Alexandra Reed Lajoux is senior research analyst for the National Association of Corporate Directors. She is the coauthor (with Stanley Foster Reed) of the seminal book The Art of M&A as well as the author or coauthor of three other books in the series--The Art of M&A Integration, The Art of M&A Due Diligence, and The Art of M&A Financing and Refinancing.

H. Peter Nesvold is a vice president at Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc. Given his diverse background in investment banking, law, tax, and accounting, Nesvold offers a multidisciplinary perspective on the interrelated elements of highly-structured mergers, acquisitions, buyouts, and other corporate transactions. He is a chartered financial analyst (CFA), as well as a former M&A attorney with Shearman & Sterling and CPA with Deloitte & Touche.