Example

Completed M&A Core Message Document and Word Template

The Core Message Document is a set of bullet points or short paragraphs that serves as content for various announcement communications. The following is an example:

General Information

  • THE COMPANY, Inc. and COMPANY B have agreed to combine. The deal is contingent upon regulatory approvals, but is expected to close by June 1. At the time of closing, shares of THE COMPANY stock (NASDAQ: XXXX) will be exchanged for equity in COMPANY B.
  • THE COMPANY was started in 2011 as a technology firm focused on delivering business services. We at THE COMPANY have accomplished our aggressive growth goals by providing a wide range of client services.
  • The combination of THE COMPANY and COMPANY B is somewhat unique in today’s world of mergers and acquisitions because it is a combination with growth as the underlying theme. This is not a merger that is predicated on cost cutting – it is instead dependent on our ability to grow the combined company together.
  • This deal will allow us to grow and expand our service offerings in North America and position the company in the Top 10 Managed Service Providers with a clear goal to be in the Top 5 by 2023.
  • An integration team consisting of representatives from COMPANY B and THE COMPANY will be responsible for developing an integration plan that allows the combined organization to fully capture the opportunities created by the merger.
  • We understand that a merger creates hundreds of questions. Through the integration team and several associated task forces, we are committed to coming up with these answers as quickly as possible. But for now, there are going to be more questions than answers. Our commitment is to make decisions and come to conclusions on a comprehensive integration plan by August of this year. Many of you will be asked to help with this planning task personally. And even if you are not involved with planning directly, you will be asked to help with the transition by focusing extra attention on serving our clients, developing more business, and continuing to grow the organization.
  • Even though we don’t have all the answers, we have determined that COMPANY B’s benefits will remain the same through BenefitCo. THE COMPANY is currently reviewing its benefit plan and we decided it would not make sense to bring COMPANY B’s employees onto the THE COMPANY plan and then have another change occur in the fall.

Strengths

  • COMPANY B and THE COMPANY are logical partners as each brings to the deal a complimentary set of strengths.
  • Our organizational strengths complement each other well:
  • THE COMPANY is a force in the mid-West; COMPANY B is a force in the Pacific.
  • COMPANY B has deep skills in the telecom industry; THE COMPANY has deep skills in the healthcare industry.
  • THE COMPANY has recognized industry expertise in distribution and cost recovery, COMPANY B has recognized industry expertise in customer service.
  • Both organizations have achieved dramatic growth and success through an entrepreneurial spirit.
  • Clearly, we will have greater success together than either organization could achieve on its own.

Company B's Background

  • Company B is based in San Francisco, California, and employs more than 3,000 professionals.
  • Company B's revenue grew by 6% last year.
  • Revenue in 20XX was $350 million
  • Company B delivers business services mainly in the telecom industry. Company professionals also work frequently in the Financial Services, Retail, and Consumer Products industries.
  • Company B's key clients are: SWB Communications, Lucent Technologies, Motorola, US West, Qwest Communications, Merrill Lynch, BankOne, Citigroup, Nordstrom, Dayton-Hudson, Home Depot, and Proctor and Gamble.

Location

  • The new company will be headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
  • THE COMPANY and COMPANY B have no geographic overlap other than in Seattle where THE COMPANY has a newly started branch office that currently houses 39 people. We will consolidate offices in Seattle, bringing together people from both organizations under one roof. We believe the opportunity in Seattle is tremendous and look forward to growing the Seattle branch/division/location together as a team.

Integration Issues

  • With regards to possible operational and organizational changes, we ask for your patience until we are in a position where we can communicate more information (likely to be at the end of August.)

Additional Information

  • Our goal is to be one of the Top 5 Managed Service Providers by 2023. In order to achieve this goal, mergers and acquisitions must be a part of our growth strategy.

Core Message Document

  • THE COMPANY, Inc. and COMPANY B have agreed to combine. The deal is contingent upon regulatory approvals, but is expected to close by [Month, Year]. At the time of closing, shares of THE COMPANY stock (NASDAQ: XXXX) will be exchanged for equity in COMPANY B. The transaction will be accounted for as a tax-free pooling of interests.
  • THE COMPANY was started in XXXX as a […describe company]. We at THE COMPANY have accomplished our aggressive growth goals by […describe accomplishments].
  • The combination of THE COMPANY and COMPANY B is [describe expected synergies].
  • This deal will allow us to [describe goal of the merger/acquisition.]
  • An integration team consisting of representatives from COMPANY B and THE COMPANY will be responsible for developing an integration plan that allows the combined organization to fully capture the opportunities created by the merger.
  • We understand that a merger such as this creates hundreds of questions. Through the integration team and several associated task forces, we are committed to coming up with these answers as quickly as possible. But for now, there are going to be more questions than answers. Our commitment is to make decisions and come to conclusions on a comprehensive integration plan by [month, year]. Many of you will be asked to help with this planning task personally. And even if you are not involved with planning directly, you will be asked to help with the transition by focusing extra attention on serving our clients, developing more business, and continuing to grow the organization.

Strengths

  • COMPANY B and THE COMPANY are logical partners as each brings to the deal a complementary set of strengths.
  • Our organizational strengths complement each other well:
  • THE COMPANY is a force in the [enter country, region, state]; COMPANY B is a force in the [enter country, region, state].
  • COMPANY B has deep skills in the XXX industry; THE COMPANY has deep skills in the XXX industry.
  • THE COMPANY has recognized industry expertise in . . .
  • COMPANY B has recognized industry expertise in . . .

Company B's Background

  • Company B is based in [City, State, Region, Country] and employs more than ### professionals.
  • Company B's revenue grew by x% last year.
  • Revenue in [year] was $$$$.
  • Company B delivers the following services:
  • Company B's key clients are:

Location

  • The new company will be headquartered in [City, State, Region, Country].
  • THE COMPANY and COMPANY B have the following geographic overlaps…

Integration Issues

  • With regards to possible operational and organizational changes, we ask for your patience until we are in a position where we can communicate more information (likely to be at the end of [month].)

Additional Information

  • Our goal is to be one of the Top X by [year]. In order to achieve this goal, mergers and acquisitions must be a part of our growth strategy.

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