Companies Look to M&A for New Growth Opportunities for 2004.

Business Editors

CHAPEL HILl, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 11, 2003

As companies look to corporate combinations to drive next year's growth goals, it is critical that merging companies effectively manage integration in the new organization, according to Best Practices, LLC. Recent findings profiled at http://www3.best-in-class.com/cr74.htm highlight proven planning and management tactics are needed to blend companies into a single, profitable entity.

"Very few people have the experience necessary to plot a reliable path through a merger," says Keith Symmers, vice president of Best Practices, LLC. "Our research shows the quantitative and qualitative insights that managers, senior executives, team leaders and team members need to implement to immediately communicate their value to the integration process."

Benchmark companies see employees who command respect and consistently protect the best interests of their companies as valuable attributes during a merger. For example:

-- One company retained respected leaders of smaller

organizations to provide credible support for integration.

Knowing that employees in an acquired company may feel

vulnerable during transition time, the company encouraged

support for a merger from top management.

-- Another benchmarked company implements a methodical process

that identifies select leaders for targeted retention

practices. The process identifies eight leadership

competencies required to meet the selection criteria.

Best Practices, LLC has interviewed dozens of M&A executives who have maneuvered several high-profile mergers. Their insights revealed:

-- Tactics companies use to retain key executives and personnel

during mergers and acquisitions

-- Due diligence checklists for structuring a proposal,

definitive agreements and transition planning

-- Sample integration team structures

-- Selection criteria for analyzing and evaluating potential deal

opportunities

-- Criteria for evaluating cultural compatibility

Best Practices, LLC has worked closely with companies going through the growing pains associated with a merger or acquisition. To find out more about how Best Practices, LLC can help you, your team and your company, contact Keith Symmers at [phone] or [e-mail] .

ABOUT BEST PRACTICES, LLC

Best Practices, LLC conducts work based on the principle that organizations can chart a course to superior economic performance by studying the best business practices, operating tactics and winning strategies of world-class organizations. Our suite of customized Research and Consulting services is designed to assist you in improving your company's performance by analyzing the winning practices of leading corporations. For more information, call 919-403-0251 or visit http://www.best-in-class.com/.