Synopses & Reviews
Praise for
Mergers & Acquisitions Integration Handbook"This book is a valuable guide from someone who has experienced the real-world challenges of mergers and acquisition integrations. Unlike many technical manuals or standard consulting advice, Scott's handbook is the comprehensive 'owner's manual' for any executive charged with getting real value out of an acquisition. It has the basic instructions for executives facing their first integration to more advanced techniques and tips for seasoned executives, and will be valuable to any executive charged with integrating an acquired asset."
John Hogan, Chairman and CEO, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment
"This book is a 'must have' for any organization implementing an M&A strategy to grow top line revenues, create scale for improved margins, or both. Scott has created a blueprint that ensures newly acquired assets can be seamlessly integrated into existing businesses, and he has done so in a very practical way. While the content of this book centers on M&A integration, the results of leveraging its insights will surely be categorized as 'organizational leadership' by your shareholders."
Doug Matheson, Vice President, Strategic Marketing, Ericsson, Inc.
"An extensive primer for anyone charged with the intricate task of integrating newly merged corporate entities. A well-structured approach that aptly breaks down the complexities of the integration process in an easy to digest, step-by-step fashion. This handbook takes you from concept to implementation ready."
Craig J. Tindall, Senior Vice President, Operations and Facilities, Grady Health System
"Without question, a remarkably complete reference guide to merger and acquisitions integration for both newcomers and professional managers. Written by a merger and acquisition practitioner, this handbook walks us through the entire process in the same way an airline pilot goes through the preflight checklist before takeoff. The bottom line is that you have to check all of the boxes to maximize enterprise value."
David H. Stone, Managing Partner and Principal, New England Consulting Group
"The M&A Integration Handbook is a valuable tool for any individual or team tasked with bringing two entities together. A great equation for performance is 'Performance = Potential - Interference.' This handbook is an excellent tool for minimizing interference and optimizing performance, keeping the focus on task."
Bob Hellyer, former CEO & president
"The M&A Integration Handbook is an essential resource for those tasked with managing the integration of an organization following a merger or acquisition. Through Scott Whitaker's extensive M&A experience, he provides an in-depth road map to help insure a successful integration and provide a leg up on achieving the vision and goals of the transaction. It's a must-read that provides a comprehensive framework that will prepare you for the task, enhance the process, and insure a better result."
Bob Owen, President, Broadwell Associates, Marketing & Communication Consulting
Synopsis
Proven strategies and tactics to manage the integration of acquired and/or merged companiesCovering the key phases of integration planning and execution with a presentation that can be customized to fit your organization's integration planning, Mergers & Acquisitions Integration Handbook is a comprehensive resource with tools, templates, forms, examples, and checklists to expertly initialize and manage the integration of any size company.
- Includes tools, templates, forms, examples and checklists to help properly initialize and manage integration companies of any size
- Prepares companies to realize the full value of acquisitions
- Reveals how to avoid integration failure
Botched integration is the number one reason mergers fail. Mergers & Acquisitions Integration Handbook shows you how to develop, execute and implement merger integrations and business strategies to realize your organization's mergers and acquisitions goals.
Synopsis
Proven strategies and tactics to manage the integration of acquired and/or merged companiesMergers & Acquisitions Integration Handbook is a comprehensive resource to help companies create a scalable post merger or acquisition integration process and framework that accelerates operating and business benefit goal realization.
- Includes tools, templates, forms, examples and checklists to provide a no nonsense “handbook” style approach to managing an effective integration.
- Helps integration managers quickly get up to speed on various integration challenges, including guidance on developing detailed operational and functional integration plans to support flawless execution.
- Reveals how to avoid integration failure by establishing an in-house integration management office to handle integration projects.
- Includes a sample integration playbook that can be used to create a core competency within companies to support ongoing integration activity.
Botched integration is the number one reason mergers fail. Mergers & Acquisitions Integration Handbook shows you how to develop, execute and implement merger integrations and business strategies to realize your organization's mergers and acquisitions goals.
Synopsis
Whether you're involved in a post-merger integration, or a post-acquisition integration, or a partial integration, it is vital that integration work be managed effectively to preserve value and not disrupt business continuitywhich is exactly what integration managers are typically on the hook to accomplish.
Mergers & Acquisitions Integration Handbook offers no-nonsense guidance for managing a successful integration, preparing you for the various integration challenges you may encounter. Author and renowned M&A expert Scott Whitaker presents the best practices with pragmatic insights and proactive strategies to inform your thinking toward crafting the optimal integration strategy for your company.
Designed to address those challenges facing integration deals valued at $250 million or less, this handbook looks at those integration activities that are common to any merger or acquisition scenario. Samples of tools and templates illustrating how to accomplish many tasks are included, as well as essential information on:
- How to organize the bulk of your integration activities by phase
- Determining which resources you'll need to manage your integration challenges
- Basic steps and practices to make communication planning a big part of your integration
- Setting up an integration management office (IMO)
- The key activities related to the execution phase of integration
- How to create a scalable integration playbook for your organization
Along with an accompanying website featuring access to a PowerPoint of a sample integration play- book, Mergers & Acquisitions Integration Handbook gets you up to speed on integration issues and basic practices so your team can efficiently tackle integration projects in a way that preserves and protects the value of your transaction.
