Why communicate an acquisition
An acquisition will always come to light. The only question is who will tell the story: you or the rumour mill. A clear press release helps protect relationships with those who depend on the acquired business.
- Reassure employees. They want to know what will change for their jobs, workplace and management.
- Reassure customers and suppliers. What will remain unchanged: contracts, points of contact and terms.
- Control the narrative. The people behind the deal explain why it is happening.
- Inform the market. Analysts and databases reproduce the exact wording.
Questions the press, employees and customers will ask
Prepare a written answer to each question and include the most important ones in the press release:
- Who is buying, and why now?
- What proportion of the share capital is being acquired, and for how much?
- Will the brand, sites or management change?
- Will there be any job cuts?
- When will the deal take effect?
Signing, approvals and completion: the timeline
Make the announcement at signing or completion, depending on the agreements and any required approvals. For a listed company, the announcement is subject to regulations on inside information: coordinate with your advisers.
What to include in the press release
- The acquirer and target, with details of their activities
- The proportion of the share capital acquired
- The amount, if it is public
- The timeline: signing, approvals and completion
- What will change: brand, sites, executives and employees
- Advisers to the deal, if you wish
On Clarsource, these details are extracted into the announcement’s structured record, under Mergers and acquisitions.
Example of an acquisition press release
Fictional example Press release
Verpak Holding acquires Normapack, a specialist in flexible packaging based in Normandy
The deal covers 100% of the share capital. Normapack will retain its site in Lisieux and its 140 employees.
Lisieux, 12 October 2026. Dutch group Verpak Holding announces the acquisition of Normapack, a manufacturer of flexible packaging for the food industry. The value of the deal has not been disclosed. The current management team will remain in place.
‘This deal gives us access to the European market without changing our roots in Normandy,’ explains Normapack’s chairman.
About Normapack. Founded in 1987 in Lisieux, with 140 employees.
Acquisition press release template
[Acquirer] acquires [target], [target’s activity] [City], [date]. [Acquirer], [activity], announces the acquisition of [share of the capital] of [target], [activity]. [Amount, or ‘The value of the deal has not been disclosed.’] The deal, [signed / completed] on [date], [any conditions: approval from the competition authorities]. [What will and will not change: brand, sites, executives, employees]. ‘[Acquirer’s quote: rationale for the deal],’ explains [first name surname], [job title]. ‘[Target’s quote],’ adds [first name surname], [job title]. Advisers to the deal. [Bank, lawyers, optional] About [Acquirer]. [Four lines.] About [target]. [Four lines.] Press contact. [Name], [email], [telephone]
Find more templates on our free press release templates page.
Why publish an acquisition on Clarsource
The announcement appears on the pages of both the acquirer and the target.
Share of the capital, amount and date, available to analysts and Clardot.
Corrections, such as a change to the completion date, are versioned.
Publish at the exact time agreed with your advisers.
Mistakes that fuel rumours
- Leaving employees’ questions about jobs and sites unanswered
- Announcing before the necessary approvals are in place
- Being vague about the proportion of the share capital
- Issuing a single version without the target’s perspective
Preparing a deal?
Prepare the press release and schedule its publication under embargo.
Prepare the press release