A few lessons learned from prior integrations include:
(1) Ensuring that the integration team must be formed as soon as the company decides to put together the initial terms – this allows for the members of the integration team to be closely aligned with the deal team, including having knowledge of the deal terms’ provisions and their “intent” which impacts integration activities
(2) Merger synergies must be understood well in advance of closing by the integration team, especially key assumptions made that may, later, during integration prove to not be true
(3) “Rules of Engagement” for the integration team must be established, including decision-making authority to deal with integration issues requiring attention (see #2)
