Overcapacity in Higher Education – Operational, Accounting, and Credit Implications of Acquisitions and Partnerships

Neil Horgan - Villanova University

As pressures on the higher education business model drive consolidation, there are a host of considerations associated with mergers, acquisitions and closures including liquidation of campus assets, disposition on restricted endowment funds and expenses incurred for teach-outs, professional fees, severance plans and more. A closure or downsizing of facilities requires planning for disposition of assets and potential ongoing expenses. Villanova University, which has undertaken two recent mergers, will address the institutional process of integrating facilities, personnel and programs among other issues. The panel will include a discussion of accounting considerations and credit implications relevant to the planning process for consolidation including impact on financial statements and ratings. The presentation will highlight specific real-world examples from mergers and acquisitions.

Learning Objectives

  1. Evaluate the impact of potential partnerships on balance sheets, the credit implications of assuming another institution's liabilities and communicating the potential risks of a merger or acquisition.
  2. Assess the impact on an institution’s ratings.
  3. Develop tools to assess the outcomes of various forms of partnership agreements.

CPE Available

  • 1 Credit: Finance