Services

Merger Planning

We offer a complete support package for colleges who need to develop a merger strategy.

Our service provides facilitation and advice for our client ensuring that the content and quality of their plans are in line with LSC and DIUS requirements and that agreed timescale's are met providing much needed confidence for all stakeholders at a time of significant uncertainty.

We have developed an approach to assisting colleges involved in a merger which is both innovative and successful.

We provide support and guidance to the college SMT and to Governors in this specialist area. Our experience of helping other colleges can reduce the timescale's involved in developing suitable plans and our knowledge of what is required by the LSC, the DIUS and providers of finance can ensure that valuable time is not wasted. Our support does not end with the production of the plan. We also offer ongoing implementation advice & support to ensure that the plan has a realistic chance of being delivered.

Our merger planning support provides guidance for the College on the process to be followed both in preparing to find a suitable partner and in developing merger a proposal for presentation to the LSC and DIUS following the identification of a partner.

Published guidance concerning mergers and reorganizations concentrates on the process to be followed once a suitable merger partner has been identified. However, the first step for any college contemplating merger is to find a suitable partner. Sometimes this involves choosing from a number of alternatives.

We can help with the whole process from identifying that a merger is desirable to submitting the detailed proposals to the LSC and DIUS.

We can help with the following:

  • Advice and Guidance for College management and Governors
  • Development of timetable for merger
  • Advice on meeting LSC published merger criteria
  • Assistance with development of merger prospectus
  • Development of accurate financial forecasts prior to merger
  • Financial modeling to test different scenarios
  • Advice on choice of preferred merger partner
  • Consolidation of financial forecasts of proponent colleges
  • Input to proposals to LSC and DIUS
  • Input to consultation documentation
  • Liaison with LSC and DIUS throughout
  • Due diligence

We can undertake due diligence exercises for colleges covering all the key aspects i.e. both financial and legal. Due diligence on college merger partners requires a detailed understanding of the sector and how it functions.

Our detailed recovery and merger planning work with colleges has given us an in-depth knowledge of the sector and the structure and operation of colleges which positions us to test the key areas requiring investigation.

Please follow this link for information on how to contact us to discuss your requirements.
MCA Cooper Associates 01226 767628