Cross-border acquisitions of US technology assets

During the 1990s, non-U.S. companies acquired nearly $250 billion worth of technology assets in the United States. Acquirers include such major firms as British Telecom, Cable & Wireless, Dassault, L M Ericsson. Nokia, Reed E lsevier, Siebe. and SGS-Thomson. This article identifies the factors involv ed in the successful acquisition and integration of technology-based compan ies in the U.S., and it examines these factors with a specific focus on Cal ifornia's Silicon Valley. European (and by implication, other similar non-U .S.) firms face some unique challenges with their acquisitions and, in part icular, with the integration and governance of the acquired firms.