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IR 101 for Private Markets

CrowdWith the first quarter of 2016 the slowest period for initial public offerings since 2009, market watchers are wondering if the trend will continue in the year ahead. So, where might investors look for new opportunities? Try private markets, or specifically, companies utilizing crowdfunding as a financing method.

Starting May 16, the general public will have the opportunity to participate in the early capital raising activities of start-up and development-stage companies through crowdfunding. You can read all about it on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website.

What isn’t discussed on the SEC’s site is how these companies will communicate effectively with their investors. Many of these companies are likely on tight operating budgets, and the idea of allocating funds toward investor relations is not exactly a priority.

However, now that the general public has the ability to participate in a stage of investing usually reserved for institutions, management teams need to ensure these new investors are communicated with regularly, as well as treated with the same dignity and respect as a Fortune 500 investor.

Following is a top-10 list of IR advice for companies going the crowdfunding route:

  1. Initiate some form of periodic communication with your investors, perhaps in the form of a quarterly update letter, podcast or even blog post.
  2. Select a representative from the company or an outside consultant to handle incoming inquiries from investors.
  3. Utilize presentations, fact sheets, video and social media to help investors understand the company.
  4. Consider hosting an investor call on a periodic basis to foster transparency and an open line of communication.
  5. Develop an investor relations page on your website to keep investors posted on recent news and the company’s progress.
  6. Consider hosting an annual meeting that investors will actually attend. The event could generate more support, as well as more funding for your company.
  7. Keep investors in the know about relevant industry news, so they, too, can become experts.
  8. Under promise and over deliver. Managing investors’ expectations is key, especially for early stage companies.
  9. Stay away from divulging too much information about your company’s future financial performance. Again, this harkens back to under promise over deliver.
  10. Treat investors as owners not strangers.

Bottom line: Professionally crafted communications form a foundation to attract and retain investors, regardless of an issuer’s size, but even more so for early stage companies, as they go to market for the first time and build their organizations.

— Evan Pondel, epondel@pondel.com

Conversation: Potential Perils of Crowdfunding

Mary Jo WhiteThe Securities and Exchange Commission, through December 23, 2013, is seeking public comments on a proposal under Title III of the JOBS Act that would permit crowdfunding in connection with the purchase of securities. Nothing is perfect, and if adopted, investors and issuers alike will need to exercise caution.
 
Following is a tongue-in-cheek dialog between SEC Chair Mary Jo White, with comments taken verbatim from a press release issued by the SEC October 23, and a completely fictitious investor, expressing concerns:
 
Mary Jo:  I’m pleased that we’re in a position to seek public comment on a proposal to permit crowdfunding.
 
Investor:  What is crowdfunding?
 
Mary Jo:  Crowdfunding describes an evolving method of raising capital that has been used outside the securities arena to raise funds through the Internet for a variety of projects ranging from innovative product ideas to artistic endeavors.
 
Investor: Umm…I’m not sure I understand.  What does that have to do with securities?
 
Mary Jo:  Title III of the JOBS Act created an exemption under securities laws so that this type of funding method can be easily used to offer and sell securities as well. Securities purchased in a crowdfunding transaction could not be resold for a period of one year.
 
Investor:  Oh, I get it now.   You mean I soon will be able to take my hard-earned money and buy stocks in small, risky companies I never heard of?  Companies that may be run by rip-off artists.  Companies that have not been vetted by an investment bank. Stocks that will not necessarily trade in the public markets—not even on the OTC Bulletin Board?  And stocks that I may not even be able to easily sell?
 
Mary Jo: The Securities and Exchange Commission voted unanimously to propose rules under the JOBS Act to permit companies to offer and sell securities through crowdfunding.
 
Investor: Huh?  Maybe I don’t get it after all. What are the commissioners thinking?
 
Mary Jo:  The intent of the JOBS Act is to make it easier for startups and small businesses to raise capital from a wide range of potential investors and provide additional investment opportunities for investors.
 
Investor: Opportunities you say?  Aren’t there enough investment opportunities out there already? Do we really need more?  I’m scared. I want my mommy.
 
Mary Jo: We want this market to thrive in a safe manner for investors.
 
Investor:  O.K. I understand that’s what you want.  But President Obama wanted the Affordable Care Act website to work.  Besides, wasn’t the SEC supposed to be watching folks like that Madoff fellow?  He should have been easy to monitor, compared with the thousands of small entrepreneurs who will want to sell securities to unsuspecting investors?
 
Mary Jo:  There is a great deal of excitement in the marketplace about the crowdfunding exemption.
 
Investor:  Did I say I am scared?
 
Roger Pondel, rpondel@pondel.com