A merger announcement must be precise about what has happened. Signing an agreement, receiving approvals, and closing a transaction are different events. The template below is fictional and is not legal or securities advice. Ask the transaction and legal teams to approve all facts, disclosure timing, quotations, and any regulatory language before publication.
Fictional fill-in announcement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — [City], [Date]. [Company A] and [Company B] today announced that they have [signed a definitive agreement to combine / completed their merger]. The transaction [remains subject to named conditions / closed on date]. The combined organization will [verified operating description], serving [specific customers or markets].
Under the [announced/completed] terms, [only disclosed consideration or ownership information]. [Authorized leader] said, '[approved statement explaining the customer or organizational rationale without promising a result].' Until completion, the companies [state any material operational distinction accurately].
The companies expect [planned next step and timing, clearly conditional if not closed]. More details are available at [official transaction information link]. Media contact: [name, email, phone]. About [Company A] and [Company B]: [short factual descriptions].
Facts to verify before release
If the transaction has not closed, do not describe the companies as already merged. Avoid stating that jobs, prices, services, or locations will remain unchanged unless the organizations have formally committed to that and the claim has been cleared. A merger can create obligations beyond a normal marketing release; obtain qualified review.
- Legal names of the parties and transaction structure.
- Whether the announcement is an agreement, approval, or closed merger.
- What financial terms are public and what remains confidential.
- Required shareholder, regulator, lender, or other approvals, if applicable.
- The authorized spokesperson and approved future-looking wording.
- Customer, employee, and supplier communication timing.
Follow-up communication
Prepare a separate factual Q&A for employees and customers. Update the announcement if the status changes, and make corrections visible. Journalists may ask about leadership, integration, jobs, and customer impact; answer what is known, identify open issues, and give a date or channel for further updates.