How to Properly Announce a Business Merger

In the corporate world of business, strategies are implemented at almost every hour of the day. Whether a company is looking to grow their operations or merge with another existing company, a plan must be made. This is especially true when it comes to business mergers, which require lots of planning, preparation, and coordination. 

Both companies looking to combine their operations must do their due diligence in notifying the right parties. Once things are in motion, getting the right information out to the public can be announced. When the time comes, announcing the merger must be done properly to maximize the publicity and minimize the uncertainties.

Here are the best ways to announce a business merger: 

1. Establish a timeline 

First and foremost, both companies involved in the merger have to organize themselves before the merger happens. The most efficient ways to do this is to establish a timeline, so that all necessary phases can be clearly noted down. 

Mergers will generally occur after a set amount of time, usually in a matter of months. If you work with a business advisory firm, their team will develop a detailed timeline ahead of the merger. A good timeline will help to keep things on track, allowing you to make the important announcement with the best possible timing.

2. Telling employees

A company’s driving force is centred around the people who make things happen. Every single employee who works at the business must be notified of the merger well beforehand. Andrea Orcel  That is because there are several dynamics that go into play as a result of the corporate strategy. 

For instance, mergers can unfortunately result in massive layoffs, leading to some employees losing their jobs. In order to maintain goodwill with your trusted workers, all information must be delivered months in advance. This is to ensure that everyone knows their role going into the future. 

3. Retention plans

As mentioned previously, mergers can prove to be quite the shakeup at the new company. In order to streamline things, both human resources departments will have to create a plan in place. Retention must occur for the company’s most important employees. 

Sometimes, retention plans can come about in a number of ways. Announcing bonuses to senior employees may be a way to ease them into a new role, for example. Mergers are a critical time for all parties involved. Be sure to announce these plans to them when possible. 

4. Clients

The foundation of your company’s operations is your client base. If the plans for a merger are coming about, you must make the announcement to your clients as soon as possible. Sometimes, competition may see this time as a means to take clients away from you, especially if operations are unstable. 

If your clients have a rapport with you, you should make the necessary moves to inform them about your merger. Make sure that they understand what is happening and that their business is always appreciated. Communicate with them in a genuine manner, and you’ll be good to go for the next period. 

5. Contact information

Since a merger involves the amalgamation of two different companies, some may wonder who they should contact. In order to streamline this process early on, both companies should have a clear structure for points of contact. For example, publicly list a temporary point of contact on a social media platform. 

Key figures should be notified that they will be contacted by an applicable party if necessary. The new owners will have to be reachable, in the event of a situation requiring their attention. By establishing this structure as soon as possible, no one will be left in the dark. 

6. Notifying the public

Press coverage of a merger will be enormous in terms of marketing and publicity. As a result, both companies should take the time to think about how they will be informing the public. All relevant media contacts should have a press release sent to them, for example. In terms of what to include in this document, a few options are available. 

First, you should announce in the press release about why both companies have decided to merge. Other pertinent pieces of information, such as how the merger will impact operations, should be included. You’ll also want to address potential ramifications in order to be as transparent as possible. 

7. Logistical information

Before the announcement is made, all other logistical areas of the merger should be taken care of. If the merger results in a new identity for the business, the applicable logos should also be created. Market the brand over social media, including the most used platforms and websites. 

Before the business merger is announced to the public, a lot of groundwork must be done first. The main takeaway of preparing a merger is to stay organized. Transparency and clarity will help to keep things moving along.