Method and systems for developing an acquisition integration project plan
First Claim
1. A method performed by a computer for developing an acquisition integration project plan outlining at least one process for performing an acquisition integration and providing information to perform the acquisition integration, the acquisition integration including assimilating an acquiring entity with an acquisition target including at least one of a newly acquired company and a newly acquired asset including a portfolio, said method comprising the steps of:
- automatically displaying on the computer a plurality of integration areas to be selected by a user based on a type of acquisition being performed including at least one of a type of company and a type of asset being acquired, the plurality of integration areas are menu selections selectable by the user and are not entered into the computer by the user, the plurality of integration areas include commercial, operational, human resources, legal and financial;
automatically displaying on the computer a plurality of pre-defined integration events based upon the user selected integration areas, each pre-defined integration event being displayed in association with a phase in an acquisition process including a pre-due diligence phase, a due diligence phase, a post sign/pre-close phase, a post close phase, and a transition to operations phase, the plurality of pre-defined integration events are menu selections selectable by the user and are not entered into the computer by the user, the plurality of pre-defined integration events are associated with a variety of acquisition types, each of the plurality of pre-defined integration events are automatically selectable as a required integration event to be performed as part of the integration for the specific type of acquisition being performed;
displaying on the computer a detailed explanation for each pre-defined integration event including a description of the integration event, advice for performing the integration event, and a sample presentation relating to the integration event, the description facilitates determining a percentage of completion of the integration event, the advice is based on prior acquisition integrations and provides guidance to a person responsible for performing the integration event on how to accomplish the integration event, the sample presentation includes an attached file including data previously presented by the acquiring entity as part of a prior acquisition integration, the detailed explanations are viewable by the user and are not entered into the computer by the user;
developing an acquisition integration project plan for the specific acquisition integration by prompting the user to select from the display at least one pre-defined integration event for the each user selected integration area, the acquisition integration project plan includes the user selected integration events and any automatically selected integration events to be performed as part of the acquisition including the integration events to be performed during the pre-due diligence phase of the acquisition process, the due diligence phase of the acquisition process, the post sign/pre-close phase of the acquisition process, the post close phase of the acquisition process, and the transition to operations phase of the acquisition process, the acquisition integration project plan outlines the integration events to be performed in a recommended sequential order from the pre-due diligence phase of the acquisition process through the transition to operations phase of the acquisition process;
displaying a name of a person responsible, a due date, a completion percentage, and a commentary for each user selected, pre-defined integration event and each automatically selected, pre-defined integration event; and
storing the user selected and the automatically selected integration events and the name of a person responsible, the due date, the completion percentage, and the commentary for each integration event into corresponding integration areas, as the acquisition integration project plan.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods that facilitate integration of one corporate entity into another corporate entity are described herein. In one embodiment, a method in a computer for generating an acquisition integration project plan includes displaying a plurality of pre-defined integration events based upon at least one user selected integration area, each pre-defined integration event being associated with a phase in an acquisition process, displaying at least one user selected, pre-defined integration event for each user selected integration area, displaying at least one of a name of a person responsible, a due date, a completion percentage, and a commentary for each user selected, pre-defined integration event, and storing the user selected, pre-defined integration events and corresponding integration areas as an acquisition integration project plan.
