IPO Communication Plans

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐌𝐄 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠.. Several SME shares witness a sharp post-listing decline, leaving promoters scratching their heads. Why does this happen, and how can a forward-thinking promoter protect their market valuation and fuel 10x growth? Most SME promoters think that after getting funds from an SME IPO, the job is over. But the reality is that listing is not the destination— 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐃𝐨 𝐒𝐌𝐄 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐫𝐨𝐩 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭-𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠? 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭-𝐈𝐏𝐎 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐕𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐮𝐦: During the IPO, there is massive marketing, roadshows, and media buzz. Once listed, that noise suddenly stops. If investors don't hear from you, they lose interest, leading to low liquidity and falling prices. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 "𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠" 𝐖𝐚𝐯𝐞: Pre-IPO investors or short-term HNIs who entered for quick gains often liquidate their positions early on, putting downward pressure on the stock. 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐯𝐬. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡: The market prices in high expectations during the IPO. If the first subsequent quarterly or half-yearly results show even a slight dip or stagnation, the market punishes the stock aggressively. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 ₹100 𝐂𝐫 𝐭𝐨 ₹1000 𝐂𝐫 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 To cross the ₹1000 Crore milestone, promoters must shift from an "operator" to a "listed entity" mindset. Capital gets you on the board; market trust scales you. 1. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 (𝐈𝐑) : Do not treat shareholders as silent partners. Continuous, professional IR is where the 10x game is won. The Impact: Transparently communicating your growth story, CapEx utilization, and long-term vision prevents panic selling and anchors long-term wealth creators. 2. 𝐎𝐧𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭-𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐲 : Advisors aren't just for getting listed; post-IPO advisory is your catalyst for exponential growth, Experts help you manage market perceptions, navigate compliance, and structurally time secondary fundraising rounds like Rights Issues, QIPs, or Preferential Allotments. 3. 𝐔𝐩𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 : Sustaining a ₹1000 Crore valuation requires transitioning from retail momentum to institutional backing (MFs, DIIs, and Family Offices). They demand absolute transparency: 4. 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬: Move past mandatory half-yearly reporting. Host quarterly earnings calls and release detailed investor decks. 5. 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐚𝐮𝐥: Strong internal compliance and empowered independent directors command a premium valuation multiple. The Bottom Line: IPO funding gives you the resources to build, but post-listing strategy gives you your ultimate currency—market trust. #SMEIPO #CapitalMarkets #InvestorRelations #CorporateGrowth #SMEGrowth #CorporateGovernance

For companies eyeing the 2025 IPO market 👀 are you thinking about internal comms? If not, you should be. This is often overlooked as pre-IPO companies hyper-focus on investor relations and other external stakeholders. Fumbling employee comms before, during and after your IPO can create major reputational risk and alienate your teams— so you should start planning now. It’s a tricky balancing act: appealing to all audiences authentically when they each want something different. If you’re not careful, you can end up disappointing everyone. A few things to think about: 🔸Align Messaging Across Audiences: Establish processes to closely align internal and external comms as you prepare for IPO. Employees should hear the same core narrative as investors and external stakeholders. 🔸 Employee Communication Guidelines: Establish standards for how employees can and cannot discuss business performance internally. Define what constitutes sensitive information (e.g., financials, projections, confidential client data) and ensure everyone understands the legal and reputational risks of improper disclosures. SEC compliance training and a confidentiality agreement about earnings, forecasts, and material non-public information are musts. 🔸 Prepare for Leaks: As sensitive information circulates internally, leaks to the media or investors become more likely. Have a proactive plan for managing internal communications that get out into the public domain, and mitigate the impact of any breach. 🔸 Transparency on the Transition to Public Life: Communicate openly about what it means to be a public company—everything from increased scrutiny to shifts in culture and operational priorities. Address how this affects day-to-day life and long-term career growth.  🔸Set Realistic Expectations About Financial Outcomes: Manage employee expectations about stock performance and what it means for them in the short and long term. Educate them about lock-up periods, stock volatility, and the importance of focusing on long-term value creation. The bottom line: internal comms is just as important as external comms in the lead-up to an IPO and beyond it. What else is a must-have internal comms strategy for those who've gone through this process? #IPO #internalcomms #reputation

