WESTPORT, Conn., July 6, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Amidst a standing-room-only banquet hall at The Roosevelt Hotel in New York City, Rivel Research Group President Brian Rivel announced, "According to our most recent study, investor relations continues to exert significant and measurable influence on a company's valuation." Rivel went on to engage the packed audience in a spirited discussion over what constitutes superb and poor IR, what management needs to consider when allocating time and resources to investor relations departments and guidelines for dealing with the rise of social media.
In its second biannual Intelligence Council Conference held on June 29, 2010 in Midtown Manhattan, Rivel Research Group hosted a group of senior investor relations professionals and a set of five buy-side panelists from top investment firms. The conference covered the most important trends in investor communications today and the implications they have on IR's mandate. Topics included social media's role in investor communications, proxy access and shareholder activism as well as best practices for investor days.
"We felt that following the downturn of 2008 to 2009, investor relations professionals probably feel a little battered, and thus could use some tactical information that they could take home and implement right away," said Rivel, who kicked off the day's events. "We are very pleased with the turnout, and more importantly, just how engaged everyone was. The audience was a very senior-level group, but you could tell they all strive to improve their practice and learn the best way to do things tactically, especially as we slowly turn the corner on the macroeconomic front."
Highlights from the conference included:
- The distinguishing aspects of a top-notch investor relations program and the premium or discount assigned a company's stock depending on evaluations of the IR function
- The capital deployment initiative most favored by the buy-side
- The most important drivers of investment decisions today and going forward
- Elements that make an investor day a success in the eyes of the buy-side and senior-level IROs
- Current trends in social media's use in investor communications
In addition, the day was highlighted by insights derived from a distinguished buy-side panel, offering attendees the opportunity to discuss the buy-side's views on investor days, proxy issues and shareholder activism, and the use of social media for research purposes. Panelists included: John Barr of Needham & Company, Michael Dion of UBS, Rasmus Gerdeman of Neuberger Berman, Alexandre Rafal of Maverick Capital and Kenneth Zuckerberg of Carlan Advisors.
"With insight coming from the buy-side, peer IROs and Rivel's own research on the present state of investor communications, the information gleaned from this event was invaluable to IR professionals dealing with heightened demand for company and industry data in such a fluid market environment. It was great to see such widespread attendance and participation from IROs of large and small companies in a variety of sectors. It really goes to show you, IR matters," Rivel said.
The conference provided Rivel Research Group with a mandate to leverage the Intelligence Council and further explore several areas of interest to investor relations professionals. For its next conference in early December, Rivel endeavors to update trends in social media, earnings calls best practices, international roadshows, IR compensation and budget, crisis management and its new program Rivel 5.0, which recognizes excellence in investor communications.
For a summary of the event's discussions or for information about Rivel's Intelligence Council, please contact Barbara Sullivan, Director of Marketing, at (203) 635-4383 or bsullivan@rivel.com.
About Rivel Research Group
Rivel Research Group specializes in delivering actionable insight based on in-depth measurements of the global investment community. Gathering, analyzing and interpreting investment community feedback is our only business. Rivel's highly experienced staff provides the well-informed, unbiased and strategically relevant intelligence companies need to effectively communicate with such important constituencies as sell-side analysts, buy-side analysts, portfolio managers, the financial media and other influential audiences. The comprehensive information that Rivel supplies enables companies to evaluate performance, formulate strategy and identify opportunities to achieve corporate objectives directed toward these groups. Additional information concerning Rivel is available on its website at www.rivel.com
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About the Intelligence Council
Rivel's Intelligence Council is the only program of its kind to offer peer insight combined with buy-side/sell-side analysis at an affordable price point. The program offers a unique blend of investor relations best practices. The council offers its members a platform from which their topical questions can be addressed within a secure and, if required, anonymous format while simultaneously providing guidance on critical longer-term objectives.