Merging of storage elements on multi-cycle signal distribution trees into multi-bit cells

A method, system, and computer program product to merge storage elements on multi-cycle signal distribution trees into multi-bit cells of an integrated circuit include determining initial placement regions and initial placement locations for a plurality of storage elements arranged in two or more levels on the one or more trees, determining potential merge storage elements among the plurality of storage elements, and merging one or more pairs of the potential merge storage elements across the one or more trees into the multi-bit cells based on satisfying an additional condition. The two or more levels of each of the one or more trees includes a root level closest to a tree source of the respective one or more trees and a leaf level closest to a tree sink of the respective one or more trees.