When should we bring in a PR firm for an M&A transaction?
Earlier than you think. Most brands come to us at announcement, but the brands that get the best outcomes start building narrative authority 6 to 12 months before a deal is public. By the time you announce, you want credibility already established with the media covering your category. That's the work that makes coverage favorable instead of skeptical.
What makes M&A PR different from standard brand PR?
The stakes are different. Standard brand PR is about building awareness. M&A PR is about protecting and amplifying deal value. Every media interaction during a transaction carries legal, regulatory, and valuation implications. You need a team that understands how to tell a compelling story without creating exposure, and that knows which conversations to have, with whom, and in what sequence.
Do you work with regulated consumer brands in M&A situations?
Yes, and this is where Avaans is uniquely positioned. Regulated categories like cannabis, supplements, functional food and beverage, and emerging wellness face additional scrutiny during transactions. Most PR agencies either won't take the account or don't understand how to communicate responsibly in those categories. We built our practice around exactly this kind of work.
How do you handle employee and internal communications during a deal?
Internal leaks are one of the biggest risks in any transaction. We build a full stakeholder communication framework that includes sequenced messaging for employees, leadership, retail partners, and investors, timed to the announcement. Getting the internal story right before it hits externally is as important as the press release itself.
What does Avaans' M&A PR program look like?
Our Bespoke Authority Program is the right structure for M&A-track brands. It's a 12-month strategic engagement with four phases: narrative strategy and regulatory landscape audit, credibility foundation in trade and executive media, investor-grade authority building, and finally, the strategic growth asset phase where PR becomes a due-diligence asset. We require a dedicated marketing or PR owner in-house and work exclusively at the executive level.
Can you work with our investment bank or legal counsel?
Yes. M&A communications require close coordination with legal and financial advisors. We've navigated deals where PR decisions had direct legal implications and understand how to stay in the lane that protects the transaction while still building the narrative that supports it.
How is Avaans different from a large agency or a generalist PR firm?
At a large agency, your account gets handed off to a junior team after the pitch. At a generalist firm, you spend months educating them on your category. At Avaans, the executive who pitches you does the work. We specialize in consumer brands, we understand regulated categories, and we've built media relationships over 17 years that a junior account manager simply can't replicate. We also work with a selective client roster, which means you get undivided attention and true category exclusivity.