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Posts Tagged ‘james scott’

Death And Dying: Taking A Company Public and Mergers And Acquisitions

Friday, January 28th, 2011

Oddly enough, to understand the mind of an executive, CEO, CFO or qualified company founder one must first look at the reality of death. Until the executive faces this mandatory prerequisite for entry into a legitimate process of going public, globalizing a concept or merging into or acquiring an organization one must look into the mirror and ponder the necessity of death.

I don’t mean death in a physical sense I mean death to the egoistic mind that is innate in man, death to self-centered nature that has allowed you to get to where you are now but will stunt your abilities to go any further, death to the belief that your high IQ will open doors (McDonald’s employs more Johns Hopkins certified geniuses than any other employer on the planet, without street-smarts, a staggering ‘emotional’ IQ and a portfolio of contacts that can gag a horse you’re nothing but a cast skin that will shrivel beneath the rays from the sun and your ashes will be blown into infinity where no one will even remember your name), death to the emotional triggers that cause you to ‘react’ rather than deliver a calculated and strategic response, death to fear of unbridled leadership and accountability (put up or shut up and get out of the way), death to the escape of using amateur terms such as ‘I didn’t know’, ‘I never got the documents’, etc. (you’re now the end all and be all, are you up to the task and the responsibilities of being held accountable by global alliances, a board of directors or shareholders?), death to the misconception that you can create, grow and fund a powerhouse entity on your own (the roadside to success is littered with the rotting carcasses of self-proclaimed ‘lone wolves’ and other mind midget wannabe’s, don’t be another cautionary tale, retain the services of professionals and employ qualified help).

Once the executive has considered and executed the above they will be better suited to assemble a qualified team to journey into the darkness of the rabbit hole. The ability to adapt is strengthened when one dies to that which restricts him. The smart executive will depend less on his strengths as a facilitator of services once qualified people are in place giving him the opportunity to hone his skills by memorizing tactics and executing these strategies in a way that customized to each individual situation, dilemma and obstacle, the execution of tactics is strategy. Tactical memorization allows one to use these processes as templates in which one can apply diversified obstacles to formulate strategic solutions. It is important to realize that the case law and theories learned at the university level offer a decent (not exceptional) platform in which to begin research into how to go about using these theoretic processes in order to come up with qualified plans/strategies that deliver optimal results any time, any place.

A successful executive will use more ‘emotional IQ’ than the 1904 Alfred Binet version of intelligence. I have yet to see a successful adult that has come out of a junior high gifted educational program. Emotional intelligence encompasses everything that is needed in order to succeed in both business and life. It’s the a ability to bring in a right brain communicative/creative mentality into a left brain analytical environment with the ability to speak a left brain language while bringing the solutions that can only be formulated with a creative mind.

Death, in this case, means closure. It is the zen moment of clarity that allows one to see their strengths and weaknesses in a new light which allows them to move forward in a manner that is true and honest first to the self and then to those on the outside. Death means to be in a constant state of self-awareness and intellectual/social development that will absolutely make you a force to be reckoned with and one whose consultation and advice will be sought out by those who see the empirical successes that litter your path.

Experience the Knowledge of The Masters of Globalization Mergers and Acquisitions Consulting and IPO Facilitation, International Expansion is now within your reach.

Take Your Company Public: Is Business A Form Of War?

Tuesday, January 18th, 2011

So is business a form of warfare? If it is who are the pawns and who are the kings? Let’s look at the facts and past the 1980s clichs that chant: Greed Is Good and Business Is War as those chanting these phrases are often on the sidelines and not gifted enough to be on the field and playing and have no choice but to live vicariously through those they are jealously watching.

Everyone wants to be a player but in this industry you need a lot more than drive you need connections and capability. By connections I mean global political, global corporate, international finance and more. By capability I mean nerves of steel, the ability to bath in acid and swim with sharks and eat class for breakfast. This is one of the most stressful industries I know of with a burnout rate that is off the charts and any other global consultant that I know has struggled with their demons to stay on the top of their game. Business, by all categorical definition is War.