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Citations
67 Claims
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1. A method performed by a computer for developing an acquisition integration project plan outlining at least one process for performing an acquisition integration and providing information to perform the acquisition integration, the acquisition integration including assimilating an acquiring entity with an acquisition target including at least one of a newly acquired company and a newly acquired asset including a portfolio, said method comprising the steps of:
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automatically displaying on the computer a plurality of integration areas to be selected by a user based on a type of acquisition being performed including at least one of a type of company and a type of asset being acquired, the plurality of integration areas are menu selections selectable by the user and are not entered into the computer by the user, the plurality of integration areas include commercial, operational, human resources, legal and financial; automatically displaying on the computer a plurality of pre-defined integration events based upon the user selected integration areas, each pre-defined integration event being displayed in association with a phase in an acquisition process including a pre-due diligence phase, a due diligence phase, a post sign/pre-close phase, a post close phase, and a transition to operations phase, the plurality of pre-defined integration events are menu selections selectable by the user and are not entered into the computer by the user, the plurality of pre-defined integration events are associated with a variety of acquisition types, each of the plurality of pre-defined integration events are automatically selectable as a required integration event to be performed as part of the integration for the specific type of acquisition being performed; displaying on the computer a detailed explanation for each pre-defined integration event including a description of the integration event, advice for performing the integration event, and a sample presentation relating to the integration event, the description facilitates determining a percentage of completion of the integration event, the advice is based on prior acquisition integrations and provides guidance to a person responsible for performing the integration event on how to accomplish the integration event, the sample presentation includes an attached file including data previously presented by the acquiring entity as part of a prior acquisition integration, the detailed explanations are viewable by the user and are not entered into the computer by the user; developing an acquisition integration project plan for the specific acquisition integration by prompting the user to select from the display at least one pre-defined integration event for the each user selected integration area, the acquisition integration project plan includes the user selected integration events and any automatically selected integration events to be performed as part of the acquisition including the integration events to be performed during the pre-due diligence phase of the acquisition process, the due diligence phase of the acquisition process, the post sign/pre-close phase of the acquisition process, the post close phase of the acquisition process, and the transition to operations phase of the acquisition process, the acquisition integration project plan outlines the integration events to be performed in a recommended sequential order from the pre-due diligence phase of the acquisition process through the transition to operations phase of the acquisition process; displaying a name of a person responsible, a due date, a completion percentage, and a commentary for each user selected, pre-defined integration event and each automatically selected, pre-defined integration event; and storing the user selected and the automatically selected integration events and the name of a person responsible, the due date, the completion percentage, and the commentary for each integration event into corresponding integration areas, as the acquisition integration project plan. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer for developing an acquisition integration project plan outlining at least one process for performing an acquisition integration and providing information to perform the acquisition integration, the acquisition integration including assimilating an acquiring entity with an acquisition target including at least one of a newly acquired company and a newly acquired asset including a portfolio, said computer programmed to:
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automatically display a plurality of integration areas to be selected by a user based on a type of acquisition being performed including at least one of a type of company and a type of asset being acquired, the plurality of integration areas are menu selections selectable by the user and are not entered into the computer by the user, the plurality of integration areas include commercial, operational, human resources, legal and financial; automatically display a plurality of pre-defined integration events based upon the user selected integration areas, each pre-defined integration event being associated with a phase in an acquisition process including a pre-due diligence phase, a due diligence phase, a post sign/pre-close phase, a post close phase, and a transition to operations phase, the plurality of pre-defined integration events are associated with a variety of acquisition types including at least one of a variety of companies and assets being acquired, the plurality of pre-defined integration events are menu selections selectable by the user and are not entered into the computer by the user, each of the plurality of pre-defined integration events are automatically selectable as a required integration event to be performed as part of the integration for the specific type of acquisition being performed; display a detailed explanation for each pre-defined integration event including a description of the integration event, advice for performing the integration event, and a sample presentation relating to the integration event, the description facilitates determining a percentage of completion of the integration event, the advice is based on prior acquisition integrations and provides guidance to a person responsible for performing the integration event on how to accomplish the integration event, the sample presentation includes an attached file including data