Research
& Planning, Inc. was an enterprise application consulting
services industry based in Cambridge, MA. R&P implemented
and supported SAP’s enterprise resource planning software;
and developed custom decision support systems using proprietary
tools.
With its knowledge of both the ERP implementation services market
and the electronic commerce markets, the WWC bankers were aware
that a well financed electronic commerce solutions company, AppNet
Systems, Inc. that was interested in building a total solutions
capability in part through acquisitions. Research & Planning’s
SAP skills complemented AppNet’s capabilities. The WWC bankers
arranged the strategic combination of the two companies within
ten weeks of being engaged. The Research & Planning principals
received approximately $20.5 million in a combination of cash,
promissory notes and shares of common stock in AppNet. AppNet
completed its initial public offering and sold to CommerceOne.
