decade as a corporate attorney, primarily at Shearman & Sterling in their New York and London offices. Davidoff also has a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and an MS in finance from the London Business School.