by Seraf De Smedt, Vincenzo Tortorici, and Erik van Ockenburg,
     McKinsey & Company

Early discussions of mergers, acquisitions, or alliances are delicate and risky.  When companies assess a proposed deal before announcing it,
they must balance the need to understand its potential with the need to protect sensitive information.  Unbiased third-party "clean teams" can protect sensitive data while assessing the business rationale of a deal, helping to develop an integrated business plan, and supporting negotiations. Companies that use clean teams can get an early and better read on potential deal synergies.

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