Acquisition Integration Approaches
Table of Contents
What is Acquisition Integration Approaches ?
The Acquisition Integration Approaches model of Philippe Haspeslagh and David Jemison provides insight and guidance in Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A on choosing the optimal integration approach. Each approach describes a process by which a company plans for and implements a successful integration of a newly acquired company.
In Mergers and Acquisitions, the motto often traditionally was: “Make them like us.” Alternately, relatively simple criteria were used to choose an approach (e.g., the size and quality of the acquired firm).
Haspeslagh and Jemison (1990) have stated that the approach a company should take towards integration should be understood by considering two (additional) criteria:
1. The need for strategic interdependence
2. The need for organizational autonomy
Strategic Interdependence
This refers to the combined value created after acquisition which should obviously be greater than the value of both the firms combined together. Value creation can be in many forms like increased resources, skills or combined benefits.
Obviously, the goal and central task in any acquisition is to create the value that is enabled when the two organizations are combined. There are four types of value creation:
I. Resource sharing (value is created by combining the companies at the operating level)
II. Functional skills transfer (value is created by moving people or sharing information, knowledge and know-how)
III. General management skill transfer (value is created through improved insight, coordination or control)
IV. Combination benefits (value is created by leveraging cash resources, borrowing capacity, added purchasing power or greater market power)
Organizational Autonomy
Haspeslagh and Jemison warn that managers must not lose sight of the fact that the strategic task of an acquisition is to create value (I-IV), and must not grant autonomy too quickly, although obviously people are important and should be treated fairly and with dignity. The need for organizational autonomy can be answered using three questions:
A. Is autonomy essential to preserve the strategic capability we bought?
B. If so, how much autonomy should be allowed?
C. In which areas specifically is autonomy important?
The Preferred M&A model
Depending on the score on these two factors (see graph), the preferred acquisition integration approaches are:
– Absorption (management needs courage to ensure that its vision for the acquisition is carried out)
– Preservation (management focus is to keep the source of the acquired benefits intact, “nurturing”)
– Symbiosis (management must ensure simultaneous boundary preservation and boundary permeability, gradual process)
– Holding (non intention of integrating and value is created only by financial transfers, risk-sharing or general management capability)
