Longtime Harrisburg-based business services company Higher Information Group is expanding into the Northeast Pennsylvania market with the acquisition earlier this month of a well-established equipment service organization.

Throughout the M&A process, executives are hyper-focused on company synergies and big-picture goals. As a result, one very important factor often goes overlooked – the employer’s retirement plans. There are many details to consider when acquiring a company. Understanding the seller’s retirement plan and how it will fit within the current benefit structure is vital to success.

Q: As hard as it is to believe, I have had one of my employees take my intellectual property and use it outside of our company to make money for himself. What should I do?

Most entrepreneurs start a business because they know something about a particular industry, its practices, its products and services, and its customers. Generally, they believe they can do whatever it takes to match or beat competitors profitably and successfully. Many new businesses don’t survive, but for those that do, the belief of the founder that ...