previously presented by the acquiring entity as part of a prior acquisition integration, the detailed explanations are viewable by the user and are not entered into the computer by the user; develop an acquisition integration project plan for the specific acquisition integration by prompting the user to select from the display at least one pre-defined integration event for the each user selected integration area, the acquisition integration project plan includes the user selected integration events and any automatically selected integration events to be performed as part of the acquisition including the integration events to be performed during the pre-due diligence phase of the acquisition process, the due diligence phase of the acquisition process, the post sign/pre-close phase of the acquisition process, the post close phase of the acquisition process, and the transition to operations phase of the acquisition process, the acquisition integration project plan outlines the integration events to be performed in a recommended sequential order from the pre-due diligence phase of the acquisition process through the transition to operations phase of the acquisition process; display a name of a person responsible, a due date, a completion percentage, and a commentary for each user selected, pre-defined integration event and each automatically selected, pre-defined integration event; and store the user selected and automatically selected integration events and the name of a person responsible, the due date, the completion percentage, and the commentary for each integration event into corresponding integration areas as an acquisition integration project plan. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for developing an acquisition integration project plan outlining at least one process for performing an acquisition integration and providing information to perform the acquisition integration including assimilating an acquiring entity with an acquisition including at least one of a newly acquired company and a newly acquired asset including a portfolio, said system comprising:
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a client system comprising a browser; a database for storing data; and a server coupled to said client system and said database, said server programmed to; automatically display on said client system a plurality of integration areas to be selected by a user based on a type of acquisition being performed including at least one of a type of company and a type of asset being acquired, the plurality of integration areas are menu selections selectable by the user and are not entered into the system by the user, the plurality of integration areas include commercial, operational, human resources, legal and financial; automatically display on said client system a plurality of integration events based upon the user selected integration areas, each integration event being displayed in association with a phase in an acquisition process including a pre-due diligence phase, a due diligence phase, a post sign/pre-close phase, a post close phase, and a transition to operations phase, the plurality of integration events are menu selections selectable by the user and are not entered into the system by the user, the plurality of pre-defined integration events are associated with a variety of acquisition types, each of the plurality of integration events are automatically selectable as a required integration event to be performed as part of the integration for the specific type of acquisition being performed; display on said client system a detailed explanation for each integration event including a description of the integration event, advice for performing the integration event, and a sample presentation relating to the integration event, the description facilitates determining a percentage of completion of the integration event, the advice is based on prior acquisition integrations and provides guidance to a person responsible for performing the integration event on how to accomplish the integration event, the sample presentation includes an attached file including data previously presented by the acquiring entity as part of a prior acquisition integration, the detailed explanations are viewable by the user and are not entered into the computer by the user; develop an acquisition integration project plan for the specific acquisition integration by prompting the user to select from the display at least one integration event for the each user selected integration area, the acquisition integration project plan includes the user selected integration events and any automatically selected integration events to be performed as part of the acquisition including the integration events to be performed during the pre-due diligence phase of the acquisition process, the due diligence phase of the acquisition process, the post sign/pre-close phase of the acquisition process, the post close phase of the acquisition process, and the transition to operations phase of the acquisition process, the acquisition integration project plan outlines the integration events to be performed in a recommended sequential order from the pre-due diligence phase of the acquisition process through the transition to operations phase of the acquisition process; display on said client system a name of a person responsible, a due date, a completion percentage, and a commentary for each user selected integration event and each automatically selected integration event; and store in the database the user selected and automatically selected integration events and the name of a person responsible, the due date, the completion percentage, and the commentary for each integration event into corresponding integration areas, as an acquisition integration project plan. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for developing an acquisition integration project plan outlining at least one process for performing an acquisition integration and providing information to perform the acquisition integration, the acquisition integration including assimilating an acquiring entity with an acquisition target including at least one of a newly acquired company and a newly acquired asset including a portfolio, said method comprising the steps of:
