Mergermarket ranked Stanton as a Top 10 M&A Communications PR Advisor by deal count and value in the Americas region in 2024. Over the course of the year, our expert team advised on over one hundred M&A transactions, totaling a value of more than thirty-eight billion dollars.
We have a proven track record of financial communications excellence. Below, Stanton employees provide their biggest takeaways on ensuring successful M&A PR and marketing for our clients.
Katrin Lieberwirth, Senior Vice President
Timely, tailored, well thought-out stakeholder communication is core to successful M&A execution holds true whether it’s about a middle market business considering private ownership, or a traded multi-national pursuing the next transaction. Social media offers a readily available megaphone to single voices, helping opinions to rise quickly to prominence. They can throw a wrench in the assumed bullet-proof communications strategy. The vantage point of an outside communications agency is that they can bring broad, diverse experience and perspectives to M&A transactions. At times, they even catch a falling knife should seemingly minor steps in the communications strategy get overlooked.
Scott Lessne, Senior Vice President
Oftentimes, we recommend our clients consider their communications approach as far in advance as possible. Driving positive visibility for a significant deal by pre-placing a well-messaged, in-depth story with a media outlet that is given an “exclusive” to break the news of the transaction requires a more proactive approach than it did a few years ago. We used to be able to conduct this exclusive outreach 1-2 days in advance of the agreed date for issuing the press release. Increasingly, we have found that reporters require longer lead times when pitching them exclusive/advance news. They need sufficient time to review the news and if it’s of interest, to get to sign off from editors. We have found that reaching out to reporters 4-5 days ahead of an announcement is optimal timing for being successful with this approach.
Mike Goodwin, Senior Vice President
Proactivity has emerged as a key buzzword for communications in 2025. While this may seem obvious to some, all too many PR professionals are simply following long-established protocols and not asking the hard questions that drive interest in M&A transactions, or more importantly, expose potential reputational risks to involved parties. When providing communications support for any transaction, it’s essential to be proactive in asking all the questions that may arise not only from journalists, but from investors, employees, business partners, regulators, and local communities. Whenever possible, engaging the media on a proactive basis will help you establish a more positive narrative, which will guide additional coverage as news of the transaction is disseminated.
Kelly Holman, Senior Director
Signing an M&A agreement can be an exciting time for management teams and private equity teams, but waiting until the last minute to get your communications strategy in order is a mistake. For the acquirer of an asset the key messages around an acquisition, including the rationale for doing the deal and growth plans for the acquired business, can easily determine how the deal is perceived by stakeholders. The ability to develop a strategy and communicate the right set of messages can help the parties to a deal take control of the narrative before a journalist does it for them.
If your company is considering a merger or acquisition in 2025 and beyond, our team can help. Learn more about our capabilities and how we can elevate your M&A communications to the next level.