SaaS Buyers' Club Maximize the value of your SaaS acquisition with integration expert Steve Nunn
In this SaaS Buyers' Club Episode 16, your hosts, Software as a Service (SaaS) mergers and acquisitions (M&A) lawyers Omeed Tabiei and Joe Prencipe from Optimist Legal interview acquisition integration expert Steve Nunn.
Steve Nunn from Intista shares his substantial expertise on business integration in the SaaS industry, focusing on M&A. Covering topics from the role of leadership to the critical challenges that frequently arise, Steve also presents the unique five-step process of Intista and their certified acquisition integration management program.
In this podcast interview, Steve Nunn from Intista talks about the correct procedures and common pitfalls of integration in business acquisitions, particularly in the Software as a Service (SaaS) sector. He explains his company's five-step integration approach: understanding the reasons for acquisition, figuring out objectives, high-level planning, kickoff and execution.
For the correct procedure, he advises early engagement of the integration team, preferably during the due diligence phase of an acquisition. He also emphasizes the importance of careful planning and establishing clear definitions of success before starting the integration process. Steve suggests that integration success markers should be growth enablers, like the ability to do two product releases within a year, not just financial objectives.
As for common pitfalls, Steve brings up the issue of leadership continuity, highlighting that the continued presence and involvement of the acquiring company's leadership is crucial for maintaining staff morale and productivity. He also warns about the potential hidden cost of integrations, particularly in CapEx, due to deferred capital expenditure by the company being sold. Additionally, Steve mentions the challenge of onboarding remote workers, alluding to complications with cross-border acquisitions — particularly the varying regulatory restrictions.
01:22 Guest's Career Path and Transition to Integration Specialist
02:41 Guest's Experience in Mergers and Acquisitions
05:27 Guest's Role in Business Integration and Certification Program
10:48 Discussion on Acquisition and Integration Process
13:02 Challenges in Integration and Importance of Leadership
14:59 Discussion on Integration Costs and Final Thoughts
50:40 The Process of Integration in Acquisitions
52:26 The Impact of Denial in Acquisitions
01:05:10 The Challenges of Remote Work and Onboarding
01:12:48 The Importance of Integration in M&A Success
01:14:32 The Challenges of Cross-Border SaaS
01:20:13 The Role of Integration Consultants in M&A Success
01:23:19 The Importance of Defining Success in Integration
01:30:02 The Importance of Cloud-Based Systems in Project Tracking
01:30:25 Efficient Meeting Management During Integrations
Follow the Guest: Steve Nunn
► https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenunn7/
► https://intista.com/
►info@intista.com
Follow the Host: Omeed Tabiei
► https://www.linkedin.com/in/Omeed-Tabiei
► https://www.facebook.com/omeedt
►https://www.instagram.com/saasbizlawyer
Follow the Co-Host: Joe Prencipe
► https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeprencipe
How to reach Optimist Legal about your SaaS M&A transaction to explore working with us
► https://www.optimistlegal.com
►Omeed@OptimistLegal.com
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About Optimist Legal:
Optimist Legal is a SaaS Mergers and Acquisitions buy-side focused law firm with extensive experience in M&A. In fact, M&A is all we do, and it's what all of our lawyers at our firm have focused on for their entire careers. When you work with Optimist Legal for your next SaaS M&A transaction, you can rest assured that you're working with diligent experts that are going to get you the best deal possible.