Will a merger or acquisition upend your 401(k) plan? Beware of ERISA entanglements and higher costs

Description

Abstract: Companies contemplating buying another company, or a division of one, must assess and plan for the impact on their 401(k) plan, and that of the company they’re acquiring, before pulling the trigger. The same applies for companies on the receiving end of an acquisition (though they might not be able to do as much if they’re the acquisition target). This article reviews the important decisions that companies must make regarding 401(k) plans when part of a merger or acquisition. A short sidebar reviews two ways to merge 401(k) plans.