The Cost of Silence: How Poor IR Can Hurt SGX-Listed Companies in Singapore


In capital markets, silence isn't neutral. It's dangerous.

For SGX-listed companies, neglecting investor relations doesn’t just lead to confusion. It erodes confidence, weakens valuation, and in some cases, hastens delisting.

When Investors Don’t Hear from You, They Fill the Silence Themselves

Imagine you're an investor. You can’t find the latest presentation. There’s no follow-up after earnings. Management rarely comments on business strategy. What message does that send?

In investor relations, silence is often mistaken for uncertainty. And uncertainty gets priced in.

Without proactive communication:

  1. Trading volume dries up
  2. Media and analyst attention fades
  3. Investors shift focus to louder, clearer competitors

In this climate, SGX-listed company investor relations isn’t optional. It’s essential to staying visible, relevant, and supported in the market.

Weak IR Is Weak Market Support

Poor IR leads to more than just disengaged shareholders. It creates a vacuum. And in public markets, vacuums don’t last long. They get filled by speculation, noise, or worse, indifference.

We've observed these common outcomes of weak IR in Singapore:

  1. Low trading volume, even when fundamentals are strong
  2. Misunderstood financials, due to poor presentation or lack of context
  3. Depressed share prices, disconnected from business value including ‘value trap’
  4. Difficulty raising capital, due to limited investor interest
  5. Delisting risk, as liquidity thresholds and shareholder support weaken over time

Often, these companies didn’t do anything “wrong”.

They just failed to communicate what they were doing right.


Case in Point: Delisting Doesn’t Always Start with Decline

Delisting in Singapore doesn’t always follow scandal or collapse. In many cases, it begins with apathy.

When companies fail to engage with investors:

  1. Investors including fund managers stop attending briefings
  2. Analysts drop coverage
  3. Retail interest wanes
  4. Valuation discounts widen
  5. Share price may move southward

Eventually, controlling shareholders opt to take the company private not due to failure, but fatigue. The market simply stops caring.

And the saddest part? Many of these companies had solid performance. They just didn’t tell their story.

IR Isn’t About Hype. It’s About Access, Clarity, and Trust

There’s a misconception that IR is about "selling" the company. In truth, the best investor relations strategies are built on substance:

  1. Clear disclosures, on time and in context
  2. Consistent messaging, across all channels
  3. Investor access, through briefings, Q&As, and direct outreach
  4. Proactive engagement, especially during uncertainty or change

A strong IR program doesn’t guarantee a rising share price but it ensures investors understand your value. And that understanding creates support, even when conditions are tough.

Why IR Must Be Treated Like a Core Function

Too often, listed companies treat IR like a compliance task. Something to be managed after results, or delegated to junior staff. But capital markets don't wait for the right moment to communicate. They reward companies that show up consistently.

Great IR programs:

  1. Build relationships long before capital is needed
  2. Educate the market on strategy and direction
  3. Control the narrative before it’s shaped by speculation

In short, strong investor relations isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s a reputational insurance policy.

The Market Has a Short Memory Unless You Stay Present

There’s a cost to staying silent. Missed opportunities. Misunderstood results. Lost support. And in the long run, possibly the end of your listing altogether.

If you’re a SGX-listed company looking to strengthen your investor engagement, avoid drift, or rebuild credibility, the time to act is before the market stops paying attention.

Let’s help you stay heard and remembered.