There are winners, losers, economies rise and economies crumble all because of global commerce. Global commerce as you know is control over the masses by an elite few. The elite are not the government officials as they themselves are pawns in a much larger game that even they don’t understand. Commerce and finance are numbers on a computer screen and fractional reserve lending, the IMF and other organizations at the end of marionette strings to impose the will of the elite on the global populace.

War in the form of economics is ongoing whereas war with guns and the military is to make a statement. Economic warfare is trade sanctions and limiting technology that will enable a developing nation to grow which will disable their industrial capabilities so that instead of a thriving economy they are dependent on the involvement by industrialized nations. With the Bretton Woods Convention in 1944 and the reconstruction of Europe and the doing away with the gold standard the above mentioned Numbers On A Screen are dictated by who holds the most economic collateral to enforce their idea of numbers.

This group of elites has the economic and military power to impose its will and enforce the idea that the numbers that they place on that screen are etched in stone and if those numbers demonstrate a Loan to a developing nation, though no actual empirical capital has been transferred, that developing nation now becomes a willing pawn in the overall game of economic warfare. So there you have it, business is indeed a form of warfare. This industry of global finance serves as the royal court while those around us are forced to play by the rules we invent and enforce.

I’m not saying that this is a good thing, I’m not exactly proud to be part of the problem but this is the awkward reality. I know you’re waiting for a happy ending or an idea that will help create a solution but I don’t have one.

When my firm is brought in as a strategist and alliance facilitator for global rollups, acquisitions, mergers and IPOs we try to create as many jobs as possible but let me ask you, by creating more jobs are we just perpetuating the problem of the masses being controlled by the few?

Find out about Mergers and Acquisitions Processes, contact Princeton Corporate Solutions Inc. and find out about Mergers and Acquisitions Due Diligence That will empower your growth strategies.

Investor Relations Consultant – Investor Relations – Investor Relations Strategy

Saturday, January 15th, 2011

I am constantly getting calls from CEOs of public companies whose stock has plummeted to the point of no rebound. When I ask them what promotional or investor relations strategies they have in place to support their per share price goal, there is always silence on the other end of the line. It’s shocking to me that a well pedigreed executive can move up through the corporate ranks from executive to VP and to CEO and not have a clue as to how to run a public company properly.

For executives reading this, you obviously are doing the necessary due diligence required to initiate a strategic plan and keep your volume trading. As a global strategies consultant, typically, by default, I have to take a company public in order for them to meet their growth requirements as designated by their board of directors.

If you are going public on the OTCBB (Over The Counter Bulletin Boards) for example, you’ll want to start general corporate branding pretty heavy when the S1 comments stage is completed. You’ll want to take advantage of viral media such as but not limited to: video, unique article submission, press releases, social and news bookmarking and don’t forget the Linkedin, Myspace, Facebook and Twitter. The collective combination of promotional genres in the above will give you the initial foundation to start your Investor Relations campaign post public.

Keep in mind you want to promote your company in a general fashion as opposed to stepping into a gray area which the SEC would consider outside of securities compliance. Next, about two weeks after your viral crusade has been initiated, phase two would be using traditional tactics for publicity, mainly TV, radio and inter industry periodicals. These promotional mediums should ring with the ‘expert’ theme. You’ll have your publicist solicit the editor, writer, journalist, etc and get you a seat on an expert panel to discuss the hot topics that have to do with your industry. It’s not a company advertisement, it’s better. You are demonstrating your high level of expertise and throughout the gig they are referring to you in name and as the CEO of XYZ Inc.

Now, after your market maker has filed form 211 and FINRA has issued a trading symbol, this is when the real work begins. Don’t hire an investor relations service, hire a full service IR strategies consultant. It may sound like the same thing but believe me, the difference is night and day. A strategist has a massive portfolio of contacts to create your market quick and get your stock trading. You don’t want pump and dump, email/newsletter promoters, if you hire one then you’re a chump and you deserve the failure that you’re sure to experience. You’ll be sucked into the black hole of no return faster than you can say pink sheets (By the way, if you’re going public don’t even waste your time with pink sheets. Serious investors will never buy and hold that Wild West stock).

