Integration Plan Day 1 Readiness Checklist

Conducting proper and thorough integration is vital to establishing an effective Day 1 plan and execution. Ultimate deal value creation will hinge on how well organizations integrate on all levels, and this checklist will ensure nothing essential is missed in the process.

Most suitable during integration planning and execution for complex M&A transactions in preparation for Day 1.
Includes the typical guidelines and requirements needed for successful M&A integration.
DealRoom encourages teams to customize these checklists to accommodate the unique needs of your deal and M&A process.

What Does a Day 1 Readiness Checklist Include?

The following checklist in an all-encompassing look at the requirements needed to complete thorough integration for a successful Day 1. The checklist includes the areas that practitioners should consider before approaching Day 1 planning and execution. This checklist serves as a guideline and should be customized to fit the specifics of each M&A deal.

1. Key Day 1 Target Operating Model Milestones: Sales and Operations

This section ensure all operating models are evaluated and developed within sales and operations. This includes branding, training, expense policies and market offers. Successful planning this aspect of integration will allow business operations to run smoothly from Day 1.

Responsibility for All Customers/Distributors/Partners, Channels Defined, CRM Updated
Market Offers Defined and Priced, Supporting Materials Day 1 Ready
Joint Sales Models Defined, Including Compensation and Messaging, Branding is Clear Sales Cross Training Completed
Sales Travel and Expense Policies Aligned, Travel Readiness Confirmed (Credit Cards, Travel Agency Accounts, Etc.)
Approach to Upcoming Conventions, Shows, Trade Fairs Defined
Weekly Sales Transition Calls Scheduled

2. Key Day 1 Target Operating Model Milestones: Human Resources and Employee Onboarding

Before Day 1 can be properly executed, integration practitioners must work with human resources to develop organizational design, offer letters and employee onboarding/training.

Organization Design Finalized
Offer Letters Sent
HR Master Data Records Set Up
Payroll and Benefits Tools/Personnel Day 1 Ready
Buddy System Day 1 Ready
Required Training Day 1 Ready
Orientation Events Organized, All-Hands and Departmental
Business Cards, Stationary, Etc. Day 1 Ready

3. Key Day 1 Target Operating Model Milestones: Real Estate and Leasing

Integration practitioners must prepare real estate facilities before Day 1, which will include signing leases, creating security protocols and furnishing the site.

Critical Leases and Contracts Migrated/Novated
Day 1 Badging and Security Protocols Ready
Day 1 Temporary Signage Ready
Sites Furnished and Ready for Day 1 Use
Network and Telephony Access Tested for Each Site
Insurance/Utilities/Services Ready for Day 1 Transition
Required Training Day 1 Ready

4. Key Day 1 Target Operating Model Milestones: IT and Telephony

Implemented the proper and needed technology is critical for a successful Day 1. This includes setting up emails, devices and technology training.

Email Addresses Set Up
Devices Ready, Including Mobility and Historical Data Transfer/Archiving
Day 1 Critical Development and Deployment Activities Complete
Day 1 Critical Data Migrations Complete
Day 1 End-To-End Scenario Testing Completed Satisfactorily
Required Training Day 1 Ready
All Required Contracts/Licenses for IT are Day 1 Ready

5. Key Day 1 Target Operating Model Milestones: Finance and Legal Entity

Conducting proper legal and financial due diligence and integration is essential to Day 1 value creation. This includes establishing legal entities, vendor contracts and expense reimbursement processes

Legal Entities Established
New Vendor Data Added and Tested
Vendor Contracts in Place
New Customers Added and Tested
Customer Contracts in Place
General Ledgers, Profit Centers, Cost Centers, Charts of Accounts Set Up
P-Cards, Company Credit Cards Day 1 Ready
Expense Reimbursement Process Day 1 Ready

6. Key Day 1 Target Operating Model Milestones: Communications and Change Management

Approving and confirming Day 1 plans and communications with the appropriate business functions will enable limited bottlenecks during Day 1 integration, so that the original vision and value of the deal can be created.

Legal Close Press Releases Ready
Training Plan Approved and Facilities/Instructors/Tools Day 1 Ready
Day 1 Communications for 3rd Parties Ready: Vendors, Customers, Shareholders, Regulators, Etc.
HR Confirms that Day 1 Events/Orientation Sessions, Manager Toolkits, and Buddy Protocols are Ready

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Integration Plan Day 1 Readiness Checklist

Most suitable during integration planning and execution for complex M&A transactions in preparation for Day 1.
Includes the typical guidelines and requirements needed for successful M&A integration.
DealRoom encourages teams to customize these checklists to accommodate the unique needs of your deal and M&A process.

