Step 11: Capture M&A Integration Lessons Learned

If If a M&A lessons learned are not captured, hard-won wisdom will likely be lost. Mistakes should be identified and documented so they are not repeated in the future.

Many of the errors that derail integrations are predictable. Yet, acquirers make them anyway. They don’t do their homework, or they believe their businesses will be somehow immune to issues that plague other merging companies.

Acquirers can help protect their future deals by learning lessons not only from their integrations, but from others as well.

In this section, our presentations, videos, and book highlight the integration mistakes that many acquirers repeatedly make. Plus, our surveys and assessments will help you identify areas for improvement on your integrations.

Post-Merger Integration Surveys & Assessments

M&A Lessons Learned

Post-Merger Integration Tools

Videos

Post-Merger Integration Surveys & Assessments

Post-Merger Integration Survey of Acquired Company Employees

Post-Merger Integration Survey of Acquired Company Employees

Content

Summary of Results
Interpreting the Percentages
Key Drivers of Engagement
Ares of Strength
Improvement Opportunity
Improvement Needed
Takeaways . . .
Post-Merger Integration Team Survey

Post-Merger Integration Team Survey

First 2 of 25 Questions

  1. The integration team has done an excellent job of identifying the mission critical issues and activities required to successfully integrate Acquirer and Acquiree.
  2. The integration team has done an excellent job of identifying specific milestones and objectives for integrating Acquirer and Acquiree . . .
Post Merger Integration Assessment

Post-Merger Integration Assessment

M&A Integration Assessment Project Objectives
   -    Gain insights into Acquirer executives’ experiences with respect to past and current integration practices and results to date
   -    Incorporate the perspective of acquired company personnel
   -    Use the assessment learnings to inform the development of an integration approach and improve competency in M&A integration …
 
Mergers & Acquisitions Employee Survey and Results

Mergers & Acquisitions Employee Survey and Results

Each person was asked to rate twenty-one statements from 1 to 5

  1. I understand the reason for the merger
  2. I think the merger will be good for the business
  3. I have a good understanding of the company's goals and direction
  4. I know how the company is performing …
Post Acquisition Employee Survey

Post-Acquisition Employee Survey Questions

Survey includes twenty-one questions for employees in the following five categories: Demographics, Merger Announcement, Between Announcement and Close, During the Integration, and Overall …

 
Post Merger Integration Audit

Post-Merger Integration Audit

A Post-Merger Integration Audit answers key questions about the last acquisition:

  • How were the events, decisions, communications, and actions surrounding the merger handled?
  • What could have been done differently to make the integration easier …
M&A Survey Questions and Results

M&A Survey Questions and Results

  1. Who dedicates an internal group (i.e. IMO)  to their integrations? 
  2. Does your company successfully communicate  integration objectives to employees prior to close?  And during the first 100 days after close ...

M&A Lessons Learned

Post-Merger Integration Issues, Problems, and Challenges

The 10 Causes of Post-Merger Integration Problems and Issues

The 10 root causes of post-merger integration problems that exacerbate issues and make acquisitions much more challenging.
Merger Integration Communication Lessons Learned

Merger Integration Communication Lessons Learned

Key Findings: Misses

–Large (e.g., 500+ employee) town halls in Los  Angeles, Chicago, and Phoenix

–Recorded phone messages from CEO

–Several days with excessive communications and mixed messages from multiple sources

Post-Merger Integration Tools

Videos