Yet fewer than half of all mergers succeed. Booz Allen Hamilton's extensive research shows that more mergers fail due to inadequacies in the integration process rather than to any fundamental failure of strategic concept.

Time is often the determining factor. Unnecessary delays between a transaction's announcement and its consummation — the point at which it realizes the projected economies of scale and theoretical strengths of the combined organizations — can decimate a merger's value, triggering an exodus by employees, suppliers, customers, and investors from which the combined company may never recover.

Enter the Internet

In working to integrate the one of the world's largest oil companies, Booz Allen helped invent a process that leverages the Internet to rapidly develop a universal platform and user interface for data sharing. By collecting and processing data and sharing information from far-flung locations, two companies can dramatically accelerate a merger's consummation. The process is facilitated by Booz Allen, sometimes in conjunction with another consulting firm, which can compile and analyze data prior to regulatory approval, when the two companies cannot share certain information. This effort enables better, faster strategic and operational decisions once the transaction closes.

The Booz Allen Difference

But effective information sharing alone will not make a merger succeed. In a myriad of ways, Booz Allen helps clients capture more value with less risk and with the appropriate tempo. We use our depth of strategic experience to prepare the new company to compete in the future, creating step-level change within the company so that it can drive its industry forward.

We help clients to master both the necessary mechanics and the strategic leadership challenge. Our unique assets and capabilities include:

• A proven methodology for post-merger integration built on deep and broad experience with clients, and solid research about what does and does not work in the post-merger environment.
• An understanding of client companies' industries, which helps to provide the context for change and for critical decisions.
• A post-merger integration team of experts who stand ready to assist client teams.
• A team of people who are easy to work with and sensitive to the difficult issues involved in post-merger integration.
• The experience of completing many merger integration assignments of multi-billion dollar deals.