Communication After The Transaction

Buyers, like sellers, are often excited and want to talk about the transaction as soon as possible. The important thing is to manage well all the stakeholders: employees, customers, suppliers. The objective is to ensure continuity of operations with the least disruption possible. Insecurity is always pervasive when there is an information void, and that is where gossip begins and can create uncertainty.

It is important to manage everything with leadership, to clearly identify the messages and above all to manage the announcements over a period of time. The risk of the transaction must be managed. It would be counterproductive to announce a sale if it does not happen. More harm than good would be done.

We had groups that took the time to discuss this between buyers and sellers, prioritizing individuals and choosing the right messaging.

Many vendors have a special connection to certain loyal employees, and they want to announce to them first. Be careful, a secret known to more than two people is no longer a secret!

Among the factors to consider, you have to think about the number of sites with employees, the mix between employees in the office vs. working remotely, and the usual communication channels. For example, if a company always has a meeting on Monday mornings at 9 a.m. and a new meeting is added at 2 p.m., concerns about the content of the 2nd meeting could create “noise”.

It is always also necessary to manage the number of people aware and involved. During the due diligence process, the behavior of the sellers, the number of meetings, the documents that have been shared may raise eyebrows among employees. If authorizations are required, professionals in the field may be aware. The closer you get to the date, the more it becomes an art to keep everything confidential. Fortunately, in most cases, sellers did not have to implement an emergency communications plan.

Do not neglect this aspect, too many people focus on the financial aspect and the transaction itself and forget about the individuals who will be affected.