CFF Communications – Behind the Scenes #9
How is it December already? Time flies and we’re looking back at a great 2019.
👇 It has been a very eventful year, as you’ll read below, with lots of great client cases, new team members, a brand new website, and the expansion of our service offering.
We would like to thank you so much for your trust and the pleasant cooperation this year. Happy Holidays and a Successful 2020!
The CFF Communications team
⚡ Supporting the shareholders committee in the privatisation of Eneco
On 25 November, Dutch energy company Eneco, the shareholders committee of Eneco and a consortium of Mitsubishi Corporation and Chubu reached an agreement on an offer for Eneco for a value of EUR 4.1 billion.
CFF Communications acted as the communications advisor to the Committee of Selling Shareholders on the sale of Eneco. The agreement is the result of a controlled auction that started in February of 2019.
Since February 2018, our director Stefan Simons has been the media spokesperson and communications advisor of the Shareholders Committee in the privatisation of Eneco, which is owned by 44 Dutch municipalities.
🌞 We’ve supported PAI with their EUR 885 million acquisition of Wessanen
In July, a consortium consisting of PAI Partners and the existing majority shareholder Charles Jobson has made a recommended all-cash public offer for all shares of Royal Wessanen, representing a total consideration of approximately EUR 885 million. Our diverse team of communications specialists supported PAI Partners with media relations, financial communications and stakeholder management.
Contact your account manager or click here to learn more about our M&A communications expertise.
🌱 Techshare – Helping tech companies find their way to the capital market
An IPO is a complex operation. That’s why Euronext has developed a training programme to help ambitious tech entrepreneurs find their way to the stock market. M&A Magazine interviewed René van Vlerken, head of listings at Euronext Amsterdam, and our strategy director Frank Jansen, about the ideal way to float a company, and our support for Euronext’s Techshare programme.
The interview is available as a long-read on our website (Dutch).
🌊 Impressive milestones for Boyan Slat and The Ocean Cleanup
Since the very beginning, we have been a fan The Ocean Cleanup. This year was extra special. Not only did the team manage to create a working prototype and bring the first batch of plastic back to shore. They also launched the Interceptor – a device that collects plastic in rivers, the biggest source of plastic pollution.
Interceptor™ 001 is already cleaning in Indonesia, and Interceptor™ 002 is cleaning in Malaysia. This used to be one of the heaviest polluting rivers in the world! Our goal is to tackle #1000rivers in 5 years’ time. pic.twitter.com/UnqKlW8u2f
— The Ocean Cleanup (@TheOceanCleanup) October 26, 2019
As their global communications partner, we are super proud about what Boyan and his team achieved this year. Very well done guys!
Learn more about the largest cleanup in history.
💥 New at CFF: Public Affairs and Political Monitoring
This year, we’ve expanded our offering to include Public Affairs. Jan Willem Blok started as Director of Public Affairs to grow our Public Affairs practice. He joined our team from ABN AMRO, where he worked as Head of Government affairs.
One of the many things we did in this field, was developing a political monitoring service. We’re now rolling out this service at a growing number of new and existing clients.
💪 Supporting KAS BANK with the internal and external communications of a public offer from CACEIS
In February, Dutch custodian KAS BANK and CACEIS, part of the French Crédit Agricole, announced they reached agreement on a public offer for KAS BANK. CFF supported KAS BANK with internal and external communications, including investor relations, around the deal, from announcement, through launch and tender period, EGM and the successful delisting from Euronext.
👏 Meet our #brandnew Brand Communications team!
In October, we’ve merged with our sister company Grayling Nederland. This merger allows us to offer services like Brand PR, Social Media and Influencer Marketing. The team has been supporting clients including Puma, Jaguar and, since this year, Garmin!
The Brand PR team is led by (from left to right) our Brand Communications director Niels Broekhof. Leonore Matzka and Chrissy Minnema-Dijkman are on board as senior consultants.
Phylicia Baars (left) is our Brand Communications Consultant. Hester Pijl (middle) and Monique Dassen (right) are our Brand & Event Coordinators. Welcome on board everyone, and enjoy the ride!
Would you like to know more about what we can do specifically for your brand? Please get in touch.
👂 Society as a stakeholder – our annual event with Allen & Overy
This year, we’ve organized our 10th annual reporting summit with Allen & Overy. This year’s special guest was VVD MP Roald van der Linde. The theme: society as a stakeholder.
De verhouding tussen bedrijfsleven en samenleving stond centraal in de 10e editie v/h seminar dat we elk jaar organiseren met @allenOvery. Speciale gast @RoaldLinde sprak dit keer over de verharding van het publieke debat door een #vertrouwenscrisis. 👉 https://t.co/r98Vt0guY3 pic.twitter.com/Wn9bUNsLUu
— CFF Communications (@CFFcomms) December 6, 2019
The key takeaway from this summit was that, for businesses, social responsibility goes beyond legal liability. This implies a new reality, with a special role for corporate communications, public relations and marketing. Make sure to send an integrated message to the external world. Engage with your stakeholders, and explain what you are doing for your employees, the local community, and society as a whole. ‘Listen to society, and incorporate this in the decision making process.’
Read more about our annual summit with Allen & Overy in our event summary.
About CFF Communications
Established in 1993, CFF Communications has evolved to become the leading agency for financial and corporate communication in the Netherlands. With a dedicated team of 40 professionals, the agency delivers quality services including media relations, crisis communications, investor relations, media monitoring, public affairs and content creation.
CFF Communications is also the leading agency for the communication of IPOs on Euronext Amsterdam. For the last 23 years, former Grayling Nederland has worked with top brands in the automotive, technology, retail and hospitality sector. The newly named CFF Communications Brand team will continue supporting leading international brands with creative campaign creation and execution.