By means of N-body simulations, we have investigated the impact of minor mergers on the
angular momentum content and kinematical properties of a disc galaxy. Our simulations
cover a range of initial orbital characteristics and the system consists of a massive
galaxy with a bulge and a stellar disc merging with a much less massive gasless companion.
Our results show that: (1) during the process of merging, the disc of the primary galaxy
becomes kinematically hotter and thicker; (2) its specific angular momentum always
decreases, independent of the orbit or morphology of the satellite galaxy; (3) the
decrease in the rotation velocity of the primary galaxy is accompanied by a change in the
anisotropy of the stellar orbits, which becomes increasingly radially dominated as the
merger advances; (4) the radial velocity dispersion increases at all radii, but in
particular in the outermost regions; (5) at the same time, the transverse velocity
decreases throughout the whole disc, except in the inner region, where the constribution
of bulge stars leads to an increase of
σt.