Overview

A comprehensive, up-to-date discussion of maximizing the value of M&A transactions In the newly updated second edition of the Mergers & Acquisitions Integration Handbook: Helping Companies Realize the Full Value of Acquisitions, Revised and Updated, 30-year M&A professional Scott Whitaker delivers a pragmatic and actionable discussion of how to plan and execute integrations across a wide variety of tiers, markets, and business sectors. The author provides best practices and lessons learned from his first-hand experience managing hundreds of integrations. You’ll find expert guidance on managing mergers and acquisitions, integration and carve-out planning, and the overall PMI (post-merger integration) process. . You’ll also discover resources for managing communications, culture, and change management requirements. This book provides a no-nonsense handbook-style approach to manage an effective integration and to help integration managers quickly get up to speed on various integration challenges and learn how to navigate them. It is a desktop reference to inform and craft the optimal integration strategy for your company. The 2nd edition update includes: Samples of tools and templates to illustrate how to accomplish many tasks, as well as suggested approaches to address many typical challenges and “blockers” to peak integration performance. Real-world examples of successful integrations across a broad range of industries, deal types and transaction sizes. Guidance on leveraging AI tools in the M&A and integration process. Updated developments on M&A trends that impact real-life integration planning and execution The Merger & Acquisition Integration Handbook 2nd Edition will get readers up to speed on the most common integration issues and outline some basic practices to tackle integration projects in a rational and efficient manner that preserves and protects the value of your transaction.

Full Product Details

Author:   Scott C. Whitaker (Whitaker & Company, Inc., GA)
Publisher:   John Wiley & Sons Inc
Imprint:   John Wiley & Sons Inc
Edition:   2nd edition
Dimensions:   Width: 16.30cm , Height: 3.10cm , Length: 23.10cm
Weight:   0.454kg
ISBN:  

9781394343201

ISBN 10:   1394343205
Pages:   272
Publication Date:   26 January 2026
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Out of stock  
The supplier is temporarily out of stock of this item. It will be ordered for you on backorder and shipped when it becomes available.

Table of Contents

Contents Acknowledgments xi CHAPTER 1 – Introduction 1 Who Should Use This Book? 2 How This Book Is Organized 2 A Word to the Wise 6 CHAPTER 2 – Mergers and Acquisitions 101 and Assessing Integration Complexity and Risk 9 Mergers and Acquisitions 101 9 Understanding Transaction Types and Integration Scope 10 Assessing Integration Complexity and Risk 14 Assessing Integration “Debt” 19 The Evaluation and Measurement of Performance 22 Summary 22 CHAPTER 3 – Making the Business Case for Integration 23 The Business Drivers of M&A Activity 23 Why M&A Can Be So Difficult 27 Making the Business Case for Integration Support 30 The Challenges of Integration 32 Integration Success Factors 36 Summary 37 CHAPTER 4 – An Introduction to Integration Planning 39 Integration Activities 40 Integration Timetable Considerations 41 Integration and Business Planning 44 Managing the Change, People, and Potential Business Disruption 46 Summary 48 CHAPTER 5 – The Pre-planning Phase 49 Key Activities 50 Reviewing Planning Documents 52 Prioritizing Integration Workstreams 55 Confirm Prioritization Assumptions 55 Assessing Potential Challenge Areas 56 Managing Integration Delays 60 Summary 61 CHAPTER 6 – The Importance of Due Diligence 63 Due Diligence Documents Lists 65 A Few Words about IT Due Diligence 77 The Due Diligence Process and AI 78 Assessing “Integration Debt” 80 Summary 81 CHAPTER 7 – Establishing an Integration Management Office 83 Setting Up an IMO Office 85 Determining Functional Resource Commitments 91 Setting Up an IMO Project IMO Charters 96 A Note on Carve-outs 98 Summary 101 CHAPTER 8 – Executing Your Integration Plan 103 Defining the Overall Integration Strategy 104 Developing the Functional Work Plans 106 Project Management Tools 109 Functional Work Plans 110 Integration Workstreams 112 Functions Requiring Extra Attention 120 Summary 125 CHAPTER 9 – Planning Your Integration’s End State 127 How to Know When an Integration Is Finished 128 The Typical Process: Roles, Responsibilities, Tracking, and Finishing Well 132 Summary 136 CHAPTER 10 – Effective Communication Planning 137 Communication Planning Objectives 138 Guiding Principles for an Effective Communication Plan 139 Establishing a Communication Matrix 140 Communication Planning and Execution Scope 151 Summary 154 CHAPTER 11 – Managing Culture and Change During M&A 155 What Is Culture Exactly? 155 Managing Cultural Integration Activities 156 Managing Change During M&A 164 Summary 167 CHAPTER 12 – HR Diligence and the Talent Assessment Process 169 Human Resource Diligence 170 Talent Assessment Guiding Principles 175 Talent Assessment Objectives 176 Evaluation Tools for Assessing Talent 176 Retention/Separation Guidelines and Policies 178 Dependencies for Talent Assessment/Retention and Separation Activities 185 Things to Avoid 187 Summary 188 CHAPTER 13 – Synergy Program Management 189 “Synergy” in the M&A Context 190 Effectively Managing Synergies 194 Common Synergy Realization Pitfalls and Warnings 199 Summary 201 CHAPTER 14 – Information Technology and Infrastructure Integration 203 IT Integration in M&A 203 IT’s Role During Early Integration Planning 204 Day 1 Planning 206 IT Workload Examples 208 Application Decisions 212 Summary 216 CHAPTER 15 – Evaluating Integration Results and Improving Your Post-merger Integration Program 217 Improving Initial Deal Thesis Clarity 217 Measuring Progress at Day 90 (Close +90 Days) 221 Other Lessons Learned During Periods of Transformation 221 Additional Tips 229 Summary 230 CHAPTER 16 – Creating an Integration Playbook 231 Example Playbook Phasing Constructs 234 Playbook Optimization 234 Applying the Playbook 238 Integration Manager Sample Job Description 239 IMO Process Documentation 242 Summary 243 CHAPTER 17 – Artificial Intelligence and the M&A Process 245 Deal Sourcing 245 Due Diligence 246 The Valuation Process 246 Integration Planning and Execution 247 Summary 248 About the Author 249    

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Author Information

SCOTT C. WHITAKER has over 30 years’ experience covering M&A strategy, integration, carve-outs, divestitures, and internal M&A capabilities development. He was a co-founder of Global PMI Partners, an international M&A consulting firm, and has been a Managing Director at E78 since 2023. Previously, Scott held senior-level marketing, sales, and operations positions with several Fortune 500 companies.

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