Excellent idea, Bong.
Actually, there's evidence we're on the edge of a dramatically new era in "investor relations." For example, I've said elsewhere that we will shortly see a *profession* involving corporate communications with message boards. Amazingly, in the past couple of months, I've personally heard from two CEOs, one on SI and one on YHOO. (Anyone from CMGI ever post here?)
Agree wholeheartedly that "smart" financial management involves treating a public company's common stock like a product. For decades (since the Depression?), there's been a sort of tacit bunker mentality that "managing the stock" is somehow off-limits. In the current environment, though, this attitude is misguided and reactionary. Some would say it's even hypocritical. (How about cleaning up market manipulation, boys?!) By definition, the stock of any company is not a sacred cow: it's the number one product.
So, yes, CMGI would do well to bring current shareholders into its incubator rollout strategy. This makes sense not because current shareholders are "entitled" to a freebie. Rather, it's because we represent the best-informed and most worthy shareholder base. Hey, we're paying management to make shrewd business decisions. Relying on us to carry the flag for a new IPO is one of them. Opinion leadership matters and We 'R It.
BAM |
