This article excerpt first appeared on ProBono here.

A legal toolkit has been developed to assist charities and Not for Profit organisations in undertaking a merger.

“Mergers can be very rewarding, but require significant time and resources in order to be done successfully,” charity law expert at Mills Oakley Lawyers, Vera Visevic said.

“The toolkit reflects our experience and that is that many more Not for Profits are coming to us asking about mergers, finding merger partners and what’s involved in the process. Many organisations come to us with no idea of the complexity around mergers and the huge undertaking around legal and administrative issues. Many people need to co-operate for a successful merger. Both boards need to be on the same page as well as everyone else in the organisation.”

She said that many mergers fail because when d-day arrives they realise that there will be a loss of staff and the issues often become personal. “Politics and ego can often get in the way,” Visevic said.

The merger toolkit delivers nine steps towards a successful merger from a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) through to the ‘deed of merger’ and the settlement process.

The Merger toolkit can be downloaded HERE

Join the AuSAE Webinar on August 4 titled "Saying 'I do' to Mergers" presented by Vera Visevic from Mills Oakley Lawyers

Charities and other not-for-profits are increasingly considering the merit, or otherwise, of mergers. Financial difficulties, executive turnover, membership demands and industry consolidation may result in not-for-profits needing to join forces. If your charity or not-for-profit is considering a merger, take part in this free webinar to have your questions answered, including:

• What is the current climate surrounding mergers?
  
• Why merge?
  
• How do you find the right partner and assess potential compatibility?
  
• How do you plan the wedding and ensure you make it all the way down the aisle?
  
• What makes a happy marriage?