Best Practices for Analyst Engagement in M&A:

• Identify Key Analysts: Revamp your analyst list with a tiering model and engage Tier 1 analysts strategically during this important time. Need help understanding how to prioritize your analysts? Check out this previous blog to get started:  Identifying Analysts Based on Your Program’s Key Objectives.
• Prep Executives for Messaging Consistency: Team up with PR and Marketing for consistent messaging, and align executives on share of voice for analyst engagements, key messages, topics to avoid, and proposed responses to anticipated analyst questions.
• Pre-Announcement Communications: Bring analysts into the “circle of trust” pre-announcement, when possible.  Executives with close analyst relationships should proactively reach out with personalized communications to share confidential information and address potential concerns. 
• Execute the Briefing Roadshow: Leverage a 1:Many briefing approach, prioritizing calendars for Tier 1 analysts to outline the value proposition, integration strategy, and impacts to products and services. As a follow-up to the analyst briefings, circulate a concise one-pager summarizing key points. 
• Collect & Track Analyst Mentions & Insights: Connect with Tier 1 analysts via inquiry for reactions and feedback to the M&A activity. Track analyst mentions and insights in a central location such as Spotlight Oz.  
• Inform the Business with Insight Analysis: Combine analyst insights across firms to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities to clarify the message around the benefits of the partnership.
• Continue the Conversation: Consistently engage with analysts to keep them up to date on the integration progress, share wins, and demonstrate success.