What Does a Day 1 Readiness Checklist Include?

1. Key Day 1 Target Operating Model Milestones: Sales and Operations

Responsibility for All Customers/Distributors/Partners, Channels Defined, CRM Updated
Market Offers Defined and Priced, Supporting Materials Day 1 Ready
Joint Sales Models Defined, Including Compensation and Messaging, Branding is Clear Sales Cross Training Completed
Sales Travel and Expense Policies Aligned, Travel Readiness Confirmed (Credit Cards, Travel Agency Accounts, Etc.)
Approach to Upcoming Conventions, Shows, Trade Fairs Defined
Weekly Sales Transition Calls Scheduled

2. Key Day 1 Target Operating Model Milestones: Human Resources and Employee Onboarding

Before Day 1 can be properly executed, integration practitioners must work with human resources to develop organizational design, offer letters and employee onboarding/training.

Organization Design Finalized
Offer Letters Sent
HR Master Data Records Set Up
Payroll and Benefits Tools/Personnel Day 1 Ready
Buddy System Day 1 Ready
Required Training Day 1 Ready
Orientation Events Organized, All-Hands and Departmental
Business Cards, Stationary, Etc. Day 1 Ready

3. Key Day 1 Target Operating Model Milestones: Real Estate and Leasing

Integration practitioners must prepare real estate facilities before Day 1, which will include signing leases, creating security protocols and furnishing the site.

Critical Leases and Contracts Migrated/Novated
Day 1 Badging and Security Protocols Ready
Day 1 Temporary Signage Ready
Sites Furnished and Ready for Day 1 Use
Network and Telephony Access Tested for Each Site
Insurance/Utilities/Services Ready for Day 1 Transition
Required Training Day 1 Ready

4. Key Day 1 Target Operating Model Milestones: IT and Telephony

Implemented the proper and needed technology is critical for a successful Day 1. This includes setting up emails, devices and technology training.

Email Addresses Set Up
Devices Ready, Including Mobility and Historical Data Transfer/Archiving
Day 1 Critical Development and Deployment Activities Complete
Day 1 Critical Data Migrations Complete
Day 1 End-To-End Scenario Testing Completed Satisfactorily
Required Training Day 1 Ready
All Required Contracts/Licenses for IT are Day 1 Ready

5. Key Day 1 Target Operating Model Milestones: Finance and Legal Entity

Legal Entities Established
New Vendor Data Added and Tested
Vendor Contracts in Place
New Customers Added and Tested
Customer Contracts in Place
General Ledgers, Profit Centers, Cost Centers, Charts of Accounts Set Up
P-Cards, Company Credit Cards Day 1 Ready
Expense Reimbursement Process Day 1 Ready

6. Key Day 1 Target Operating Model Milestones: Communications and Change Management

Legal Close Press Releases Ready
Training Plan Approved and Facilities/Instructors/Tools Day 1 Ready
Day 1 Communications for 3rd Parties Ready: Vendors, Customers, Shareholders, Regulators, Etc.
HR Confirms that Day 1 Events/Orientation Sessions, Manager Toolkits, and Buddy Protocols are Ready

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FAQ

Can I change requests in this checklist or add new?

Every M&A and due diligence process is different. Downloaders are urged to make these checklists their own by changing the providing information to better fit their needs.

Does this questionnaire provide all the necessary due diligence information?

This Day 1 readiness checklist was created by and for M&A professionals. It includes a comprehensive starting point for the Day 1 integration process. However, every deal is different and may require additional requirements and tasks.

Easily Collect Data Using this Template in DealRoom

DealRoom is a M&A integration management solution and virtual data room for complex financial transactions. DealRoom enables increased collaboration, efficiency and value creation by providing a centralized platform in which practitioners can organize and complete tasks essential to due diligence, integration and deal success. By conducting all aspects of integration through DealRoom, practitioners can securely store important documents, collaborate on requirements, communicate more easily with third parties, and establish priorities.

How to use the template with DealRoom:

Download the due diligence template from DealRoom’s website
Open a room within DealRoom
Go to the Requests tab and select “import”
Import the downloaded template

The Requests tab is automatically populated with the requests from the due diligence template. Users can begin assigning, adding to, and completing due diligence requests.

Integration Plan Day 1 Readiness Checklist