Mergers and acquisitions are valuable opportunities to stimulate the growth of your business, increase your market shares, and gain a competitive advantage in the market. They’re not always easy transactions to make though. Every merger and acquisition is different, with various considerations and strategies to think about. However, there are several essential steps you can take to ensure the success of your acquisition or merger. The following are things to keep in mind:
Develop a solid plan
Before anything else, you need to think about why you’re thinking about pursuing this endeavor. Identify your specific objectives, how you’ll finance the deal, what cost savings and value-added efficiency will result from this transaction, and what you’re looking for in the target company you’re thinking of purchasing. You’ll need to draft both an acquisition plan and a merger integration playbook to properly guide your organization through the complexity of this process and how you’ll execute a successful transaction. These materials should include your target objectives, industry trends, criteria for target companies, and strategy for integration planning and long-term capture.
Assemble a team
You should have an efficient team who can work efficiently to provide cohesive thinking and communication across the board. This internal working team should consist of representatives from different departments such as sales and marketing, operations, and finance. You may also consider seeking the counsel of outside advisors such as valuation experts, investment bankers, lawyers, accountants, or insurance benefits experts.
Conduct market research
Identify potential growth opportunities in your market 
or field of service. It’s incredibly necessary to conduct research so that you can narrow down a list of potential candidates. Your research should collect data about other competitors, consumer preferences, demographics, performance and profitability, business programs, and their competitive cost/charge position.
Research and evaluate your target
The next step of the acquisition process requires research and evaluation of potential merger or acquisition candidates that align with your objectives. You should identify likely candidates as well as improbable prospects that you can rule out on the basis of experience, thorough research, consultations, and other methods. Do your due diligence by reviewing the target’s legal, operational, and financial positions. This will help you accurately understand the issues, risks, and benefits associated with your transaction. When you’ve chosen a suitable target, you need to evaluate the company’s value and identify any alternative or back-up transaction.
Negotiate an agreement and execute a transaction
Once you’ve exhaustively done your due diligence and research, it’s time for you to negotiate a definitive agreement with your target party. Obtain the necessary regulatory approvals for the transaction, and then you’ll be able to execute it. Don’t forget to monitor the acquisition and merger to make sure that the negotiated transaction is meeting your goals and objectives that you’ve set out for yourself with the purchase.
When transitioning, it would be helpful to set up milestones and incentive plans which align with their completion. Hold your team, particularly your managers, responsible for the successful execution of each milestone. Make sure you plan for this ahead of time, preferably once you’ve identified your target.
A successful merger or acquisition can do wonders for your business, opening you up to a host of opportunities and rewards. But it requires effort on your part to make it happen.