I’d say time zones! Sometimes it can be extremely challenging to work with someone in Bangalore from where I’m at in the Washington, DC area. There’s a 10-hour time different between us which makes meeting only possible outside of at working hours. When you add in the other time zones that further complicates things.
We try to limit calls, handling most offline to mitigate this.
In my experience, cultural differences are a big deal for global acquisition. Apart from language barriers, effective communication needs to account for local customs. For example, in certain countries, one cannot be as direct with colleagues because it’s not culturally acceptable.
Global axquisition, especially companies that are public might take significant time for getting regulatroy approvals and passing through all aint-trust regulations. Apart from this the cultural and geopolitical difference also might impact.
From my experience, one challenge in global acquisitions is ensuring the recognition and integration of established local brands. Each country values its leading brands differently, and preserving their identity can be key to winning customer trust post-acquisition.
On top of everything usual related to deal-making and integration, in addition to what has already been mentioned, you have areas such as local regulations, employment practises and employment related items, financial reporting, taxation, local ESG and technology.
Global acquisitions add complexity because of differences in cultures, regulations, and business environments across regions. Overcoming these challenges demands thorough planning, region-specific strategies, and clear communication to ensure a smooth and successful integration.