About the Author
SCOTT C. WHITAKER, CMC, is President and CEO of Whitaker & Company, an Atlanta-based consulting and project management firm specializing in helping companies to develop, execute, and implement merger integrations and business strategies designed to achieve growth. Since 2005, Whitaker & Company has been involved in merger integration and strategy and operations projects totaling more than $25 billion for both domestic and international companies.
Table of Contents
Acknowledegments
Chapter 1 Introduction
Who Should Use This Book?
How This Book Is Set Up
Chapter Summaries
Word to the Wise
Chapter 2 Merger & Acquisition 101 and Assessing Integration Complexity and Risk
Merger & Acquisition 101
Determining Post-Acquisition Integration Scope
Subsidiary Bolt On Acquisition (Also Called “Tuck-In”)
Functional Integration
Functional/Operational/Full Integrations
Assessing Integration Complexity and Risk
Due Diligence
Stakeholder Interviews and Complexity
Stakeholder Interviews and Risk
Assessing Operating Style Risk
Assessing the Evaluation and Measurement of Performance
Summary
Chapter 3 Making the Business Case for Integration
How to Improve Performance
Synergy
Economy of Scale
Cross-Selling
Economy of Scope
Taxation
Geographical or Other Diversification
Vertical Integration
Diversification
Measuring Merger or Acquisition Success
The Most Complex Areas
Making the Business Case for Integration Support
The Challenges of Integration
Integration Success Factors
Summary
Chapter 4 An Introduction to Integration Planning
Integration Activities
Integration Timing
Operations Consolidations
Pending Acquisitions
Information Systems
Integration and Business Planning
Vision and Strategy
Focus of Delivering Value (and Not Losing Any)
Managing the Change, People, and Potential Business Disruption
Integration Support
Transaction Advisors
Specialty Firms
Summary
Chapter 5 The Pre-Planning Phase
Key Activities
Determining Integration Type
Stress Testing and Synergy Assumptions
Reviewing Planning Documents
Labor
Employee Data
Store and Plant Data
Stakeholder Communities/Audiences
Assessing Potential Challenge Areas
Effective Plan Management and Governance
Delivering Value
Establishing the Right Level of Integration
Culture and Business Environment
Summary
Chapter 6 The Importance of Due Diligence
Due Diligence Documents Lists
Corporate Books and Records
Financial Information
Employee Materials
Contingent Liabilities
Contracts, Agreements and Other Arrangements
Proprietary Rights
Plant, Property, and Equipment
Insurance
Sales and Marketing
Miscellaneous
A Few Words about IT Due Diligence
Summary
Chapter 7 Establishing an IMO (Integration Management Office)
Setting Up an IMO Office
Verifying Integration Type and Level of Support Required
Adapting Structure to Fit Your Integration Type
Determining Functional Resource Commitments
Dedicated versus Matrixed Resources
Setting up an Integration Project Charter
Setting Up an Integration Governance Structure
Summary
Chapter 8 Executing Your Integration Plan
Functional Work Plans
Integration Workstreams
Prioritizing Integration Workstreams
Functional Workplans
Workplan Quality
Functions Requiring Extra Attention
Human Resources
Information Technology
Finance
Summary
Chapter 9 Planning Your Integration's End State
How to Know When an Integration Is Finished
The Typical Process: Roles, Responsibilities, Tracking, and Finishing Well
Summary
Chapter 10 Effective Communication Planning
Communication Planning Objectives
Guiding Principles for an Effective Communication Plan
Establishing a Communication Matrix
Communication after Day 1
Don't Just “Wing It” Preparing for Employee Day 1
The Risk of Poor Communications
A Proper Communication Process
Roles, Responsibilities, and Target Audiences
Messages by Audience
Summary
Chapter 11 Cultural Integration and Assessment
Managing Cultural Integration Activities
Assessing Culture
Roles and Responsibilities
Activities and the IMO Timeline
Culture and Change Management
Summary
Chapter 12 The Talent Assessment Process
Talent Assessment Guiding Principles
Talent Assessment Objectives
Evaluation Tools for Assessing Talent
Retention/Separation Guidelines and Policies
Dependencies for Talent Assessment/Retention and Separation Activities
Example Scenario #1
Example Scenario # 2
Example Scenario # 3
Things to Avoid
Summary
Chapter 13 Synergy Program Management
Effectively Managing Synergies
The IMO’s Role in Managing a Synergy Program
A Typical Synergy Plan
Process Details
Costs to Achieve (CTAs)
Best Practices Tips
Managing the Handoff
Defining the Undefined
Delays Almost Always Negatively Affect Synergies
Bad News Does Not Get Better with Age
If It Looks Too Good to Be True, It Probably Is
Summary
Chapter 14 Information Technology Integration
IT’s Role within Integration
Day 1 Planning
The Three Risks
Summary
Chapter 15 Integration Feedback: Lessons Learned
Goals and Tools of Lessons Learned
Getting Feedback and Making Adjustments
Too Much Paperwork!
Reconciling Integration Work with Your Day Job
Working Together
Collecting Post-Integration Feedback
Additional Tips
Lack of Air Cover
Under-Communicating
Too Many Outside Consultants, Not Enough Insiders
Be a Good Cop and a Bad Cop
Open Door Policy
You Don't Have a Dog in This Fight
Do Your Homework
Have a Bias for Urgency
Don't Try and Solve World Hunger
Dispense with the Politics
Be Inspirational and Lead
Summary
Chapter 16 Creating an Integration Playbook
Playbook Contents Listing
Playbook Elements
How the Elements Work Together
Applying the Playbook
Summary
About the Author
About the Website