Publications
Publications
- April 2017 (Revised November 2017)
- HBS Case Collection
BlackRock (B): Acquire MLIM? (with video links)
Abstract
In early 2006, BlackRock, Inc. is considering acquiring Merrill Lynch’s asset management business. The asset management industry was in a state of transition. In the prior year, more than 130 mergers and acquisitions had taken place. The proposed deal between BlackRock and Merrill Lynch would change BlackRock from a chiefly U.S.-based fixed income asset manager for institutional clients, to a firm with a global footprint and a strong equities and retail business. Was this the right thing to do to grow BlackRock? Was the timing right? Was the price right?
Keywords
Strategy; Competition; Information Technology; Asset Management; Mergers and Acquisitions; Decision Choices and Conditions; United States
Citation
Gulati, Ranjay, Jan W. Rivkin, Stuart C. Gilson, and Aldo Sesia. "BlackRock (B): Acquire MLIM? (with video links)." Harvard Business School Multimedia/Video Case 717-485, April 2017. (Revised November 2017.)