The basic strategy your consultant will put in place will be a combination of phone room promotion to market makers and investors to announce your stock and give verbal presentations in a non pushy manner (with a phone room you just want to have a friendly voice that gives free information and then tell them to check out the stock and call their broker or you can introduce them to one but don’t hire a boiler room as that’s the kiss of death to any new public entity). Next you want to email announcements to your pre public investor base and industry insiders to get the hype machine going. Get people talking about your stock, potential acquisitions, your new product or service, a new strategic partner you’ve signed with, a new distribution channel, anything, just get them talking about you. You’ll also want to keep your viral and traditional publicity mechanisms in place. Write press releases announcing the above and have your consultant and/or publicist start pushing them to major journals, newspapers and high traffic blogs and websites and always make yourself available for comments and/or questions. With all of your promotional properties you must get in the habit of collecting email addresses and contact info and on a weekly basis a chunk of your advertising budget must go toward snail-mail post card promotion, phone call meet and greets and email updates.

The above is a very basic intro or Investor Relations 101 to help you start putting a strategy together or at the very least it will help you interview investor relations strategies consultants in an intelligent and informed manner.

Want to find out more about Taking Your Company Public, then visit Belvedere Global Strategies Corporation’s site on how to choose between a Reverse Merger or S1 Filing for the best results

Advantages of Taking Company Public – S1 Filing – Take Company Public

Friday, January 14th, 2011

So many companies claim to have the answers but few do. Many companies will take huge upfront fees but few can fulfill their promises.

Princeton Corporate Solutions announces their new all inclusive, Turn-Key solution for companies who want to create a solid corporate infrastructure, go public on the OTCBB and take their products and services to the international market place.

Princeton Corporate Solutions will completely revamp your corporate structure, take your company public and globalize your company for one low, flat fee. In fact, if your company qualifies, PCS will invest the capital for your S1 filing and legal, Market Maker research and attachment for 15c211 filing for FINRA approval and even pay the out of pocket expenses for an ultra powerful Investor Relations strategy that will put your new public company on the map quickly with powerful trading volume that will have a massive impact on your bottom line.

Princeton Corporate solutions will stay onboard in an advisory role after your public to take your company to the international marketplace while identifying acquisitions and mergers that will grow your company efficiently and expediently.

Are you ready to launch your business into the realm of maximum expansion and full throttle growth? If you’re approved as a client of Princeton Corporate Solutions our strategies will add rocket fuel to your expansion strategy.

With Princeton’s Turn-key ‘Go Public’ and ‘Globalization’ Package, they facilitate the following to grow and stabilize your corporation: Board of Directors Selection, secondary Board of Advisers Selection, ‘C’ level executive selection and qualification, Strategic alliance identification and facilitation, Pre public Expansion strategy identification and facilitation, Business plan authoring, Private Placement Memorandum Authoring (if needed), OTCBB Process Begins with a Third Party PCAOB Audit, S1 Filing and Comments By our Legal team (S1 fees provided by PCS Investors), 15c211 Filing by our Market Maker Selection, FINRA Trading Symbol Achieved (fees paid by PCS investors).

After your company is public PCS will initiate Powerful Post Public Investor Relations Solutions by Partner Companies to create your market market and build stock value and trading volume (fees negotiated and paid by PCS), Corporate and Product/Service Publicity using TV and Radio Expert Panel Interviews to Promote the Knowledge of Executive, Build Corporate Brand and Get your Trading symbol out to the masses. Post public Acquisition identification and facilitation solutions, Post public subsidiary mergers and acquisition identification and solutions and much more.

