M&A Communications Plan

Agenda

Objectives of Communication Plan
Core Messages
Communication Documents
External Communications
Plant-Level Communications Site HR Responsibility
Ongoing Communications
Organization Structure Announcement
Preparing to Communicate
Interdependencies
Communication Matrix
Communications: Lessons Learned

Objectives of Communication Plan

• To establish a communication process for the two companies as an integrated entity
• Open channels for two-way communications: top-down, bottom-up, and side-to-side across the organization
• Clarify communication expectations and deliverables for the last four months of the year 

Core Messages

• The creation of a new organization with the best of two companies
• Customer will have a fantastic product mix
• The merger is not about a take-over; it’s about creating a stronger combined company
• Potential for revenue and cost synergies is high
• There is overlap between the companies, and therefore redundancies
• Employees should prepare for change, stay focused, and remain productive
• At present, there are more questions than answers
• Next - communicate timelines and expectations

Communication Documents

• Press Release
• Memo to accompany press release for employees
• Memo to accompany press release for distributors/customers/vendors
• Leadership talking points for key announcements
• Question and Answer documents to prepare for answering employee questions (different documents for different sites)
• Question and Answer documents to prepare for answering distributor/customer/vendor questions
• Letters to union representatives, politicians, retirees, others.