The target-based analysis and negotiation process includes structural constants but it can never be reproduced in the exact same way. Refer to the following references on the subject. The resources presented in the second chart relate to the technical facets of the project, whether legal, fiscal or financial.

Investigating and negotiating an acquisition
Resource My rating

Jemison, D.B. and S.B. Sitkin
"Acquisitions: The Process Can Be a Problem".
Harvard Business Review, 60(6): p. 107-116 (1986)

 A pioneering article which underlines the upstream problems of a buy-out: task compartmentalization, lack of global vision, pressures to close the deal, etc. An article to read or reread!
Bower, J.L.
"Not All M&As Are Alike - And That Matters".
Harvard Business Review, 79(3): p. 93-101 (2001)
 An article on how to anticipate integration problems during the preparation phase. It shows that every acquisition is different. There is no one magic formula. The problems depend on the objectives.
VERY, P.
"Ce Que Ne Disent Pas Les Chiffres"
L'Expansion Management Review, Vol 93, p. 70-74 (1999).
 The title–"What Figures Do Not Tell"–is self-explanatory.

Technical aspects
Resource My rating
De Pamphilis, D.
Mergers, Acquisitions and other Restructuring Activities
HarperBusiness, USA, 2001
 A comprehensive book written by an American about management techniques more than management problems. The book deals with financial and fiscal methods as well as with legal aspects.
However, some of these techniques only apply to the American context.
The “Acquisitions Monthly” magazine or its French “brother” : Fusions & Acquisitions A magazine about the legal, fiscal and financial aspects of mergers and acquisitions. The articles are often written by consultants.