Stop wasting your valuable time. Find out How To Take Your Company Public, visit Belvedere Global Strategies Corporation’s site on how to choose between a Reverse Merger, S1 Filing or Incubator Program that best fits your needs

Tuesday, January 11th, 2011

In the strategies of war, how does a new regional military power or upstart guerrilla troop solidify their position? They identify their adversaries and eliminated them. How is business any different? The truth is the strategies are identical while the actual elimination process differs. War is fought with bombs and guns, economics is fought by crushing an idea or believe system that perpetuates the money machine behind a company, take away the public believe system based on the concept put out by a company and you’ve eliminated their ability to survive.

Corporate branding, marketing and all promotion centers around piercing the minds of the public to inject an idea that ultimately triggers them to have an emotional need for your service or product. Few purchase decisions are spontaneous but for those that are it’s a matter of putting making something available with the threat of taking it away.

When injecting an idea in the mind of the involuntary recipient it must be like a candy coated indigestible as opposed to a spinal tap entry. Smooth and easy as opposed to painful and forced. Some sugar coatings take on the identity of a comedic TV commercial where laughter is the mechanism used to bypass the critical faculty while a sappy emotional segment may work for others.

The key to obtaining and maintaining one’s position is to identify your immediate competition, deal with them and once this is facilitated move on to the next potential threat. For the immediate competitor one elimination strategy that tends to work regardless of industry is to analyze the regional market in which you find a competitor of equal size who is in direct competition with you and then find his localized upstart or micro competitors and via third party strategically align your agenda with their promotional tactics. Help them to collectively and unknowingly pinpoint and weaken specific products and services that pronounce the actual threat to your company. Phase two is to make yourself known to them via this third party introduction and buy equities in these companies and contractually obligate them to use this capital for designated promotional solutions that will grow that regional company. You want this money to be used to infiltrate the region with your services/products and have the new partners go into their established client base with mailers, phone calls and in person sales calls and introduce your company and solutions to them.

Your initial competitor will begin to lose traction (assuming they are a public company) and their stock price will begin to fall, you want to begin buying stock in this competing company but not enough to stimulate or increase the share price. A combination of multiple subsidiary elements ganging up on this one particular company in addition to your firm buying equities in a plummeting stock will deliver to you the control you need in order to remove this entity as an obstacle to your growth.

As the company lessens in market share and comes into a new phase of financial hardship, help the process along by now adding the sell/buy process to damage their stock that much more (obviously, before initiating this phase talk to legal counsel for advice). Now that the stock is at a critical volume and price you can step in and flood the market with the stock that you purchased to send them into ‘penny stock’ domain, the kiss of death for any company that wants to stay on or eventually qualify for the NASDAQ (don’t look at this as losing money, you should see it from the perspective of gaining long term market share) and when the company is close to shutting their doors, you can step in as the savior with investment capital, acquisition proposal or workout a subsidiary type merger.

By this time the company is so weak they have no choice but to accept on of the above options thus, you’ve accomplished the elimination of a competitor while creating a virtual monopoly in this regional based strategy. There is a template strategy that straddles political and economical situations. The template is the same while it needs to be adapted with a customized process.

Learn more about Taking Your Company Public. Find out how to Raise Capital Fast by taking your company public

Pre IPO Investment – Where To Find Pre IPO Companies

Saturday, January 1st, 2011

For diversified investors, the IPO is the holy grail of all investments. Why? Because of the higher yields involved with a company with a great concept that is about to step onto the scene and change the order of an industry. Many times the investors are able to take advantage of a deeply discounted stock price compared to the retail price available to the mainstream.

For those who have experienced the power of an IPO, the next natural stage is the Pre IPO. A Pre IPO investment a few months before the company is issued a trading symbol is the creme de la creme of all stock investments. Many times investors are offered warrants for discounted future offerings with the company; the stock is typically discounted deeply to the IPO price, which in turn is discounted to the retail price. The investment mechanism is typically done via Private Placement Memorandum using rule exemption 506 of Regulation D.

Investors should make sure that the PCAOB audit and S1 authoring are underway or completed before going into an investment. The company should offer potential investors a package which includes a solid business plan, PPM stating risks and a valuation from which the share price originates. The share price will come from the valuation, number of authorized shares, total amount of capital to be raise pre public etc.

