Years ago, a client pinpointed the M&A readiness challenge: “Once the deal took off, our team never caught up.” Admittedly, anyone in the M&A business has had the experience of chasing a speeding train down the tracks after it had already left the station. If you are like me, you vowed never to do that again.
The CEO of a major client caught me off guard a while back with a profoundly simple, yet incredibly complex question: “What are the two most important principles for integration success?”
Admittedly, I had to fight the urge to respond flippantly with some blather about “communications, synergies and getting the people issues right.” All of these are correct, of course, and extremely important, but none of these rose to the level this executive was asking for.
The media has been ablaze recently with the dramatic news about the termination of the $35 billion “merger of equals” between global advertising, media and communications leaders Publicis Groupe SA and Omnicom Group, Inc. In glaring front page and “above-the-fold” headlines, The Wall Street Journal proclaimed on April 26, “Clashes Over Power Threaten $35 Billion Ad Agency Merger,” and finally on May 9, “Merger of Ad Giants Scuttled.”
Chairman’s Message, June 2016
By Jim Jeffries, Chairman, M&A Leadership Council
I’m happy to announce that companies who have an exceptionally difficult acquisition in the pipeline or those who are embarking on M&A for the first time can now receive in-house “Just-In-Time” training for their M&A teams. That’s right...
Resources Available to Help You and Your Company Handle the Transition
Contributed by Baker & McKenzie, a Partner of M&A Leadership Council
Following the news of the recent EU referendum, Baker & McKenzie has made available some important resources to help support you and your team through the coming weeks. On B&M’s new website is a Brexit webpage with blog articles, a webinar, multiple downloads and contact details for their Brexit team......
What Can a Well-Planned Change Management Effort Deliver?
Contributed by Willis Towers Watson, a Partner of M&A Leadership Council
In this round table discussion, change management experts from Gates Corporation; Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany; and Willis Towers Watson share thoughts on what a well-planned, wisely led change management effort can deliver during a corporate transaction...
Market Spotlight
Contributed by Mergermarket, a Partner of M&A Leadership Council
Companies in the oil & gas and coal sectors have experienced a harsh about-face in their prospects over the last 18 months, as the price of commodities has plummeted. The sudden turn of events has had a significant effect on M&A activity...
How to Mitigate and Manage Potential Value Destruction
By Mark Herndon, President, M&A Partners
A recent review of published literature in the M&A sector reveals an important gap in strategic thinking and organizational readiness. While there’s no shortage of excellent counsel regarding how to prepare a business for sale, how to value the enterprise and how to negotiate the price and terms of a transaction...
Complimentary Event: Networking and Discussion at the Ritz-Carlton, Boston
Presented by Remark/Mergermarket, a Partner of M&A Leadership Council
You are cordially invited to join Remark/Mergermarket at the Ritz-Carlton in Boston for a complimentary afternoon of networking and discussion regarding the current market environment for PE and VC...
Valuable Culture Assessment Tools for M&A
Contributed by Willis Towers Watson, a Partner of M&A Leadership Council
We are often asked how culture assessment tools can be used to inform M&A work. Given that many mergers and acquisitions are undermined by a poor cultural fit, it’s not surprising that organizations are looking for new approaches in this area. There are several valuable solutions...