V2 Specialization Types: Mergers & Acquisitions

A business should know where it’s going before it determines how to get there. That’s why Deloitte’s M&A strategy & execution team isn’t called the M&A execution & strategy team. We assist our clients in understanding their individual strategic direction first: how and where they want to compete and impact their industry. Then we help our clients identify and analyze prospective M&A paths to get there. We help screen acquisition targets based on potential synergies, organizational and cultural fit, and the feasibility of a deal. And our services span the M&A life cycle. With well-crafted growth strategies and execution plans, our clients can be prepared to move forward on M&A actions that can help them achieve their goals.

As one of the most complex events in a company’s life, a merger or acquisition calls for forward-thinking technology integration planning. Deloitte’s team helps clients integrate the technology infrastructures of the entities involved to help limit duplicated costs, conflicting processes, or inconsistent and ineffective systems. We proactively help our clients plan and implement post-merger integration activities, as well as navigate complex carveouts. With our strong relationships across the tech ecosystem, we offer a full suite of M&A-related IT services—from IT capability development and diligence through IT integration or divestiture implementation. Our focus is on helping our clients advance their goals for the merger or acquisition—including unlocking planned synergies, identifying potential cost savings, and building a strong foundation for accelerated growth.

Deloitte’s team of M&A professionals assist our clients with financial and strategic advisory services ranging from sell-side and buy-side M&A to capital raising to evaluation of corporate finance alternatives, including Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). We are often at the center of deals, bringing into sync the activities of both client and Deloitte teams. Utilizing models, analytics and leading practices, we create marketing and business case documents that can help position a client’s business to the market. On the back end of transactions, we serve our clients by assisting them with their negotiation strategy and tactics, and we advise on business issues in definitive agreements.

Deloitte’s M&A team advises our clients as they identify and quantify risks associated with bringing together distinct organizational cultures and operations. Our due diligence services encompass deal risks related to HR operations and technology, organizational culture, and broad labor and talent, as well as traditional financial risks inherent in compensation and benefit programs. We also serve clients on post-merger integration and divestiture issues, including compensation, benefits, HR operations and technology, HR strategy, and talent, as well as change management and workforce transition.

It takes a forward-thinking understanding of accounting issues and reporting requirements to successfully execute a deal. At Deloitte, we evaluate a broad spectrum of technical accounting matters, including complex issues in business combinations, consolidations, share-based compensation, revenue recognition, leases, intangibles, and financial instruments. Our team focuses on business, industry, financial, accounting and tax issues related to transactions, identifying potential opportunities as well as risks. We perform due diligence on a target’s historical and projected earnings and cash flows; its hidden contingencies, commitments and tax exposures; and its quality of assets and internal control structure.

M&A services can help clients identify potential tax savings opportunities, as well as help mitigate tax risk. That’s why buyers and sellers alike need guidance on tax implications. Deloitte is recognized as a market leader in providing tax services tailored to the specific needs of buyers and sellers. Our team provides corporate and private equity buyers with a continuum of tax advisory services to advise clients on mergers, acquisitions, carveouts, investment and financing structures, disposition alternatives and post-transaction activities. Working with clients before, during and after their transactions, we look at various corporate functions to evaluate the tax profile and to implement planning that helps our clients achieve their objectives.