Post Merger Integration Playbook – Group50 Consulting
Group50’s PMI playbook is a detailed set of initiatives and tasks that need to be completed for every integration. Group50 consultants can program manage and complete the entire integration process or complete parts of the process (i.e. GAAP Allocation of purchase consideration) if a company already has specialists or other outside firms doing this work. Each initiative and task is supported by a detailed checklist that will be monitored by a cloud based, real time reporting system. The PMI playbook should be started 30 days prior to close.
Strategy
Implementation Workshop
TASK:
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- Integration kick-off work shop with executive leaders and integration team leaders
DESCRIPTION:
- The Acquisition strategy defines the expected outcomes of the integration: Expected value creation, optimization of NEWCO’s operating model and market positioning.
Due Diligence Review
TASK:
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- Identify due diligence findings that need to be addressed and create mitigation plans
DESCRIPTION:
- Start with the findings of the due diligence process for planning purposes
Validate Integration Strategic Objectives
TASK:
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- Review Acquisition Financial Model and define synergy goals
- Complete a risk assessment
- Define strategic objectives
- Finalize Newco Strategies
DESCRIPTION:
- The Acquisition strategy defines the operational and financial intent of the acquisition which directs all integration activities.
Identify Strategic and Operating Gaps
TASK:
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- Develop process maps
- Identify operational shortcomings – short-medium-long term
DESCRIPTION:
- Newco’s future state will require addressing these gaps.
Implement PMO
TASK:
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- Implement cloud based PMO system
- Organize Integration Teams
- Create Project Plans
DESCRIPTION:
- Define integration budgetGroup50 uses a cloud based project management system that provides real time tracking and value creation for all cross functional and multi-level team integration teams.
Finance
TASK:
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- Complete GAAP Allocation of Purchase Consideration to consolidate prior company closing financials into Day 1 Newco financials.
- Using Newco organizational structure and operational similarities, develop financial structure of Newco Reporting Units, Subsidiaries and consolidations to allocate value of intellectual property, other intangible assets and Goodwill to the units where they are reflected.
- Complete tax basis calculations for all purchased assets and set depreciation and amortization schedules
- Define operating budgets and working capital requirements
- Define integration budget
- Identify and define financial liabilities
- Set-up operating KPI’s and management dashboard
DESCRIPTION:
- The financial structure and reporting systems need to be consolidated
Approve integration project plan
TASK:
- Acquire senior leadership approval and commitment
- Implement PMO management software
- Launch integration project
Legal
Contract Review
TASK:
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- Review all contracts and optimize for NEWCO
DESCRIPTION:
- NEWCO will have a different operating structure which requires consolidation of all contracts and insurance policies.
Legal Liability
TASK:
- Define legal risks and create risk mitigation strategies
- Validate Regulatory Compliance – define and address gaps
Insurance
TASK:
- Review and consolidate all insurance policies
- Identify cost reductions through consolidation
Trademarks and IP
TASK:
- Develop a list of trademarks and IP
- Define maintenance program
Create Value
Newco future state design
TASK:
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- Create an operating model
- Create roadmap – current state to future state
- Set goals and objectives for each functional area – Value creation, cost reductions, operating guidelines, etc.
- Cascade objectives to all integration and project teams and manage performance through PMO system
DESCRIPTION:
- Value creation is the fundamental reason for an acquisition and its integration
Maintain Business Performance
TASK:
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- Set performance objectives during integration
- Identify operating and organizational gaps that could impede performance
DESCRIPTION:
- Integration can be a disruptive activity and the integration team needs to develop a plan to mitigate decreased performance during that period.
Process Reengineering
TASK:
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- Identify overlapping processes
- Complete a best practices inventory
- Implement best practices from both companies into NEWCO
- Redesign core business practices if required – Make part of the roadmap to the future state
DESCRIPTION:
- Every company will have overlapping processes that need to be rationalized and has an inventory of best practices that should be leveraged in an integration.
