CORPORATE RESTRUCTURING COMMUNICATIONS
During corporate restructurings, it is imperative for a company to be attentive to its communications and develop a strategy for dealing with its key creditor groups, i.e., employees, investors, vendors, landlords, etc., as well as the media, customers, analysts, regulators and other interested parties. How well a company communicates with those audiences and addresses their interests can have a significant impact on the company's ability to achieve its goals, and can help minimize the damage to its operations and reputation.
AFA's approach is to work closely with a company's management team and its legal and financial advisors to develop a communications strategy that will contribute to the company's reorganization efforts. We believe that it is important to understand the specific legal and financial issues involved so that a company's communications strategy is consistent with the efforts of its legal and financial professionals. Due to our experience in restructuring and bankruptcy law, we understand the importance of keeping legal and financial advisors involved throughout the process.
Our goal is to design and implement a comprehensive communications strategy that targets the variety of audiences and minimizes the potential negative impact of a restructuring. Ideally, we work with a company through all phases of its restructuring and modify the communications plan to meet the company's changing needs.
Services
AFA offers a spectrum of public relations services to clients during restructurings and reorganizations:
- Counseling senior management on communications and media relations strategies throughout the process;
- Preparing communications to employees, investors, vendors, customers and other key constituencies;
- Developing and continually refining clear, concise key messages to be used in all company communications;
- Advising on processes and procedures for internal and external communications, including disclosure, internal/legal approval processes, establishing tools to gauge audience perceptions and spokesperson identification;
- Media and analyst relations, including serving as company spokespersons;
- Preparing and coaching executives on media interview and presentation techniques;
- Preparing communications documents including news releases, letters, frequently asked questions (FAQs), presentations, speeches, white papers, web content, etc.; and
- Providing competitive intelligence on media trends with regard to the company's industry sector and other customized research.
Chapter 11 Reorganization
In the event that the client decides it is in its best interests to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, we will guide the company through the crucial and sensitive communications issues during the immediate pre- and post-filing phases. In a Chapter 11 case, a well-developed, strategic communications program directed at the company's key audiences can make a very challenging period somewhat less painful and facilitate the path to recovery.