Automotive supply manufacturer engages Baker Tilly for post-acquisition plan
A global automotive supply manufacturer engaged Baker Tilly to develop a transition plan after its acquisition was finalized. Read this case study to learn how this transition was successfully executed.
Client background
Known for its innovative car seat design and commitment to quality, our $160 million global automotive supply manufacturer client was purchased in 2019. This acquisition required a full transition of all systems and applications within twelve months of the transaction close date as a part of the Transition Services Agreement (TSA) with their previous owner.
The business challenge
Once the acquisition was finalized, the client was to be carved out of the divesting company within twelve months. This entailed the transition of personnel, equipment, processes, manufacturing operations, systems, technology and data from the divesting company to new systems and technology worldwide and launching a new U.S. manufacturing facility. The client needed immediate assistance planning and managing the disposition or transition of business systems and information technology infrastructure. The client wanted to ensure the transition was coordinated with the launch of its new U.S. manufacturing facility.
Strategy and solution
Prior to the acquisition being finalized, Baker Tilly provided advisory services to the client’s executives and investors regarding provisions of the IT Transition Services Agreement with the divesting company. Once the acquisition closed, Baker Tilly developed the transition plan for over 100 business systems and related technology infrastructure globally to their own business systems, network and IT infrastructure. Baker Tilly managed the execution of the transition globally, which included:
- Providing systems and technology expertise and recommendations to help our client take advantage of leading practices and understand enterprise resource planning (ERP) technology capabilities to assist in its replacement of legacy SAP/QAD systems
- Providing added value by training client personnel on the new system enabling the client to streamline adoption of the new solution
- Establishing a new O365 tenant and migrating their extensive O365 assets to the new tenant
Within the twelve-month contractual transition period, the client successfully completed the transition of data, systems and information technology to its new systems, global network and technology infrastructure. Despite the remote work environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of these systems and technologies were successfully executed and achieved.
Key components of their new IT landscape included:
- Cloud technology for ERP and MES
- Siemens Teamcenter for PLM/engineering
- HubSpot for Marketing and CRM
- ADP for payroll
- O365 tenant
- Global data network