Effective Investor Relations for Newly Public Companies Explore Key Strategies to Build Trust and Confidence: 1. Transparent Communication: Maintain investor trust by providing clear, accurate, and timely information about financial performance and strategic goals. 2. Regular Financial Reporting: Ensure compliance and transparency through detailed quarterly and annual reports, helping investors understand the company’s financial health. 3. Proactive Engagement: Address investor concerns promptly and build strong relationships through regular updates, meetings, and open communication channels. 4. Earnings Calls: Use earnings calls to update investors on financial performance and future outlook, providing a direct line of communication between management and investors. 5. Handling Negative News: Maintain trust by being honest and transparent about issues, explaining causes, and outlining corrective actions. 6. Investor Presentations: Convey the company’s vision, strategy, and performance through comprehensive presentations that help investors understand the value proposition. 7. Leveraging Social Media: Use platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn to share updates, news, and insights, enhancing transparency and keeping investors informed. 8. Dedicated Investor Relations Team: Ensure focused and consistent communication with a dedicated team handling inquiries, reports, and relations. 9. Measuring Effectiveness: Evaluate the strategy through investor feedback, stock performance, engagement in earnings calls, and surveys. 10. Highlighting ESG Initiatives: Attract socially conscious investors by showcasing environmental, social, and governance commitments. #Finance #IPOs #Investing #InvestorRelations #StockMarket #BusinessGrowth #CorporateGovernance #2024Trends #ESG #BusinessStrategy

𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧. 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐒𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢 𝐈𝐏𝐎 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤. As the Kingdom closes its first full week with broader foreign investor participation, the question for issuers is no longer “𝑊𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑖𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠?” It is “𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑡𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑙𝑦 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑒𝑑?” From a Saudi ECM lawyer lens, five shifts show up immediately in an IPO process: • 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞, 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭: International accounts tend to be less forgiving on gaps between narrative and numbers. Definitions, KPIs, non-recurring items and related party mechanics need to be crisp, repeatable and defensible under diligence pressure; • 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐩𝐮𝐭, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐬: Delegations of authority, committee effectiveness, controls and compliance culture are not check-the-box. They translate directly into comfort on execution and downside protection. In practice, the highest-demand issuers increasingly adopt “market standard” governance packs early, often modelled on structures refined across multiple Saudi Main Market transactions; • 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬-𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: A strong theme is not enough. Investors test the operating model, unit economics, contract visibility, pricing power, working capital and cash conversion, and they expect the same answers in diligence, management presentations and Q&A. The best results typically come when the Market Overview, Business Description and MD&A are drafted as one integrated investor narrative, benchmarked against global precedents while remaining CMA-ready; • 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐚: The best outcomes usually come from issuers that run one coherent message through the entire process, prospectus disclosure, management narrative and post-listing guidance posture; and • 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭-𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫: Global investors underwrite the first two quarters as much as the IPO day. IR frequency, disclosure processes and “day two” discipline are increasingly part of allocation decisions, including readiness to maintain English-language investor communication at institutional standards alongside Arabic regulatory disclosure. The opportunity is clear: a broader investor base can deepen demand, but only for issuers that treat readiness as a governance and disclosure discipline, not a one-off exercise. Happy to discuss IPO readiness, governance structuring and disclosure planning for a Saudi Main Market process. Please reach out at rvydra@statlawksa.com #SaudiIPO #ECM #SaudiCapitalMarkets #Tadawul #EquityCapitalMarkets #CorporateGovernance #Disclosure #InvestorRelations #ForeignInvestors

