High-impact business processes are those that have the largest propensity to affect an organization’s value-drivers, dependent upon the operationalization of deal strategy. When implementing a strategy, whether it be growth or expansion oriented, these processes are often misidentified or overlooked, opening the organization up to enormous risk. In the case of a Merger or Acquisition, the early identification and mediation of these processes can determine the long-term success of a deal far before the deal is closed.
The MFR Team utilizes a familiarity with various business models, as well as experience in a wide range of industries, to outline an evaluation approach that is unique to the organization in the context of the investment thesis. MFR has developed a methodology and approach to deliver the most informative due diligence possible, tailored specifically to deal strategy. For Operational Due Diligence, this approach utilizes various types of analysis to cover six critical operational factor groups, including:
- People
- Planning
- Regulation
- IT
- Data
- Operational Costs
Within each category, specific analyses are determined based on the target organization and the goals of the transaction. The goal of MFR’s Operational Due Diligence is to take a process-driven approach and provide the investment team with a clear understanding of the target organization’s operational efficiencies, value-drivers, synergies, risks, and redundancies.
Dependent on the deal strategy, the MFR team will conduct benchmarking to better inform investors on the potential level of effort and urgency required to address operational risks, with the ultimate goal of providing potential approaches to accentuate synergies and mitigate risks in the future. Along with the results of analyses, recommendations and integration implications are provided within the due diligence report to prepare your team for the next stage of the deal cycle.
IT systems and operational processes work hand-in-hand to drive value in an organization. Similarly, our IT and Business Advisory teams work closely throughout the diligence process to provide a comprehensive analysis of the operational ecosystem.
MFR has developed a methodology and approach to deliver a constructive analysis of an organization’s IT ecosystem, specifically tailored to the deal thesis and target organization’s industry. For IT Due Diligence, MFR’s approach assesses the following technological factor groups to provide decision-makers with a clear understanding of the technology’s current state, potential risks, and opportunities:
- Staffing
- Technology Stack
- Agreements
- Information Management
- Integrations
- Cybersecurity
The goal of IT due diligence is to assist investors in making informed decisions about technology investments, or the technology associated with an investment, to ensure that they align with deal strategy and deliver long-term value.
Our organization possesses internal tools to conduct comprehensive evaluations and analyses of an organization’s IT systems. The MFR team’s methodology is predefined, but flexible to the needs of each individual client and the system agnostic approach to evaluation allows our team to provide investors with objective findings related to the IT ecosystem of a target company, as well as recommendations tailored to the client’s investment thesis. With the tools, methodology, and approach, our team effectively communicates potential solutions that can generate cost savings through the investments required to address IT risks, better preparing your team for the next stage in the deal cycle.
With significant experience in IT current state and risk assessments, our team has the ability to provide in-depth evaluations on various aspects of an organization’s Technology Stack, accompanied by the definition of potential solutions to address IT risk. The risk assessments and evaluations that accompany IT due diligence can include, but are not limited to:
- Software as a Service
- Operational Maintenance
- Infrastructure
- On-Premises Architecture
- Cybersecurity for on-premises versus cloud infrastructure considerations
- Cloud Migration
Once your transaction is finalized, MFR can serve as your trusted support provider to ensure the long-term success of your deal. With over 35 years of experience providing project management, planning, operations, and technology services, our team is well versed in the evaluation, planning and execution of strategies that create and enhance efficiencies. Our portfolio of services for post-transaction support include:
Integration Planning
Creating and executing a plan to merge companies, including the integration of information systems and technology, as well as merging internal processes.
Project & Change Management
Providing comprehensive project and change management to ensure a smooth transition for all parties involved.
Organizational Structure Evaluation & Redesign
Evaluating and redesigning the organizational structure, including leadership, staffing, and reporting hierarchies.
Data and Technology Evaluation & Consolidation
Evaluating technology and data for consolidation, implementation, and decommissioning.