The Global Standard

A Toolkit for Investor Relations Officers

The Global Standard is an integrated set of operating information for investor relations officers that brings together the global standard approaches across investor engagement, guidance strategy, KPI design, shareholder base management, earnings execution, and risk governance to support consistent credibility and long-term value creation.

Contact us:
breakwatercapitalmarkets@breakwaterstrategy.com  

Investor Day Planning & Execution

How to Design an Investor Day

Distills the global standard for Investor Days into twenty essential questions that separate events that drive lasting shareholder confidence from those that create noise. How to Design an Investor Day

Investor Day Timing Guide

This toolkit addresses the twenty most critical timing questions that IROs face, from readiness signals and business catalysts to format decisions and contingency planning. Investor Day Timing Guide

Investor Day Venue and Location

Addresses twenty critical Investor Day venue decisions through the global standard: choosing between headquarters and financial centers, managing technical infrastructure, and ensuring Reg FD compliance across physical and digital audiences. Investor Day Venue and Location

How to Create an Investor Day Agenda

A toolkit that details how to transform an investor day from a compliance exercise into a strategic asset that reshapes how the market values the business. How to Create an Investor Day Agenda

IR Strategy & Engagement

Annual IR Planning Guide

A best-in-class annual IR plan serves as the strategic blueprint that aligns narrative, disclosure, events, and engagement to drive measurable shareholder outcomes and strengthen valuation resilience. Annual IR Planning Guide.

Investor Targeting

Addresses twenty critical targeting decisions through the global standard: diagnosing shareholder fit, segmenting by archetype and underwriting logic, building conversion processes based on fit rather than prestige, and measuring ownership impact. Investor Targeting

Analyst Coverage

By focusing on disciplined engagement, fair access, and consistent public frameworks, the guide shows how strong analyst relationships enhance shareholder base outcomes without increasing disclosure risk. Analyst Coverage

Sell-Side Relationships

This guide reframes sell-side relationships as a disciplined market-education and distribution function, designed to improve accuracy, investor access, and fairness rather than to manage sentiment or consensus. Sell-Side Relationships.

Non-Deal Roadshow

Positions NDRs as structured conversion efforts designed to deepen conviction with priority holders and attract high-fit investors by improving underwriteability around drivers, risks, and milestones. Non-Deal Roadshow

Communications & Disclosure

Guidance Range

Addresses twenty critical range decisions: setting width that reflects real variability, defining midpoint meaning, explaining drivers transparently, and knowing when to tighten or widen based on visibility. Guidance Range

Guidance Philosophy

Covers twenty critical guidance decisions, from selecting metrics and timeframes to communicating uncertainty, responding to misses with accountability, and maintaining consistency across geographies and leadership. Guidance Philosophy

Q&A Management

This toolkit positions Q&A as the ultimate credibility test in capital markets communication, where leadership demonstrates mastery of the business, discipline under pressure, and consistency in decision logic. Q&A Management.

Crisis Communication

Effective crisis communication relies on process discipline: rapid coordination across teams, consistent messaging across all channels, and structured public statements that provide interpretive anchors for investors. Crisis Communication

Earnings Call Script

A best-in-class earnings call script functions as a core investor relations tool—one that shapes market interpretation by clearly explaining what changed, why it changed, and what it means going forward. Earnings Call Script.

Performance Measurement & Reporting

IR Website Guide

This toolkit defines the global standard for IR website content and governance. It sets out what to publish, how to structure it, and how to maintain it so investors can underwrite the business with confidence. IR Website Guide.

KPI Selection

This toolkit positions KPI selection as a core governance mechanism, ensuring the business is clearly underwriteable before results appear in financial statements. KPI Selection.

AI & Technology in IR

How to Reduce LLMs’ Interpretive Gaps without “Writing for AI”

Outlines a repeatable quarterly process Investor Relations teams can use to understand how AI systems are likely to ingest, normalize, and interpret their public disclosures. How to Reduce LLMs’ Interpretive Gaps without “Writing for AI”

About Breakwater Capital Markets
Breakwater Capital Markets is the global capital markets advisory practice of Breakwater Strategy. The firm delivers proprietary solutions for boards, C-suite leaders, and investor relations organizations facing complex strategic, financial, and market environments. Breakwater combines deep capital markets insight with strategic advisory to help clients shape valuation outcomes, command investor confidence, and lead with resilience.

Media Contact:
Maureen Hansen
maureen@breakwaterstrategy.com