🚀 Only 0.01% of businesses ever go public. Ever wondered how they actually make it happen? Here’s the IPO journey — from boardroom vision to bell ringing on the Ethiopian Securities Exchange (EXS). 🔔 ⸻ 1️⃣ Preparation & Planning ✅ Strategic readiness: Align leadership, board, and capital objectives with a long-term equity story that resonates with local and international investors. ✅ Advisory team: Appoint lead banks, legal counsel, auditors, and PR advisors in line with ECMA and EXS requirements. ✅ Governance foundation: Establish an independent board, strong committees, and public-company-level internal controls. ⸻ 2️⃣ Due Diligence & Documentation 📊 Comprehensive diligence: Review financial, operational, and legal matters for audit and regulatory readiness. 📄 Public filing: Prepare transparent and credible disclosures that meet ECMA standards. 🧩 Data consistency: Standardize financial and ESG data to ensure investor confidence. ⸻ 3️⃣ Valuation & Pricing 💰 Valuation approach: Use DCF, trading comparables, and peer benchmarks relevant to African and frontier markets. ⚙️ Capital structure: Simplify share classes and equity incentive plans. 🎯 Price discovery: Engage investors early to balance value and market appetite. ⸻ 4️⃣ Marketing & Roadshow 🗣 Equity story: Present a clear growth narrative backed by fundamentals and resilience in the Ethiopian and regional context. 📚 Consistency: Ensure alignment across CEO presentations, filings, and research materials. 🏦 Investor focus: Target long-term institutional, regional, and diaspora investors. ⸻ 5️⃣ Final Pricing & Allocation 💸 Pricing: Prioritize conviction-based orders over short-term speculation. 🌍 Allocation: Balance between local, regional, and global investor bases. 📢 Market management: Coordinate with ECMA and EXS on stabilization and communications. ⸻ 6️⃣ Public Offering & Trading 🎉 Execution: Complete listing logistics and ensure full transparency throughout the offering. 📈 Day-one trading: Manage order flow, liquidity, and investor expectations. ⸻ 🧾 Post-IPO Readiness 🕒 Reporting: Build a quarterly reporting and disclosure rhythm aligned with ECMA frameworks. ⚖️ Compliance: Implement internal audit, risk, and SOX-style controls. 🤝 Investor relations: Foster engagement with institutional, retail, and ESG-focused investors globally. ⸻ 📣 An IPO in Ethiopia isn’t just a listing — it’s a milestone for corporate transparency, capital access, and investor confidence. It positions your business for growth on the Ethiopian Securities Exchange (EXS) and beyond — connecting emerging African enterprises with regional and international capital. 🌍 #IPO #EthiopianCapitalMarket #EXS #ECMA #EmergingMarkets #CapitalMarkets #CorporateFinance #Valuation #Governance #InvestmentBanking #ESG #InvestorRelations #PublicOffering #AfricaRising #Ethiopia

From Stealth To Spotlight: A Playbook For Healthtech Startups Eyeing An IPO Taking a healthtech company public is one of the most visible and vulnerable moments in a startup’s journey. As capital markets begin to reopen and biotech, digital therapeutics and longevity-focused startups position themselves for listing, investor attention is shifting once again toward credible innovation with a clear path to commercialization. But as many founders and CEOs know, it takes more than strong clinical data to win trust. Communications strategy, across investor relations and public relations, can often be the deciding factor in a successful initial public offering (IPO) debut. 1. Craft a narrative that marries science with vision. Healthtech investors are data-driven, but they are also human. What they want, beyond mechanisms of action or endpoints, is a story that feels real, urgent and very much credible. The most compelling companies can translate complex science into a broader narrative that answers a few core questions: Why this? Why now? And why you? 2. Start media visibility early, not at the IPO bell. Many healthtech companies stay in stealth mode far too long. While it’s important to protect proprietary science, delaying visibility can hurt momentum. A solid runway of 6 to 12 months of strategic media visibility helps build credibility with both investors and the industry. 3. Align IR and PR into one cohesive strategy. All too often, investor relations (IR) and public relations (PR) are managed in silos. The IR team focuses on numbers and milestones. The PR team tells stories and drives media interest. But for an IPO-bound company, misalignment can create confusion, or worse, distrust. HLTH Inc. cofounder Natalie D. has 15+ years in marketing, BD & capital markets, helping companies go public & secure Series A/B funding. https://lnkd.in/ePtHd75c

