You Bought It; Now Don’t Mess It Up! A Guide to Improving the Post-Acquisition Integration Process

Abstract

This paper reviews certain complexities related to the post-acquisition integration process, focusing on the legal corporate function and other departments dedicated to risk prevention. Study after study has shown that most M&A projects fail to achieve the synergies projected in the original business case. However, studies demonstrate that a proper integration program can maximize value for the purchaser. This paper provides a systematic breakdown of the primary risks and pitfalls when setting up an integration program for the legal corporate function. The critical questions that it attempts to answer are (i) within an integration program, what critical components reduce or otherwise mitigate risk and (ii) how can the legal team assist the business team in creating value from a newly acquired company? The author’s goal is to assist in-house attorneys to effectively counsel the business teams after a M&A deal has completed, thereby reducing risk and maximizing the economic returns projected from an acquisition.

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