If you brief me and indicate that the information that we have discussed is confidential, I will not discuss it with others and I will not write about the topics that we have discussed.

 

If I blog about things that we have discussed, because that was your goal for briefing me, you will have at least two (2) business days to respond before my analysis is released to the public or published. If you brief me on something and indicate that it is embargoed until you make a public announcement, I will wait for your announcement. My rule is to err on the side of caution.

If your firm has not signed a confidentiality agreement, your secrets are still safe with me. This includes, but it is not limited to the following items:

• Information that I agreed (orally or in writing) not to discuss or things that you told me in confidence
• Sensitive information that has not been publicly disclosed or reported by that company such as:
  
  1. mergers, acquisitions, tender offers, joint ventures, IPOs
  1. new product development and announcements
  2. gain or loss of significant customers or suppliers
  3. revenue, profit, losses and other financial information
  4. earnings projections, quarterly results
  5. internal forecasts
  6. sales volume
  
  

Regardless of how I learn sensitive information (e.g., from a company insider, former employee of company, company consultant, etc.), I won't discuss it or publish unless the information is public knowledge.

 

The More I Know, the Less I Know

If you brief me on a pending merger or acquisition I can't talk about it until you announce it publicly. If someone asks me about it privately, and you have briefed me or indicated that you might be doing something in the future I can easily excuse myself from speculating on the matter. If no one from your firm has ever spoken to me, I can speculate on what you might be doing. So be sure to brief me and I will guard your secrets.

 

So what will I discuss?

I will discuss industry trends that are backed by Network Trends Now survey data. In addition, I have been told that interpretation of trends and events is quite valuable.My contacts may help your firm develop a new alliance for capabilites that can lead to mergers or other positive developments.

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