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automatically displaying on an electronic interface a plurality of integration areas to be selected by a user based on a type of acquisition being performed including at least one of a type of company and a type of asset being acquired, the plurality of integration areas are menu selections selectable by the user, the plurality of integration areas include commercial, operational, human resources, legal and financial; selecting, from the electronic interface, at least one of the plurality of integration areas; automatically displaying on an electronic interface a plurality of integration events based on the user selected integration areas, each integration event being displayed in association with a phase in an acquisition process including a pre-due diligence phase, a due diligence phase, a post sign/pre-close phase, a post close phase, and a transition to operations phase, the plurality of integration events are menu selections selectable by the user, the plurality of integration events are associated with a variety of acquisition types, each of the plurality of integration events are automatically selectable as a required integration event to be performed as part of the integration for the specific type of acquisition being performed; identifying, from the electronic interface, a responsible person responsible for each integration area; identifying, from the electronic interface, at least one of a person responsible and a due date for each integration event within an integration area; requesting, from the electronic interface, a percentage completion for each integration event; requesting, from the electronic interface, a detailed explanation for an integration event including a description of the integration event, advice for performing the integration event, and a sample presentation relating to the integration event, the description facilitates determining the percentage of completion of the integration event, the advice is based on prior acquisition integrations and provides guidance to a person responsible for performing the integration event on how to accomplish the integration event, the sample presentation includes an attached file including data previously presented by the acquiring entity as part of a prior acquisition integration; and developing an acquisition integration project plan for the specific acquisition integration by prompting the user to select from the display at least one integration event for the each user selected integration area, the acquisition integration project plan includes the user selected integration events and any automatically selected integration events to be performed as part of the acquisition including the integration events to be performed during the pre-due diligence phase of the acquisition process, the due diligence phase of the acquisition process, the post sign/pre-close phase of the acquisition process, the post close phase of the acquisition process, and the transition to operations phase of the acquisition process, the acquisition integration project plan outlines the integration events to be performed in a recommended sequential order from the pre-due diligence phase of the acquisition process through the transition to operations phase of the acquisition process. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. Apparatus for developing an acquisition integration project plan outlining at least one process for performing an acquisition integration and providing information to perform the acquisition integration, the acquisition integration including assimilating an acquiring entity with an acquisition target including at least one of a newly acquired company and a newly acquired asset including a portfolio, said apparatus comprising:
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means for automatically displaying on a computer a plurality of integration areas to be selected by a user based on a type of acquisition being performed including at least one of a type of company and a type of asset being acquired, the plurality of integration areas are menu selections selectable by the user, the plurality of integration areas include commercial, operational, human resources, legal and financial; means for automatically displaying on the computer a plurality of integration events for the user selected integration areas, each integration event being displayed in association with a phase in an acquisition process including a pre-due diligence phase, a due diligence phase, a post sign/pre-close phase, a post close phase, and a transition to operations phase, the plurality of integration events are menu selections selectable by the user, the plurality of integration events are associated with a variety of acquisition types, each of the plurality of integration events are automatically selectable as a required integration event to be performed as part of the integration for the specific type of acquisition being performed; means for displaying on the computer a detailed explanation for each integration event including a description of the integration event, advice for performing the integration event, and a sample presentation relating to the integration event, the description facilitates determining a percentage of completion of the integration event, the advice is based on prior acquisition integrations and provides guidance to a person responsible for performing the integration event on how to accomplish the integration event, the sample presentation includes an attached file including data previously presented by the acquiring entity as part of a prior acquisition integration; and means for developing an integration acquisition project plan using the user selected and the automatically selected integration events, the acquisition integration project plan includes the user selected integration events and any automatically selected integration events to be performed as part of the acquisition including the integration events to be performed during the pre-due diligence phase of the acquisition process, the due diligence phase of the acquisition process, the post sign/pre-close phase of the acquisition process, the post close phase of the acquisition process, and the transition to operations phase of the acquisition process, the acquisition integration project plan outlines the integration events to be performed in a recommended sequential order from the pre-due diligence phase of the acquisition process through the transition to operations phase of the acquisition process. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for developing an acquisition integration project plan and for managing acquisition integration to achieve acquisition synergies, customer satisfaction and operational excellence, acquisition integration including assimilating an acquiring entity with an acquisition target including at least one of a newly acquired company and a newly acquired asset including a portfolio, said computer program comprising a code segment that:
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automatically displays on the computer a plurality of integration areas to be selected by a user based on a type of acquisition being performed including at least one of a type of company and a type of asset being acquired, the plurality of integration areas are menu selections selectable by the user, the plurality of integration areas include commercial, operational, human resources, legal and financial; automatically displays on the computer integration events associated with each user selected integration areas, each integration event associated with a phase in an acquisition process including a pre-due diligence phase, a due diligence phase, a post sign/pre-close phase, a post close phase, and a transition to operations phase, the integration events are associated with a variety of acquisition types, the integration events are menu selections selectable by the user, the plurality of integration events are associated with a variety of acquisition types, each of the plurality of integration events are automatically selectable as a required integration event to be performed as part of the integration for the specific type of acquisition being performed; displays on the computer a detailed explanation for each integration event including a description of the integration event, advice for performing the integration event, and a sample presentation relating to the integration event, the description facilitates determining a percentage of completion of the integration event, the advice is based on prior acquisition integrations and provides guidance to a person responsible for performing the integration event on how to accomplish the integration event, the sample presentation includes an attached file including data previously presented by the acquiring entity as part of a prior acquisition integration; and develops an acquisition integration plan for the specific acquisition integration including a set of integration events and deliverable checklists by prompting the user to select from the display at least one integration event for the each user selected integration area, the acquisition integration project plan includes the user selected integration events and any automatically selected integration events to be performed as part of the acquisition including the integration events to be performed during the pre-due diligence phase of the acquisition process, the due diligence phase of the acquisition process, the post sign/pre-close phase of the acquisition process, the post close phase of the acquisition process, and the transition to operations phase of the acquisition process, the acquisition integration project plan outlines the integration events to be performed in a recommended sequential order from the pre-due diligence phase of the acquisition process through the transition to operations phase of the acquisition process. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method for operating a computer to develop an acquisition integration project plan outlining at least one process for performing an acquisition integration and providing information to perform the acquisition integration, the acquisition integration including assimilating an acquiring entity with an acquisition target including at least one of a newly acquired company and a newly acquired asset including a portfolio, said method comprising the steps of:
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prompting a user to select an integration area from an acquisition integration main user interface by automatically displaying a plurality of integration areas on the acquisition integration main interface, the plurality of integration areas are menu selections selectable by the user, the plurality of integration areas include commercial, operational, human resources, legal and financial; automatically displaying on the computer a set of user selectable and automatically selectable integration events for the user selected integration areas, each integration event being displayed in association with a phase in an acquisition process including a pre-due diligence phase, a due diligence phase, a post sign/pre-close phase, a post close phase, and a transition to operations phase, the integration events are menu selections selectable by the user, the integration events are associated with a variety of acquisition types, each of the integration events are automatically selectable as a required integration event to be performed as part of the integration for a specific type of acquisition being performed; displaying on the computer a detailed explanation for each integration event including a description of the integration event, advice for performing the integration event, and a sample presentation relating to the integration event, the description facilitates determining a percentage of completion of the integration event, the advice is based on prior acquisition integrations and provides guidance to a person responsible for performing the integration event on how to accomplish the integration event, the sample presentation includes an attached file including data previously presented by the acquiring entity as part of a prior acquisition integration; and developing an acquisition integration project plan for the acquisition integration by prompting the user to select from the display at least one integration event for the each user selected integration area, the acquisition integration project plan includes the user selected integration events and any automatically selected integration events to be performed as part of the acquisition including the integration events to be performed during the pre-due diligence phase of the acquisition process, the due diligence phase of the acquisition process, the post sign/pre-close phase of the acquisition process, the post close phase of the acquisition process, and the transition to operations phase of the acquisition process, the acquisition integration project plan outlines the integration events to be performed in a recommended sequential order from the pre-due diligence phase of the acquisition process through the transition to operations phase of the acquisition process. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A computer for developing an acquisition integration project plan outlining at least one process for performing an acquisition integration and providing information to perform the acquisition integration, the acquisition integration including assimilating an acquiring entity with an acquisition target including at least one of a newly acquired company and a newly acquired asset including a portfolio, said computer programmed to:
