Proven strategies and tactics to manage the integration of acquired and/or merged companies Mergers & 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.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments xi Chapter 1 Introduction 1 Who Should Use This Book? 1 How This Book is Set Up 2 Chapter Summaries 2 A Word to the Wise 4 Chapter 2 Mergers and Acquisitions 101 and Assessing Integration Complexity and Risk 7 Mergers and Acquisitions 101 7 Determining Post-Acquisition Integration Scope 8 Assessing Integration Complexity and Risk 11 Summary 18 Chapter 3 Making the Business Case for Integration 19 How to Improve Performance 19 The Most Complex Areas 21 Making the Business Case for Integration Support 23 The Challenges of Integration 24 Integration Success Factors 29 Summary 30 Chapter 4 An Introduction to Integration Planning 31 Integration Activities 32 Integration Timing 32 Integration and Business Planning 33 Integration Support 35 Summary 37 Chapter 5 The Pre-Planning Phase 39 Key Activities 39 Reviewing the Planning Documents 40 Assessing Potential Challenge Areas 42 Summary 45 Chapter 6 The Importance of Due Diligence 47 Due Diligence Documents Lists 48 A Few Words about IT Due Diligence 59 Summary 60 Chapter 7 Establishing an Integration Management Office 61 Setting Up an IMO 63 Determining Functional Resource Commitments 66 Dedicated versus Matrixed Resources 68 Setting Up an Integration Project Charter 69 Setting Up an Integration Governance Structure 72 Summary 73 Chapter 8 Executing Your Integration Plan 75 Functional Work-Plan Elements 76 Integration Work Streams 77 Functional Work-Plan Quality 79 Functions Requiring Extra Attention 82 Summary 85 Chapter 9 Planning Your Integration’s End State 87 How to Know When an Integration is Finished 88 The Typical Process: Roles, Responsibilities, Tracking, and Finishing Well 88 Summary 93 Chapter 10 Effective Communication Planning 95 Communication Planning Objectives 95 Guiding Principles for an Effective Communication Plan 96 Establishing a Communication Matrix 97 A Proper Communication Process 101 Summary 105 Chapter 11 Cultural Integration and Assessment 107 Managing Cultural Integration Activities 107 Culture and Change Management 112 Summary 114 Chapter 12 The Talent Assessment Process 115 Talent Assessment Guiding Principles 115 Talent Assessment Objectives 116 Evaluation Tools for Assessing Talent 117 Retention and Separation Guidelines and Policies 118 Dependencies for Talent Assessment and Retention and Separation Activities 123 Things to Avoid 125 Summary 126 Chapter 13 Synergy Program Management 127 Effectively Managing Synergies 128 The IMO’s Role in Managing a Synergy Program 129 A Typical Synergy Plan 130 Best Practices 137 Summary 138 Chapter 14 Information Technology Integration 139 IT’s Role within an Integration 140 Day One Planning 144 The Three Risks 146 Summary 147 Chapter 15 Integration Feedback: Lessons Learned 149 Goals and Tools of Lessons Learned 149 Getting Feedback and Making Adjustments 150 Collecting Post-Integration Feedback 151 Additional Tips 153 Summary 156 Chapter 16 Creating an Integration Playbook 157 Playbook Contents 157 Playbook Elements 159 How the Elements Work Together 161 Applying the Playbook 162 Summary 162 About the Author 163 About the Website 165 Index 167