Technology
Technology inventory and Enterprise Architecture
TASK:
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- Identify all technologies utilized in both companies
- Identify overlapping technologies
- Define core technologies that will be utilized in NEWCO
- Identify technology gaps
- Create enterprise architecture and long term technology strategy
- Identify cost reduction programs
DESCRIPTION:
- Technology is the backbone of every business and the choices made during integration will have a long term impact on value creation
Leverage Existing Technologies
TASK:
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- Identify areas where existing technology isn’t being fully utilized
- Create leveraging plans and programs
- Design business processes that more fully utilize technology capabilities
DESCRIPTION:
- Every organization underutilizes their technology investment
Technology Risk
TASK:
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- Create disaster recovery program
- Identify cybersecurity risks and create mitigation plans
- Evaluate technology interfaces for compliance to GDPR and other regulatory requirements
- Validate scalability
DESCRIPTION:
- As the backbone of the company, technology risk mitigation is a critical component of the integration plan.
Operations
Operating Strategy
TASK:
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- Define operating strategy and its core elements
- Define operational structure
- Set-up a management review and reporting system
- Implement operational cost reduction/takeout programs – operating costs, corporate overhead, etc.
- Create operational dashboard with appropriate KPI’s
- Complete a health and safety review
DESCRIPTION:
- Every business needs an operating strategy that focuses on optimizing the performance of their supply chain. Every business has one – Quote to Cash and Raw materials to delivery of the final product or service to the end user.
Supply Chain
TASK:
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- Evaluate supply chain performance for products and services
- Identify overlapping supplies and create a consolidation strategy
- Review supplier evaluations
- Evaluate supply chain practices – purchasing, quality, performance, etc.
- Create a supply chain footprint optimization program (suppliers, manufacturing, distribution, logistics, etc.)
- Evaluate supply chain resiliency via a risk assessment
DESCRIPTION:
- More detail is available in Group50’s Supply Chain Playbook
Manufacturing
TASK:
- Create a manufacturing strategy
- Complete evaluation of footprint – optimization
- Review utilization, efficiency and power alleys
- Review and consolidate capital budgets
- Review environmental surveys and create risk mitigation strategies
- Complete a site/location optimization review
Quality
TASK:
- Quality Systems Evaluation and consolidation
- Identify quality system weaknesses
- Identify quality issues and address them
Marketing/Sales
Go To Market Plans
TASK:
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- Evaluate customer base and create sales programs for each
- Create marketing strategies
DESCRIPTION:
- NEWCO will have marketing, sales, customer, product and distribution overlaps which will need to be rationalized and optimized
Product portfolios
TASK:
-
- Optimize product offerings and address product and service overlaps
- Create or optimize brand strategies
- Optimize pricing
- Establish fix or exit programs for products and customers
DESCRIPTION:
- Analysis of product and service overlaps defines the go forward product structure and identifies gaps which will become part of NEWCO’s new product roadmap
OMNI Channel
TASK:
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- Create OMNI channel strategy
- Evaluate all internet based systems and programs and consolidate/optimize
- Customer Service review and consolidation
DESCRIPTION:
- OMNI channel is defined by Group50 as “Any customer buying any product at anytime, anyway they want to”.
Sales strategy
TASK:
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- Optimize sales and distribution channels
- Optimize sales organization
- Evaluate and optimize sales incentive programs
- Consolidate pricing and rebate programs
- Plan meetings with every customer to review the new sales strategy
DESCRIPTION:
- Rationalization of sales, sales compensation and channels of distribution is important so that there is limited confusion in the marketplace
Organization
Cultural Assessment
TASK:
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- Identify cultural barriers to integration
- Create mitigation plan
DESCRIPTION:
- Integrations require the combination of two cultures. Understanding the potential conflicts and addressing these issues prior to the start of integration is critical
Structure
TASK:
- Design organization structure required to operate NEWCO
- Complete a staffing review for every function at every level: Compensation, Benefits, Bonuses, Contracts, Titles, Reporting, etc.
Personnel
TASK:
- Create a NEWCO onboarding program
- Identify best performers in both organizations and departure risks
- Create stay bonus program for critical integration resources
- Identify integration team gaps and resource externally
- Review WARN act requirements if required
Wages and benefits
TASK:
- Evaluate compensation to local markets
- Develop a compensation program that supports the organization design
- Consolidate benefits programs
Skills maps
TASK:
- Define skills requirements for NEWCO
- Create critical skills maps and training programs to assess gaps
Communication
TASK:
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- Develop a leadership communication plan during the integration
DESCRIPTION:
- The need for frequent communication is under appreciated during an integration. It is imperative that leadership communicates status, progress and performance every week during the integration process
Change Management
TASK:
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- Develop a change management program
DESCRIPTION:
- Change management is a critical component of successfully integration two companies and cultures
