Corporate data security breaches are at an all-time high, making data privacy and cybersecurity planning in M&A transactions more important than ever. Examining a target’s data assets and identifying cybersecurity vulnerabilities are essential to valuing a deal, implementing risk mitigation measures, and planning for successful data integration post-acquisition.

Counsel for buyers should begin evaluating data privacy and cybersecurity risks when assessing a potential target and continue making data privacy and cybersecurity concerns a priority during due diligence and when negotiating the acquisition agreement and other transaction documents.

During due diligence buyer’s counsel should examine the target’s data inventory, data locations, data collection processes, privacy policies, security controls, information governance guidelines, risk assessment programs, and cybersecurity insurance policies for vulnerabilities.

When negotiating and drafting the transaction documents, counsel for both parties should carefully approach the reps and warranties provisions related to the target’s data privacy and cybersecurity protocols and thoughtfully address how the parties will resolve issues that arise from data security breaches.

Roberta D. Anderson, Director at Cohen & Grigsby; Alan Brill, Senior Managing Director at Kroll and Gerard M. Stegmaier, Partner at Reed Smith, will provide guidance to deal attorneys for managing and allocating data privacy and cybersecurity risks in M&A transactions. The panel will discuss best practices for identifying and addressing data privacy and cybersecurity concerns throughout the life of a deal, from developing an acquisition strategy and identifying a potential target, to conducting due diligence, to allocating risk in the transaction documents.

The panel will review these and other key issues:

• The impact of data and cybersecurity assets and vulnerabilities on deal valuation
• The best approaches for counsel to identify data privacy and cybersecurity vulnerabilities early in a transaction
• The most critical information counsel should request from the target company during due diligence related to data privacy and cybersecurity
• Provisions to include in the transaction documents to address data privacy and cybersecurity vulnerabilities and mitigate deal risk

For more information or to register call 1-800-926-7926 ext. 10 (ask for Managing Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Risks in M&A on 5/4/17 and mention code: 2A2TW1-C9NKAZ)

Or follow: https://www.straffordpub.com/products/managing-data-privacy-and-cybersecurity-risks-in-m-and-a-deals-pre-planning-due-diligence-and-risk-allocation-strategies-2017-05-04