Balancing Due Diligence with Integration Goals

Synchronize due diligence with integration planning to maximize deal success and streamline operational integration. Aligning these processes enhances resource efficiency and improves team integration, ensuring smoother transitions and better outcomes for all involved.

Play by

Matt Arsenault

VP of Corporate Development & Strategic Alliances at Jamf

About the play

This play underscores the strategic integration of due diligence and integration planning processes, ensuring that they inform and enhance each other rather than operating in silos. The goal is to use integration objectives to direct the scope and urgency of due diligence, enabling a smoother transition and alignment with strategic outcomes.

Preparation

Team Composition: Assemble a cross-functional team that includes members from both due diligence and integration planning teams. This ensures that insights and findings are immediately applicable and actionable.‍
Strategic Alignment: Begin with a clear understanding of the strategic goals of the acquisition. Align the due diligence process with these goals to ensure that the findings support or refine the integration plans.

People

Integration Lead, Due Diligence Team, Operations and Strategy Executives

Difficulty

Medium to High

Materials

Unified Platform, Integration Plan Template, Reporting Tools

Time

The timeline should be aligned with the transaction's urgency and the complexity of the target company.

Running the Play:

Implement a Unified Platform

Deploy a platform like DealRoom that can handle both due diligence and integration activities. Ensure all team members are trained and comfortable using the platform.

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Establish Integration Thesis

Develop initial integration plans that outline key objectives, potential synergies, and critical areas of focus.
Use these plans to direct the due diligence team on specific areas that are crucial for successful integration.

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Conduct Guided Due Diligence

Perform due diligence with a focus on discovering information that directly impacts the integration goals.
Regularly update the integration team with findings that may require adjustments to the integration plans.

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Adjust Integration Plans

Regularly communicate with all stakeholders throughout the acquisition process to manage expectations and reduce uncertainties.
Use feedback mechanisms to gauge stakeholder sentiment and adapt strategies as needed to address concerns and capitalize on opportunities.

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Prioritize Speed and Focus

Maintain a strong emphasis on meeting strategic timelines without sacrificing the thoroughness of due diligence or the quality of integration planning.
Implement rapid response mechanisms to adapt to new information and integrate insights into ongoing processes quickly.

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Review and Refine

Continuously review the integration and due diligence processes to identify areas for improvement.
Post-deal, conduct a retrospective analysis to refine the approach for future transactions.

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