"What is the difference between your software and us making available a
comprehensive set of information on our own website?"
Your site will not comply fully with international standards on IR websites and communications
standards.
You may not know who is accessing your information and why.
Your site probably does not store all communication and documents online for each and
every user of your website in his/her own specific secure section. This is a significant functional
tool for investors.
Your corporate website is probably managed by the IT or marketing department. The finance,
marketing, PR and the CEO’s office should also be involved but may not be to the extent desired.
Your Directors have an obligation to ensure that their release of information into the public
domain happens immediately and simultaneously.
You probably do not have a two way communication mechanism with the users of your website -
the ability to obtain feedback from shareholders and stakeholders.
Your corporate website is probably seen as a simple information dissemination mechanism rather
than as a strategic corporate communication resource and core corporate governance tool.
Your website probably does not have automated tools and a built in IR activities monitor to
ensure that corporate communications are managed effectively.
"It is not a requirement that we use the Internet for disclosure purposes
so why should we use it?"
True. The use of the Internet in corporate disclosure is not yet mandatory but it will
be over time. Regulatory bodies of principal stock exchanges recommend that listed companies
make corporate information available online as it is an accepted non-exclusionary way to ensure
that information is made known widely and immediately – an important corporate governance
practice to avoid selective information dissemination.
Historically, many barriers to Internet usage have existed in Africa, but these barriers
have been falling very quickly. Use of the Internet can be very cheap and very effective.
The rate of innovation on the Web is unbelievable and business cannot afford to be left behind.
Use of the Internet in African stock markets in countries outside South Africa is growing at
more than 50% per annum. Its now time for listed companies in Africa to get up to speed,
increase efficiency, reduce costs and improve valuations to promote investment.
"So few people need access to our financial statements and corporate information it hardly seems worth it!"
Is it that information is not used because it is not there, or is that the information is not
there because it is not used?
The obligation to ensure that information is available, for free, equally to shareholders and
stakeholders as soon as it becomes available is more important than the extent of the use of
such information.
Listed companies are actually in competition for investors, whether they like it or not,
and they need to reach out proactively and tell their story. If they do not, the value of their
equity may not be at the levels it could be.
"We want to know who is accessing our company’s information. Does the software
do this?"
This is the fundamental raison d’être of our services. The ability to obtain continuous and immediate
feedback from your shareowners and stakeholders is vital in ensuring that your company is, and is perceived
to be, responsive to the parties that have an interest in it. How can directors manage companies on behalf
of shareholders and the greater community without knowing and understanding what they want? FEEDBACK is a
fundamental principle to the services offered by African Is Cool.
African IR Toolpak consolidates contact profiles, contact history, email lists, fax lists and mailing
lists into one simple application. Instant search and sort for investors by type, location or even by
investment interest in your company is available at the click of a mouse. African IR Toolpak enables you to leverage
the communications efforts of every person involved in interacting with your company's audiences, whether
it be investor relations, public relations, sales and marketing or human resources, minimising redundancies
and maximising effectiveness.
"The African IR Toolpak has no regulatory status, so there is no requirement
to use the services."
Precisely because the use of the Internet is not mandatory significant scope exists for listed
companies to differentiate themselves from their peers through use of African Is Cool products and
services. Good corporate governance is rewarded by higher share valuations.
"We have no time or resources to support this.
This is an additional hassle on top of everything we already have to do to satisfy corporate governance requirements."
The completeness and functionality of our products means companies should have more time to
concentrate on their core business.
Having limited time or resources is not a reason to reject our service offerings: it is the
reason to adopt them.
"It is unlikely that we have someone in our organisation who
can take on a comprehensive task like this."
Using nothing more than a mouse and a keyboard, African IR Website enables you to manage every
aspect of your IR web site. No specialist IT software training is required. Any staff member can be
up and running with the software within hours.
Our core business is the provision of IR services and the support of your IR activities and website.
Support 24/7 exists from Africa and the USA so you never have to worry. African Is Cool offers a fully
outsourced website management option.
"We have no website."
The African IR Toolpak offers IR website templates off the shelf – the simplest version
is free, specifically tailored to individual companies and with built in comprehensive IR
functionality.
"It's too expensive."
The benefits of putting into place a comprehensive investor relations function will
mainly be intangible as the benefits are increased credibility, corporate reputation etc.
There can be no doubt that for any company that is not addressing their corporate governance
obligations as it relates to communication, the introduction of African Is Cool’s services and
products will more than justify the cost. This is because investor relations IS primarily about
ensuring that your company’s equity is fairly valued and the link between enhanced valuation and
good corporate governance is well known.
"The log in function requirement for Investorpass is cumbersome –
investors will not like it."
Most of the fundamental information made available through the African IR Website is available for free.
The quid pro quo for investors having to sign into your corporate website is the unmatched functionality
of the customer relationship module contained therein. Furthermore, investors will appreciate the ability
of the company to react to the feedback that results from the secure two way communications platform.
"We are just a small company and investor relations is irrelevant."
Would this statement be repeated in front of shareholders?
Each listed company irrespective of market capitalisation has the same obligations to its
shareholders and stakeholders. How these obligations are satisfied at low cost is a tactical
issue for the boards of African companies and a function of whether products exist to service
small companies’ needs.
Our product uses the latest innovative web technology to enable the smallest listed companies
(measured by market capitalisation) to comply with fundamental corporate governance obligations
seamlessly and at low cost.
"We don’t know who is behind the Website."
The full details of African Is Cool will be made available upon request.
Go to the “Contact Us” section.