News & Research: Client Successes
Case Study: M&A Synergy Assessment
ScottMadden energy consultants assisted an energy company evaluating the potential acquisition of another energy company.
- An energy company was considering the acquisition of another energy company with significant merchant assets
- A number of potential suitors also demonstrated interest in the property
- Identifying cost reduction and revenue enhancement synergies were key elements of this pre-acquisition evaluation
- The seller had an aggressive time frame for both data review and bid preparation�about three weeks
- The organization lacked specific internal measurements to evaluate the sellers performance and synergy opportunities as a combined company

- ScottMadden, energy consultants who understand the energy industry and the M&A process, facilitated groups of key functional experts within the client organization (potential "owners" of the resulting organization)
- Established the initial concept for integrated operations
- Reviewed seller data and reported findings relevant to legal, financial and operational due diligence investigation
- Defined and analyzed peer plant operating performance against seller's generating facilities
- Categorized, assessed and quantified potential operating and financial synergies, both positive and negative
- Worked with internal and external financial experts to use synergy estimates in the valuation of seller

- Energy consultants constructed a high-level management and operating approach for the combined entities
- Quickly identified synergy opportunities that exceeded initial estimates
- Helped clients go beyond their comfort zones in examining synergy opportunities
- Identified non-quantified opportunities for strategic value creation
- Highlighted due diligence issues
- Identified other internal opportunities for cost reduction, notwithstanding a successful acquisition
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