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prompt a user to select an integration area from a computer generated screen configured as an acquisition integration main user interface by automatically displaying on the acquisition integration main user interface a plurality of integration areas, the plurality of integration areas are menu selections selectable by a user, the plurality of integration areas include commercial, operational, human resources, legal and financial; automatically display on the computer a set of selectable integration events for the selected integration area, each integration event being displayed in association with a phase in an acquisition process including a pre-due diligence phase, a due diligence phase, a post sign/pre-close phase, a post close phase, and a transition to operations phase, the integration events are menu selections selectable by the user, the integration events are associated with a variety of acquisition types, each of the integration events are automatically selectable as a required integration event to be performed as part of the integration for a specific type of acquisition being performed; display on the computer a detailed explanation for each integration event including a description of the integration event, advice for performing the integration event, and a sample presentation relating to the integration event, the description facilitates determining a percentage of completion of the integration event, the advice is based on prior acquisition integrations and provides guidance to a person responsible for performing the integration event on how to accomplish the integration event, the sample presentation includes an attached file including data previously presented by the acquiring entity as part of a prior acquisition integration; and develop an acquisition integration project plan by prompting the user to select from the display at least one integration event for the user selected integration areas, the acquisition integration project plan includes the user selected integration events and any automatically selected integration events to be performed as part of the acquisition including the integration events to be performed during the pre-due diligence phase of the acquisition process, the due diligence phase of the acquisition process, the post sign/pre-close phase of the acquisition process, the post close phase of the acquisition process, and the transition to operations phase of the acquisition process, the acquisition integration project plan outlines the integration events to be performed in a recommended sequential order from the pre-due diligence phase of the acquisition process through the transition to operations phase of the acquisition process. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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62. A computer-readable medium for developing an acquisition integration project plan outlining at least one process for performing an acquisition integration and providing information to perform the acquisition integration, the acquisition integration including assimilating an acquiring entity with an acquisition target including at least one of a newly acquired company and a newly acquired asset including a portfolio, said computer-readable medium executable by a computer for controlling the computer to:
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automatically display on the computer a plurality of pre-defined integration areas to be selected by a user based on a type of acquisition being performed including at least one of a type of company and a type of asset being acquired, the plurality of pre-defined integration areas are menu selections selectable by the user, the plurality of integration areas include commercial, operational, human resources, legal and financial; automatically display on the computer a plurality of pre-defined integration events based upon the user selected integration areas, each pre-defined integration event being displayed in association with a phase in an acquisition process including a pre-due diligence phase, a due diligence phase, a post sign/pre-close phase, a post close phase, and a transition to operations phase, the plurality of pre-defined integration events are menu selections selectable by the user, the plurality of pre-defined integration events are associated with a variety of acquisition types, each of the plurality of pre-defined integration events are automatically selectable as a required integration event to be performed as part of the integration for the specific type of acquisition being performed; display on the computer a detailed explanation for each selected pre-defined integration event including a description of the integration event, advice for performing the integration event, and a sample presentation relating to the integration event, the description facilitates determining a percentage of completion of the integration event, the advice is based on prior acquisition integrations and provides guidance to a person responsible for performing the integration event on how to accomplish the integration event, the sample presentation includes an attached file including data previously presented by the acquiring entity as part of a prior acquisition processes integration; and develop an acquisition integration plan for the specific acquisition integration by prompting the user to select from the display at least one integration event for each user selected, pre-defined integration area, the acquisition integration project plan includes the user selected integration events and any automatically selected integration events to be performed as part of the acquisition including the integration events to be performed during the pre-due diligence phase of the acquisition process, the due diligence phase of the acquisition process, the post sign/pre-close phase of the acquisition process, the post close phase of the acquisition process, and the transition to operations phase of the acquisition process, the acquisition integration project plan outlines the integration events to be performed in a recommended sequential order from the pre-due diligence phase of the acquisition process through the transition to operations phase of the acquisition process. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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Specification