The epidemic has created intense volatility in the financial markets in the last two weeks and turned what was an incredible bull market into a potential recession. With earnings season just around the corner, publicly listed companies have a special responsibility to communicate the impact of the virus on their operations. Skadden has published considerations related to SEC disclosures, and Joanne Wong, a senior managing director at FTI Consulting in Hong Kong offers this sound advice for handling investor relations:

1. Be transparent in communicating near-term challenges
2. Use the crisis as an opportunity to reinforce the corporation’s long-term fundamentals
3. Communicate what you are doing about the problem

In addition, you should be paying attention to travel guidance and developing communication plans around your annual meeting, including setting up webcasts for shareholders.

Source:

Communicating Through the Coronavirus Crisis

Example Letter to Shareholders:

BlackRock: To Shareholders