Mergers and Acquisition Communication

Successful M&A's are built on sound business objectives AND candid, timely communication. In fact, effective external and internal communication can make or break the deal as well as being a critical contributing factor to its longer term success and profitability. Management, lawyers, accountants, communicators - anyone on the M&A team - will benefit from participating in this offering.

Upon completion the participant will:

• understand the value communication plays in a successful merger or acquisition;
• be able to develop, manage and execute an external and internal communications plan in support of a merger or acquisition;
• participate in a simulation and execute a successful communications plan.

Understanding the M&A Environment:

As industries and organizations consolidate globally, M&A activity grows in parallel. It is essential to know the surprising facts about the M&A environment and importantly, why they succeed and fail. Our session will:

• Poll participants to see who has been engaged in M&A
• Deliver up to date info on North American M&A stats and trends
• Analyze the result of M&A activity to date
• Analyze the research on the effectiveness of M&A's (e.g. why 90% will fail to live up to financial expectations)

Identifying keys to success:

Here we examine the strategic factors for success.

• The Quality of the initial senior management analysis of financial and operating synergies, their decision-making and their candor/honesty in communication.
• The Quality of communication - external, internal, media, stake/shareholders, regulators
• Key messages - What is the motive?

Forming Merger teams:

The M&A team. Who and why?

• Senior management, bankers, legal;
• Communications external and internal (with lawyer, HR and IT on this team)
• Integration team

Roles and responsibilities of each, differing composition of each, links and overlaps, working together. Identify spokespersons and establish short, fast approval process for communication

M&A Considerations

Tactical considerations for a successful merger or acquisition.

• Timing, budgets, processes, of M&A communication
• Confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements
• Virtual data rooms and off site meeting and working environments
• Financial regulations around disclosure and media communication
• Need for discretion internally and externally
• Keeping a decision and action log
• How to assess corporate cultures for compatibility and appropriate communication
• The role of the "jungle telegraph/rumour mill" and how to use and address it in a M&A
• Developing key messages especially defining and communicating the motive for the M&A - Financial, operational or other motives?
• FAQ's in an M&A and preparing responses in advance
• Phrases senior management should never say in an M&A
• How to have your M&A fail
• How to have your M&A succeed

M&A Communication Simulation