When two companies combine, it is usually a strategic move aimed at helping both organizations thrive. However, it is likely that a merger will create some short-term chaos regardless of how well it is executed. What are some ways that both the buyer and the seller can prepare for two companies becoming a single entity?
Sellers Should Prepare Their Employees
If a company is sold, it could call into question the future of everyone who works there. While some people may be retained, the buyer may want to use its own people to perform certain tasks. Therefore, management should take some time to address what the sale means for the company as well as those who work for it well in advance of the sale closing. This may allow workers the chance to start looking for new jobs before they are let go.
Buyers Should Keep the Culture in Place
There is generally a good reason why a company is a target for acquisition. One of these reasons may have to do with the fact that the seller is a known brand in the marketplace. If that is the case, the buyer should not take any steps to change the brand or what it does best. Otherwise, it could turn consumers off and make it harder to earn a return on the investment made into the new business.
Sellers Should Know What the End Game Is
Those who are looking to sell their companies should know why they are selling and what they hope to accomplish. If the owner of the company being acquired wants to retire, he or she should make that clear from the beginning. This may make it easier to find the right buyer, which may result in the company being sold in a timely manner and for the right price.
Buyers Should Have a Plan Too
A buyer should know what it wants from the company that it is acquiring. For instance, a company may be acquired because it makes a product that the buyer wants the rights to or because it would rather acquire a startup before it becomes a primary competitor.
While they are relatively common, mergers can have significant implications for both buyers and sellers. Therefore, it is critical that there is a strategic reason as to why the merger is taking place and that it is executed in an orderly fashion.This may make it easier for the combined entity to enjoy success now and in the future.
Author Bio
Kara Masterson is a freelance writer from West Jordan, Utah. She graduated from the University of Utah and enjoys writing and spending time with her dog, Max. If you’re considering a merger for the first time, Kara recommends working with a professional like the Murphy Business Of Minnesota LLC to help you through a merger process.
