After the Merger

The likelihood that employees will experience at least one merger during their working life has reached an all-time high globally and show no sign of relenting. The probability that this will affect members of top management is growing at even faster pace.

After the Merger offers a powerful blueprint on how to effect post merger integration and reflects many of the merger lessons learned by the authors over the years. Companies with mergers in mind — no matter what their size — would do well to consider these principles before signing on the dotted line.

• Part 1 Merger Addiction
• The Rush to Create Shareholder Value
• Managing the Changes Mergers Bring
• Growth — Thinking Big and Small at the Same Time
• What Can Go Wrong Will Go Wrong
• Setting the Stage for Post-Merger Integration Before the Deal Closes
• What Successful Post-Merger Integration Boils Down To
• Part 2 The Seven Rules of Merger Success
• Rule 1 * Vision
• Vision Lets You Withstand Change and Capitalize On It
• Vision Means Balancing Dreams and Reality
• The "Fit" Fetish Needs to Be Debunked
• What Does My Merger Partner Bring to the Table?
• Rule 2 * Leadership
• Charisma and Decisiveness Help Prevent a Vacuum from Emerging
• A Favorable Start Is No Reason for Complacency
• Sometimes Soneone Needs to Take a Back Seat
• No Matter Whom You Choose, Move Quickly
• Rule 3 * Growth
• Synergy Suicide: Cost Reduction Is Not a Driving Force
• Growth Must Take Center Stage in the Merger
• Growth Can Be Achieved Even in Mature Industries
• Rule 4 * Early Wins
• Fight Back With Deeds, Not Just With Words
• Levers Can Be Found Internally and Externally
• Look for Early Wins in Assets, Customers, and Knowledge
• Look for Substantial, Sustainable, and Tangible Results
• Gather Information by Asking and Listening
• Get the Word Out, But Don't Exaggerate
• Rule 5 * Cultural Differences
• So, What Is Culture Anyway?
• Getting It Wrong Can Destroy the Value of a Merger
• Getting the Approach Right: Three Basic Options
• Making a Cultural Assessment
• Rule 6 * Communication
• Understand the Needs of Your Target Audience
• You Have to Know Your Own Communications Goal
• Develop a Plan Comprising Targets, Goals, Content, and Media
• Monitor the Outcome of Your Communication and Act Accordingly
• You Must Also Honestly Assess Yourself as a Communicator
• Rule 7 * Risk Management
• Don't Avoid Risk, Embrace It
• Prioritizing Your Projects Is the First Step
• Identify Issues, Make Assumptions, and Identify Risks
• Categorize Your Risks by Urgency
• Embrace Your Risks and then Reprioritize
• This Is Not Just Theory: It's Been Done
• Part 3 The Future
• Merger Outlook
• Will We Have Only Three Players per Industry Worldwide?
• When Will We See the First Truly Global Mega-Merger?
• To What Degree Will Mature Industries be Reshaped? And What Is the Future of "New" Industries?
• Will the Value of the Brand as a Point for Customer Recognition Increase Tremendously?
• What Does All This Means for Post-Merger Integration?

An advertising book from AT Kearney.

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