Darryl Laws

 Phase II – Qualitative will start with face to face personal interviews of fifteen (15) elite purposeful participants, 2) retrieval archival data on M&A transactions and end with 3) the collection of results from the empirical observation of a real time M&A transaction negotiations. For the qualitative data collection: 

• Initial contact will be made by telephone. 

• This will be followed by my sending each participant an e-mail containing an IRB Consent Form for the participants execution and return. 

• Subsequent to my receipt of the IRB Consent Form I will commence arranging interviews,

• A questionnaire will be sent by e-mail to each interviewee in advance of their face-to face interview,

• Face to face interviews will be conducted by me personally with all fifteen elite purposeful sampling participants.

• Hand written notes will used to capture the information from the participants and to denote any research thoughts. (Charmaz, 2006).

• No videos or photos will be taken. These expert elite purposeful sampling participants wish to remain anonymous.  

• Consistent comparisons will be made of the interview response data amongst the elite sample group to identify patterns and themes.

• Sample cover letter for an electronic response questionnaire.

Dear M & A professional,

My name is Darryl Laws. I am a second-year doctorate of business student at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. For my dissertation, I am examining the impact of irrational behavior in mergers and acquisitions of private companies. Because you are an expert (Investment Banking, Private Equity or M&A law) in mergers and acquisitions, I am inviting you to participate in this research study by completing the attached survey questionnaire. 

The purpose of this study is to is to share information within the professional M&A community that will help reduce the significant premiums being paid for acquisitions.  

In this study, you will be asked to complete an electronic survey. Your participation in this study is voluntary and you are free to withdraw your participation from this study at any time. The survey should take only ... minutes to complete. 

This survey has been approved by the Institutional Review Board of Pepperdine University. There are no risks associated with participating in this study. The survey collects no identifying information of any respondent. All of the response in the survey will be recorded anonymously and confidential. 

If you have any questions regarding the survey or this research project in general, please contact (Researcher’s Name) or his/her advisor Dr. David Smith and Richard Walton PhD. If you have any questions concerning your rights as a research participant, please contact the IRB of Pepperdine University at phone number ___________ or e-mail: _____________ . 

Darryl Laws