Most companies prepare to go public. Very few prepare to live public. That gap is where valuations collapse. The first few quarters after listing are a company's most vulnerable. Most IR initiatives get deferred. Companies show up reactive not ready. The roadshow didn't decide how investors see you. The first earnings call after listing did. And most management teams walk into that call unprepared. Guidance set too close to internal targets. No room left to deliver a better outcome. No investor communication plan beyond results day. Missing that beat-and-raise rhythm in the early quarters is a setback most companies never recover from. Here is what the best do differently. They treat post-listing IR the same way they treated pre-listing preparation. With discipline. With rhythm. With honesty. Every earnings call show up clearly. Every difficult quarter explain it before investors assume the worst. Every guidance leave room to deliver more than you promised. Think of post-IPO communication like a first impression. You only get one. And unlike a roadshow you cannot rehearse your way through a bad quarter. The companies that hold their valuation after listing are the ones who showed up consistently with clear communication. What do you think is the hardest adjustment for a management team in their first year as a listed company? #InvestorRelations #IPO #CapitalMarkets #PublicCompanies

Important discipline for #emergingbrand entrepreneurs is internal and external communication. It takes a while to figure it out and develop the habits. Everyone does it different, but here’s the playbook I ran at Once Upon a Farm from a $1MM business in 9/17, until our IPO in 2/26: - Quarterly Shareholder Letter – 30-45 days after Q end. Like clockwork. Critical to inform our investors of the good, the bad, and the sometimes ugly. I cannot stress how important it is to not let your investors perseverate in the dark. They deserve clear & accurate updates. Not just a puff piece. As a very young CEO in earlier companies, I was not good at this. I learned. - Monthly Board Report – 25 or so days after month end. Detailed rundown on the biggest things in the business, customer developments, velocities, competition, wins, losses, you name it. Very transparent. Went to just the board and senior LT. Took me 3-4 hours to write and assemble key information. Sometimes more, often less. Sounds like a lot, it is but was worth it X100. It centered me on the most important opportunities and issues facing the business. Kept my lead investors and the board informed. -  Weekly CEO Email – Every Friday night before I personally shut down. Took 10-15 minutes to prepare, hits highlights from the week on Sales, Marketing, Finance & Operations. Fact based, transparent. Short, no BS. Over 8.5 years I only missed one. Oddly, I cannot remember why. Went to the board and the LT. Now that #OFRM is public, our public SEC filings replace the first item obviously. But I still do the others and credit the discipline of these for making me so much stronger as a leader over time. One fun side benefit is I saved every copy since day one and it’s quite a memory ride going back and reading them. Best of luck finding out what works for you and pressing play.

In my final discussion on PR and communication planning for IPOs, we’ll explore essential tips and the importance of being “Honest and Optimistic” in managing investor expectations. Join me along with Arun Ohri, Director and Leader of Capital Market and Transactions at Adfactors, and Nitin Thakur, Global Head of Strategic Alliances & Communications at OYO, for valuable insights. We’ll cover: 1.    Can getting time from management become a bottleneck? Are lawyers an obstacle? What are the challenges one needs to prepare for? 2.    What skills and knowledge are crucial for PR/communications professionals looking to specialize in IPO communications? 3.    IPO-Oriented Platforms for communication vs. Traditional Media, which works best?   4.    What future trends should we anticipate in IPO communications? Messaging trumps medium, and building trust and transparency is at the heart of effective IPO communication. Catch the full discussion to gain valuable insights into crafting impactful messages for a successful IPO. 1.     On Youtube (33 min) -  https://bit.ly/40ljkOb  2.     On Spotify (1 hour) -  https://bit.ly/3MsGCJH A conversation, full of learnings and insights - hope you enjoy this episode of Comms & Conversations. Here’s to many aha moments! If you are enjoying the vodcasts, do subscribe to my YouTube channel - https://bit.ly/3FYebQB where past 24 episodes are also posted. #commsandconversations #LinkedInForCreators #CorporateCommunications #PRagencies #mediarelations #marketingcommunications #IPO #CapitalMarkets #StockMarket #GoingPublic #ReputationManagement #CrisisManagement #PublicRelations #BusinessInsights