The Minimum Standards of Online Investor Relations, created by AfricanFinancials, are similar to the UK's AIM Rule 26, setting clear guidelines for good communication practices. Both give a basic structure to ensure transparency and consistency in investor relations. AIM Rule 26 requires AIM-listed companies to share specific information, while AfricanFinancials' standards offer voluntary guidelines tailored to African markets. Why is this a thing? Well here's the thing: we reviewed 100 corporate and investor relations websites across Africa and found the following: 𝟲𝟰/𝟭𝟬𝟬 sites show directors' names and profiles, meaning 36% do not have a complete governance section. 𝟲𝟮/𝟭𝟬𝟬 have easy navigation, so over a third lack clear navigation. 𝟱𝟰/𝟭𝟬𝟬 have complete PDF archives; about half are missing important documents. 𝟯𝟵/𝟭𝟬𝟬 include a "sustainability section," leaving 61% without one. 𝟯𝟴/𝟭𝟬𝟬 have a full list of corporate announcements, meaning 62% do not. 𝟮𝟲/𝟭𝟬𝟬 provide dividend information; 74% do not. 𝟮𝟱/𝟭𝟬𝟬 use email alerts, but only 2% use them effectively for investor relations. 𝟮𝟯/𝟭𝟬𝟬 show share prices and charts, so 77% do not. 𝟭𝟱/𝟭𝟬𝟬 publish investor transcripts, leaving 85% without. 𝟭𝟰/𝟭𝟬𝟬 have published at least 4 news releases in the last three months; 86% are not current. These gaps in functionality and outdated content may not directly harm a company’s reputation, but they do mean investors will look elsewhere for the information they need. Today, a company’s website is the first place people check for fact and investors expect accurate, up-to-date details, and if they can’t find it on the corporate website, they will find it somewhere else. They become loyal to someone else. So... Companies should take charge of their story online to avoid misinformation—especially as AI increasingly relies on corporate websites as a primary source of information.They are not only telling their own story if they get their digital presence right they are telling Africa's story: we need to remember that. #investorrelations #communication #capitalmarkets
