Jul
28
2011

Lost voices: Has anyone seen IR in Africa?

The perceptive observer would readily agree that market reforms and growing global interest in frontier markets should be a boon for investor relations in Africa. Yet, the profession has yet to grow to the level of confidence to make its voice heard, even sought after by boards, regulators and investors. In this article in IR Magazine, the global journal of reference for investor relations practitioners, I discuss some of the reasons for IR's choice to cast itself as a wallflower and what needs to be done to exit this role.

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May
20
2011

The Evolution of IR in Nigeria

Recently, IR Magazine, the global reference journal for investor relations practitioners, invited me to share my thoughts on the take off and subsequent trajectory of IR in Nigeria. Over the past seven years, IR has grown in importance and recognition because of its potential to improve the quality of the disclosure environment for investors, and also define the rules of engagement between public companies and the investment community. While the first value of IR has received a lot of attention, its second benefit, that is, IR as an administrative reaction, has not. In this article, I attempt to explore that process.

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Dec
27
2010

Vote of No Confidence

In this essay, I point out that while the singular focus of regulators and investors on an increase in high quality trading and rise in the stock market index is a good thing, it is necessarily incomplete if it does not include a restoration of the market for securities issues.

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Oct
16
2010

At last, Transcorp delivers

Transnational Corporation of Nigeria, also known as Transcorp, has been through the roller coaster of public opinion since it was launched in 2004. Initially hailed as the country's response to budding continental opportunities, in less than two years, it became mired in divisive debates on conflicts of interest and political favouritism. However, in the past year, the diversified business group has addressed most of the issues that have nagged it in the past. On October 14, it held its first annual general meeting with a promise to its shareholders that 'Transcorp would keep its promises.'

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Aug
26
2010

Super-connected: Social media usage in Investor Relations by Carolina Bridi of Brazil’s Capital Aberto magazine

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Jul
24
2010

Top Billing: Is Communications Ready for Prime-Time?

This week on Street Talking in NEXT, I discuss the increasingly important role of corporate communicators in organizations and the heightened expectations C-suite executives have of them.

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Jul
16
2010

The Last Mile: Financial Journalism Brings it Home

This week on Street Talking in NEXT, I highlight the importance of financial journalism in forming public opinion about the market and the need for its practitioners to live up to their responsibility.

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Jul
9
2010

Two-Way Street: What are Investors Thinking?

This week on Street Talking in NEXT, I recommend that companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange need to pay as much information to monitoring their investors' behaviour as they do to getting information out to them.

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Jul
5
2010

Perma-paign: The Brave New World where Perception is Substance

This week in Alrroya Aleqtissadiya, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) business and financial daily, using a metaphor borrowed from politics, I point out that the competitive nature of today's capital markets requires that CEOs should always be in risk capital-pricing mode, conscious of the fact that investors are watching their every move and statement even when they are not in strategic transaction or capital raising mode.

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Jul
2
2010

Rights can be so Wrong

This week on Street Talking in NEXT, I explain that while preemption rights are jealously guarded by shareholders, there are times when it may make sense for Boards to seek equity capital elsewhere and on very difference terms too.

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