Reward plays a motivational role in every stage of the deal continuum
People in deals
Delivering deal value through people
Organisations are operating in a new M&A environment – one that is much more uncertain and continually evolving. But fundamental principles on reducing uncertainty remain intact. As such, PwC’s People in Deals practice has adapted its diligence efforts to reflect this new world. For example, workforce changes, benefits adjustments and future organisation design all need to be taken into account when looking at potential acquisition targets. At PwC, we support our clients in buying and selling businesses by combining our full range of specialised industry knowledge with our deal experience.
As the deals environment continues to evolve, many organisations may look to acquisitions to find the right talent, technology and ideas to drive innovation and power-up growth.
PwC’s People in Deals build tailored people and organisation solutions to help clients achieve their strategic ambitions - reflecting their uniqueness but also grounded in rigorous analysis and data-driven insight - to create lasting, differentiated value.
How we can help
PwC’s People in Deals professions work with clients on a range of transactions, including acquisitions, divestitures, business restructuring and capital events such as an IPO. They can drive value for clients across the entire transaction cycle for different types of companies and situations.
- Pre-deal
- Due diligence
- Post-deal
- Management incentive plans
- Equity plans
Pre-deal
Being prepared pays off in the end
Being well prepared prior to the process of a sale (or part) of a business is crucial. We relive you of the task of gathering and processing key information, preparing it for a data room and drafting a vendor due diligence report. A detailed report offers insights into the HR structure, compensation and benefits framework, talent acquisition and retention, succession and more. And this results in fewer questions being raised during the actual due diligence process, potentially producing a higher appreciation of the HR structure by any buyer.
Due diligence
More than just spotting liabilities
When leaders think of ‘people in deals’, they often think of the financial liabilities related to short- and long-term incentive plans or employee benefit plans like pensions and seniority premiums. By analysing these benefits, we not only determine certain liabilities, we also spot potential opportunities when determining an offer.
Post-deal
Keeping your best people
Post-deal actions vary based on the type of deal, be it a standalone acquisition, merger or other transaction. When implementing a buy and build strategy relating to a merger or standalone acquisition, it’s necessary to harmonise compensation and benefits packages across several legal entities, as well as integrating boards and management committees. We use financial modelling to predict this impact and help you make decisions while being fully aware of the financial and legal consequences.
Management incentive plans
Aligning and performing
While management incentive plans exist in all shapes and sizes, they share a common purpose: encouraging higher performance from management. We have a comprehensive understanding of the design and use of all types of management incentive plans and extensive tax knowledge, which we use to advise the management of portfolio companies, fund managers and private equity houses.
Equity plans
Managing corporate actions
Corporate actions, such as headquarter relocation, stock splits, IPOs and delisting, have an impact on your long-term incentive plans. We assist companies to review their plans, analysing the impact for both company and employees, while obtaining tax rulings to ensure tax neutrality.
Contact us
