In a merger, both the pre-merger and post-merger balance sheets of the companies involved are important for different reasons:
1. **Pre-Merger Balance Sheet**: This refers to the balance sheet of each company before the merger takes place. It provides a snapshot of the financial position of each company independently. The pre-merger balance sheets are crucial for assessing the financial health, assets, liabilities, equity, and other financial metrics of each company before the merger. Analyzing the pre-merger balance sheets helps in evaluating the potential synergies, risks, and strategic fit between the merging entities.
2. **Post-Merger Combined Balance Sheet**: This refers to the combined balance sheet of the merged entity after the completion of the merger. It consolidates the assets, liabilities, and equity of both companies into a single balance sheet. The post-merger balance sheet reflects the financial position of the newly formed entity resulting from the merger. It is important for stakeholders, including investors, creditors, and management, to assess the impact of the merger on the financial structure, leverage, liquidity, and overall financial health of the combined entity.
In summary, both the pre-merger balance sheets of the individual companies and the post-merger combined balance sheet of the merged entity are important for evaluating different aspects of a merger transaction. The pre-merger balance sheets provide baseline financial information about each company, while the post-merger balance sheet reflects the financial position of the combined entity after the merger, considering the impact of merger of course.
In bank merger, standalone balance sheet is to be analysed instead of the consolidated one as the consolidated balance sheet is including the financial position of subsidiaries of the bank.