Another deal aspect to pay close attention to before investing is the market creation process put in place by the company. A strong Investor Relations and publicity campaign is crucial to generating interest in an IPO and this strategy should be put in place during the company’s comments phase with the SEC (if it is an OTCBB listing the company is initiating).

A solid investor relations campaign will consist of, at a minimum, two press releases per week, phone room assistance to introduce the company to the broker and investment market, SEO campaign, iTunes company and industry position downloads for interested parties, webinars, investor newsletter as well as radio, TV and university expert panel interviews and other public interactions to make the public aware of the company, product/service and stock symbol.

The above is just a Pre IPO investor introduction to help seasoned investors with their due diligence process and portfolio diversification.

Learn more about Taking Your Company Public. Find out how to Raise Capital Fast by taking your company public

OTC Bulletin Board – Stay Public and Profitable – OTCBB

Thursday, December 30th, 2010

IPOs and Taking Your Company Public: Why Do Public Companies Fail? There are a few things that one needs to consider when strategizing to take a business public on a major exchange: corporate structure, the speed and efficiency at which the IPO is facilitated, the market creation post public with corporate publicity strategies and investor relations, relationships to secure ongoing financing and finally strategic growth through acquisition.

The corporate structure is the foundation to the company which includes a strong ‘C’ level leadership boasting a pedigree of steeped experience and professional track record.

The board of directors must be seasoned and solid composed of industry specialists in the finance, advisory, legal and distribution sectors of the industry and finally the corporations strategic alliances must be in place and strong to pad the business model and help the company grow.

The speed at which the company achieves a trading symbol is important not only to the company but the seed capital investors who want a rapid turnaround on their investment. The audit, SEC filing, 15c11 and FINRA approval need to be orchestrated by experts to complete this task in a timely manner or this process can crush your company as opposed to enhancing it.

Now that you have your trading symbol you need to create the market. Don’t count on your market maker or broker dealer to do this as they are simply a vessel to complete trades and vouch for your company on the securities level. You need powerful investor relations (IR) and corporate publicity. You should also consider publicity strategies for your ‘C’ level executives to brand them as industry experts to add legitimacy and strength to your presence and market position.

Don’t forget PIPES and other post public securities monetization solutions. These companies can offer a lifeline if you’re company is seeking expansion or acquisition capital. Make sure you get references! The last thing you want is a PIPE firm that gives you a 60% LTV (or less) against your stock and then crucifies your company by dumping the stock, ouch!

If your company is in the correct phase of evolution, growing and ready for that next level, think: OTCBB. It’s fast and relatively affordable and if you’re corporate strategies are in place you could rake in some serious capital fast for your corporate expansion.

Looking to Grow Your Company? , find out how to Structure Your Company and Grow Fast With an IPO

Corporate Power Strategies – Modern Machiavellian Concepts That Work Fast

Tuesday, December 28th, 2010

When I go to political functions or functions that claim to have the who’s who in attendance I find it fascinating to stand back and watch people interact. Politicians and power CEOs always stick to surface conversations, upstarts converse while looking over the shoulder of their conversation partner waiting for the opportunity to dump them and move onto someone with more influence. I could watch this interaction for ours and speculate with friends where we believe the targets of our conversation to be in their professional and pedigree evolution.

One thing that these people don’t realize is that those to which they’ve chosen to kneel down and bask beneath glorious rays of influence are typically just pawns with prestigious public labels being controlled by other supremacies. Here are the facts. Upstarts and wannabes will pick the face to an organization (political or corporate) for their association to grow their career and raise their social circle pedigree but the truth is, behind this puppets are those who whisper in the ear, spin webs of control, and sway with their money and ‘real power’.

I have yet to find a true puppet master comfortable to be in the public eye. It is easier to step back and dictate the moves of pawns streamlined by the upstart’s natural instinct to voluntarily be controlled by their betters. Most people, when it comes down to it, are content with the illusion of influence as long as they are the center of the public’s idea of power.

