2024 will be an interesting year for many reasons, one of them being that 64 countries that host almost half of the global population around the world will hold national elections. Mexico is one of those countries (the US too).
Election years often bring about higher uncertainty, not just in the political debates and media, but also within financial markets. As the political landscape changes, IR teams find themselves tasked with the challenge of maintaining transparency and stability with lower visibility than usual. The question arises: How political should investor relations teams be in such times?
The role of IR teams is to foster trust and open communication between a company and its investors. This entails providing accurate and timely information about the company’s performance, strategies, and outlook. However, during election years, the dynamics can become more complex.
On one hand, staying abreast of political developments is crucial for IR teams, as government policies and regulations can directly impact a company’s operations and financial performance. Changes in regulatory frameworks can significantly influence investor sentiment and decision-making.
On the other hand, taking an overtly political stance or engaging in partisan discussions can be risky. Companies are expected to remain neutral and focus on their core business objectives rather than getting embroiled in divisive political debates.
So, how can you strike a balance this year? Here are our Top 7 recommendations:
- Focus on business fundamentals: your conversation should be primarily centered around the company’s financial health, operating performance, and strategic initiatives. Maintain a sense of stability and reassure investors amidst uncertainty, if political conditions allow you to. Remember that amidst short-term political noise, IR teams should emphasize the company’s long-term value creation strategies.
- Monitor policy changes and be upfront: IR teams should closely monitor proposed policy changes and their potential implications for the company. By staying informed, they can proactively communicate with investors about any anticipated impacts. If there is increased noise in your sector, or regulatory risks are higher than normal, then be transparent about it. Ideally taking a politically neutral stance, explain the different scenarios.
- Stay neutral in public: when addressing stakeholders or participating in public forums, it’s essential for IR teams to remain neutral and refrain from expressing political opinions or affiliations. Instead, they should focus on factual information related to the company’s performance and industry dynamics.
- Scenario planning: election outcomes can be unpredictable, and companies need to be prepared for various scenarios. Investor relations teams should engage in scenario planning exercises to assess the potential impacts of different election results on the company and its stakeholders.
- Monitor investor sentiment: election years can trigger fluctuations in investor sentiment, influenced by political developments. IR teams should closely monitor investor sentiment through various channels and adapt their communication strategies accordingly to address concerns and maintain trust. Perception studies are a particularly good tool for this.
- Remember your track record: gather robust data and fully understand the company’s stability and resilience in past political changes. This will be good evidence to have in hand.
- Financial preparedness: if applicable, it is important to highlight actions taken to prepare for and soften political volatility (perhaps debt maturities have been extended, maybe the company has extra cash on hand, or maybe steps were taken to hedge FX exposure, among other things).
Maintaining a balance between political awareness and neutrality is key. By focusing on business fundamentals, staying informed about policy changes, and emphasizing long-term value creation, IR teams can navigate through political uncertainties while fostering trust and stability with investors.
Ultimately, a steadfast commitment to transparency, neutrality, and strategic communication is key for 2024. We, at Miranda IR, would be happy to help you achieve this.
Contacts at Miranda Partners
Damian Fraser
Miranda Partners
damian.fraser@miranda-partners.com
Ana María Ybarra Corcuera
Miranda-IR
ana.ybarra@miranda-ir.com