Closing transfers the agreed rights, but it does not automatically integrate the business. The first 90 days should turn the acquisition documents and diligence findings into an operating plan. The timetable below is a management framework, not a substitute for statutory or contractual deadlines: urgent notices and filings must be handled when due, even if that is on day one.
Days 1–10: establish lawful control and access
Confirm completed corporate actions, authorised signatories and the status of required registrations. Update banking and system access through controlled handover, preserving evidence and segregation of duties. Identify immediate notice obligations under financing, licences, leases and customer contracts. Collect originals and credentials securely; do not depend on a departing seller’s personal email or device for business-critical access.
Days 1–30: protect cash and continuity
Reconcile bank balances, debt, supplier obligations and the completion accounts process. Confirm payroll and essential service payments. Track any transitional services agreement and identify when seller support ends. Review insurance continuity and urgent operational dependencies. A purchasing freeze or abrupt systems change can disrupt production; apply controls proportionately and make sure operating staff understand the new approval process.
Days 15–45: resolve priority compliance findings
Convert the diligence report into a ranked action register with owners and evidence of completion. Address missing permits, overdue renewals and material safety or data issues first. Verify the current competition and sector-approval position before taking any step that should have awaited clearance. The Competition Authority updated its merger rules in 2026, so a historic threshold summary should not be reused without checking.
Days 30–60: align people, contracts and data
Review employment terms, key-person retention and consultation or consent requirements relevant to planned changes. Map important customer and supplier relationships to their actual contract terms. Assess data sharing with the new parent and service providers before transferring personal information. Integration should follow lawful access and purpose limits; ownership of the company does not by itself answer every data protection question.
Days 60–90: close the handover and preserve claims
Review unresolved conditions, deferred payments, earn-out obligations and warranty notice periods. Preserve records supporting any claim and follow the agreed notification method. Test the new governance rhythm: budgets, reporting, risk review and authority limits. Record which integration tasks remain open and fund them. The board should receive evidence of completed actions, not merely a statement that the acquisition has been integrated.
Investor checklist
- Day-one authority and secure access.
- Cash, payroll and transitional service continuity.
- Prioritised compliance remediation.
- Lawful people and data integration.
- Claim deadlines and evidence-based board reporting.
For transaction-specific support, see our M&A transaction advisory and data protection services.
Continue with: Investing in Turkish Gaming Studios: IP, Publisher Agreements and Investor Protection; Korean–Turkish Industrial Joint Ventures: Legal Issues Before Signing.
Frequently asked questions
Are these statutory 90-day deadlines?
No. They are planning intervals; actual legal and contractual deadlines take priority.
Can all seller access be removed immediately?
Plan access changes around continuity, security and any transitional services obligations.
Should warranty claims wait until integration ends?
No. Follow the applicable notice and limitation provisions as issues emerge.