Case study: When I have a client in the process of globalization it is important to get them built into legislation that is being put up for vote. Whether it’s the USA or Europe, I never communicate with the politician directly, that’s a waste of time, instead I go to his handlers. When I say handlers I don’t mean his campaign manager, assistant or any of the traditional ‘blockers’. I go where the money is, because once you find out who funds his campaign with capital and votes, everything is easy from there. Congressmen, Senators, Governors and Mayors of large cities are placed in this position to be a talking head, a willing hand puppet to special interest groups that will flip the bill for the campaign and make sure that the votes are in place to be re-elected, as long as the political figure continue to play ball and stick to the agenda.

To the uninformed and uninitiated, the apex to the pyramid of power is usually represented by the localized face to a political organization (Republican, Democrat etc) but here are three powers that influence everything this individual does. Power is dictated by moneymen, lobbyists and special interest groups. If you have money to donate the most it can get you is a favor or a letter for your kid to get into private school, but the power, the absolute power in politics is social influence and the ability to bring with you, an ocean of voters, turn-key and ready to go. Try to find one conservative republican politician in the south that isn’t backed by the Southern Baptist Convention or Christian Coalition.

The capacity to provide votes and a ’cause’ type following can also be applied to the business world. When we set up strategic alliances, recruit board members or CEOs the main criteria at the end of the day is money and votes defined as: capital raise for previous organizations and the increase of revenues during their time with their previous company. As for ‘votes’, in the corporate world that would be termed ‘alliances’, support that will be turnkey for my client if we take this executive, board member or alliance on. What does their direct contact portfolio look like? Who will they bring through the door that will offer an instant benefit for my client’s company?

Money + alliances = Power. If you are trying to establish yourself as a power broker in the political or corporate realm you don’t need to actually have the money, just access to it. Access can be defined as direct parlay to those who cut the checks and the influence to get them to move when the time is right. Influence, alliances, voters are easy for those who are natural networks. Talk little, do more. Have a plan as to what you are trying to do. Decide what you are trying to influence and build your network from there.

Don’t start from scratch trying to put together a group of followers, instead, lobby the individual organization management or figureheads. Start brokering power among these groups, make introductions but always leave just enough out so that they need to call you when they need something. From here you should be able to build a solid power base of influence.

Don’t come across as too eager. Instead, get to know these individuals in a calm, easy manner, research them before you initiate contact and even your first contact can’t seem intentional (you may want to ‘run into them’ at you’re local tennis club or golf club and strike up some conversation etc.). Then during conversation make a mental note of the topics and their ‘needs’ and from their needs you’ll know how to refer and network them. Ask nothing in return, ever! Instead, the contact and affiliation is all you are trying to accomplish here. Building your organization of influence in this way will rapidly get you where you want to be without the learning curve of catering to the wrong people.

Learn more about Taking Your Company Public. Find out how to Raise Capital Fast by taking your company public

S1 Filing – How To Spot The Attorney That Will Make Your Nightmares Come True

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010

I deal with S1 attorneys all day every day and most of them are entrepreneurial, hard working and interested in helping you in any way they can but there are also a lot of bad ones out there. If you are taking your company public the last thing you want is a broke as a joke s1 filing agent.

I recently had the misfortune of working with (for a very short time I might add) a New Jersey lawyer who had us all convinced by her pepper gray hair and fluency of legal jargon as a second language and quick calls to what she had us convinced where big shot investors who had millions to put into this and other transactions we brought her way.

During initial negotiations she and I sat down in a coffee shop and went over her equity position and fees in the transactions that she’d be working on for us and it was pretty simple and straight forward. I would have my team organize and structure the company and transaction and she would simply file the s1 in exchange for 2% to 3% equity. Pretty nice payday for minimal work and gaining equity in an average company producing $5m+ per year.

