The brief

Cornerstone Wright Communications client, Urgent Couriers, prepared carefully for every aspect of its acquisition of rival freight business Inter City Couriers. In times of corporate M&A activity, many stakeholders, especially employees and customers, may not consider such an acquisition to be unmitigated good news. People are naturally change-averse, and may be worried for their jobs, or be concerned that their job descriptions or day-to-day business operations may change.

The Wright approach

Wright Communications provided valuable counsel on what Urgent Couriers should say to staff (new and current), customers, government officials and the media, and also how and when to say it. At a safe margin after key stakeholders were communicated with, Wright Communications helped carefully craft media materials and prepare the client for a public announcement.

Outcomes

Media coverage of the acquisition focused on the benefits to customers and the advanced technology Urgent Couriers would bring to the trucking arm of Inter City Couriers. Founder Steve Bonnici gave interviews to Radio New Zealand and TVNZ's AMP Business; coverage was also achieved in outlets such as The National Business Review, Otago Daily Times, Newstalk ZB and Business to Business's e-newsletter.