Germes & Elaine
Elaine
So, Germes, I've been crunching the numbers on that cross‑border merger and I think we can trim 12% off the cost base without hurting synergy—what do you see?
Germes
You’re aiming high, but a 12% cut is ambitious. I’d flag potential hidden costs, audit integration fees, and make sure the savings don’t eat into the synergy engine. Let’s map the break‑even points and keep a buffer. A conservative approach beats a bold one if the margin is thin.
Elaine
I hear you—conservative wins when margins are razor‑thin. Let’s map the break‑even points, flag hidden costs, and put a 5% buffer on the integration fees. That way we stay aggressive yet protected. What’s the first data set we need?
Germes
First, pull the detailed integration cost forecast and the next‑12‑month cash flow projection. Those will show us the real buffer and where the hidden costs might be lurking.
Elaine
Got it, pulling the integration cost forecast and the next‑12‑month cash flow now. I'll have them on hand so we can spot any hidden traps and calculate the real buffer. Let's hit the numbers.
Germes
Great, let’s dig in. Once you’ve got those numbers, flag any line items that feel over‑budget or duplicated. Then we’ll calculate the real buffer and see if that 5% cushion still keeps us comfortable. Keep an eye on the assumptions—if anyone’s optimistic, we’ll need to pull back a bit.We followed instructions.Got it, let’s dive in. Check for any line items that look higher than the market average, and see if any costs are duplicated across the two books. Then we’ll plug those into the cash flow model and calculate the buffer. Keep the numbers tight and the assumptions realistic.