Ah yes, but when it sounds too good to be true it is and when it seems too easy of a negotiation…it is! When she sent us the contract she felt the need to add a few percentage points to the tune of 7%, making a total of 10% equity and she also was charging an extra $10k to fill in the blanks on your prototypical PPM doc. Why did she jack up the price? Her response was, “This S1 will have comments”. I almost died laughing. Of course it’s going to have comments with the SEC, that’s why it’s called the ‘comments’ stage.

We talked her into taking 2 payments for the $10k, half upfront and half on completion but we really should have dumped her right there. She didn’t want to keep her word on that either so I paid her the last payment before the fee was due and just got rid of her.

Turns out she never filed an s1 before and her whole act was a sham. She was desperate for cash and nickled and dimed us the whole time. I laugh about it now but it wasn’t funny when it happened. We lost over a month of transaction time because she couldn’t tell the truth.

The client was going public on the OTCBB with a valuation of around $5m, her suggestion was to raise capital pre public for $1 per share because the company would have a hard time qualifying for the NASDAQ if it started at anything less than $1. This company was years away from even considering the NASDAQ as an option but her in experience and need to prolong the deal to rape us for fees was so blatant and careless that she did everything she could to add as much confusion to the deal as possible so that no one knew what was going on, therefore she got away with a lot and was able to pick our pockets for weeks before we got rid of her.

The moral of the story is this: not all attorneys are rich. The truth is, most are very modest as far as their earnings. There is too much competition these days so there are predatory lawyers out there that will lie, double talk, triple talk and run you around in circles. All the while the clock is ticking and they are billing you like it’s going out of style. Watch your back with the dead broke S1 lawyer.

Want to find out more about Taking Your Company Public, then visit Belvedere Global Strategies Corporation’s site on how to choose between a Reverse Merger or S1 Filing for the best results

Investor Relations Consultant – IR Agency – A Cautionary Tale

Thursday, December 9th, 2010

I recently wasted three months getting to know an investor relations contact as it takes a few months before you’re ready to give up equity in someone else’s company to a stranger for services to be rendered in the future. The process is to first talk on the phone to the IR consultant and make nice talk. At this time you want to just let them talk because 90% of what they say is complete BS and 10% of it is what they wish they could do but up until now have never been able to.

I spent hours talking to this guy. He sounded so convincing, sure he’d dodge the questions about process and ‘how to’ but I figured we’d eventually get to that. We eventually met in New York, at our first meeting he picked the restaurant, he ordered lunch, I bought.

He was so smooth with his tactics and his con was so polished. He was an older gentleman with a very specific and well manicured professional pedigree, pure fiction of course but I found myself wanting to believe that this guy was telling the truth.

He told me how much he loved the company I was taking public and how he believed in what we were doing and how the company’s expansion was going to make such a great story post public to attract investors and create the market on and on. This banter went on for about two months and then as we were getting closer to our opening dated I started to press him for a process to bring together everything that he had been telling me.

I wanted him to show me a track record with trading symbols, only the ones that he mentioned to me that went from .10 cents to $1+ (I should have bailed at that point but I was still curious). I wanted him to break down how he was going to create the market for this company, I just wanted details. A few days had passed and obviously up to that point there had been no exchange of contracts since there was no process to agree to or anything professional from him to solidify the deal only words.

Then our S1 went up and he got an Edgar link. He was furious that he wasn’t on that S1. I got an email from his partner who I didn’t even know existed giving me the digital version of a tongue lashing, all caps, exclamation marks, bold print, you get the idea.

This was when I realized that no matter how objective I was and no matter how many angles I looked at this guy and his company and no matter how badly I wanted to believe that this was the one legit guy in a sea of razor blades and shark infestation that we call Investor Relations it was all just smoke and mirrors. He was a con artist, a confidence man.

I am by no means a new comer. I’ve been submerged in every aspect of this industry for over 12 years and I assist global corporations on the intricacies of going public, staying public and globalizing their strategies but sometimes we believe that we can meet someone that will shatter the prototypical mold of the realities we face every day. Investor relations is the one aspect of the industry that demands you to watch your back.

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