Across all publicly traded industries, less than 50% of mergers and acquisitions achieve their projected synergistic results after one year. While there is less visibility into the results of AEC firms’ mergers and acquisitions since many are not in the public record, anecdotal reports put the success rates closer to 75%. One common critical success factor across both groups is the comprehensiveness of the integration planning and implementation.

Planning for integration needs to start well before the ink dries on the sale contract. Critical considerations such as organization structure, communication plans, branding and marketing plans, key personnel decisions, and core process and operational systems blending must be in place and ready to “go live” rapidly.

The number one reason cited when M&A goes awry for AEC firms, as well as for other industries is poor cultural integration. This is perhaps the area that presents the most significant barrier to rapid and sustainable success. As part of AEC M&A due diligence, the vast majority of buyers and sellers seek “good fit” partners with similar philosophies and cultures. Very few “hostile” deals are made in our industry. Nevertheless, underestimating the complexity of merging cultures can be a tragic mistake.

ZweigWhite helps with M&A integration planning by ensuring that all bases are covered. Key areas include:

• Due diligence management and cultural audits
• Specific and comprehensive communication plans and timelines
• Detailed maps of capabilities, processes, and systems
• Sequenced IT and administrative systems conversion plans
• Operational and process integration plans (standards, templates, structures)
• Shared services consolidation opportunities
• Marketing and branding plans and timelines
• Plans for cultural integration activities
• Direction and facilitation support

Each of these components is designed with accountabilities, metrics and scorecards to enable detailed monitoring and timely remediation when required. Planning and implementation work is done by teams comprising representatives from both firms with active support, direction, and facilitation from ZweigWhite professionals.

Balancing an accelerated integration and tightly sequenced and dependent activities with the imperative for sustainable and improved performance, while maintaining client relationships and leveraging expected synergies, means managing a lot of moving parts

Why team with ZweigWhite to optimize your M&A Integration Planning and Implementation?

1. Our industry experience. We're dedicated to and focused on design and construction so we understand the unique and common challenges faced by firms like yours
2. Our consultant experience. We're experts from the industry weaving marketing, finance, project management, change management, and leadership expertise into our projects
3. Our M&A experience. ZweigWhite has assisted scores of companies with M&A due diligence and financial advice. We understand how M&A works within the AEC industry
4. Our approach. We work closely with your executive team and employee work teams—bringing the best practices, the right tools, and solid training that provide measurable results
5. Your company and your brand. They are the soul of your business. Growing through M&A can yield significant competitive advantage. Comprehensive integration planning that starts early in the process provides a roadmap for focus and action