LOUISVILLE, Ky., March 13, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Executives from a dozen or more Kentucky public companies will be meeting professional investors and analysts to discuss corporate performance and future prospects at the fifth INVESTKentucky Equity Conference, to be held Thursday, June 6, at Churchill Downs.
The biennial event will feature presentations from many of Kentucky's largest public companies, including food service companies Texas Roadhouse, Inc. (8th largest based on market capitalization) and Papa John's International, Inc. (9th largest). Ashland, Inc., (4th largest), a specialty chemical company based in Covington, and Café Press, Louisville, are making their first appearance at the equity conference.
A total of 12-14 Kentucky-based public companies are expected to participate. The company lineup is comprised of the banking/finance, entertainment, e-commerce, healthcare, specialty chemicals, energy delivery and food service industries.
"As it has done since 2004, INVESTKentucky provides a forum for institutional investors, fund managers and investment and finance professionals to meet the leaders of Kentucky's top public companies and learn what makes these companies tick," said Terry McWilliams, chairman of the conference and president of Mozaic Investor Relations, Inc.
"For the companies, it represents an ideal opportunity to detail their growth strategies and reach new investors," McWilliams said.
The conference features formal 35-minute company presentations and separate meetings with individual analysts and investors. To kick off the event, a keynote speaker discusses current investment and financial trends relevant to Kentucky companies and the economy. During the afternoon, attendees enjoy racing and refreshments from suites high above the track.
Investment professionals who direct or advise pension and mutual funds, equity stock portfolios, family offices, and institutional investment, along with analysts who rate or follow Kentucky public companies and their industries, can attend at no cost. Members of CFA Society of Louisville and the Louisville chapter of Financial Executives International, and full time investment professionals can also attend at no charge. Admission, continental breakfast, lunch, presentation sessions and afternoon activities are underwritten by the conference presenters and its sponsors.
"As the region's pre-eminent investment firm since 1854, Hilliard Lyons is pleased to be the lead sponsor in bringing this showcase event to Louisville and highlighting the public companies based in our state that have a regional, national and international reach," said Jim Allen, CEO of Hilliard Lyons.
The professional services firms Crowe Horwath LLP and Frost Brown Todd LLC are INVESTKentucky platinum sponsors.
"Crowe Horwath provides audit, tax, risk, advisory and performance services to public companies throughout Kentucky, so we certainly understand the importance of consistent communication between companies and investors," said Sanford Fleck, a Director for Crowe Horwath's Kentucky practice. "INVESTKentucky always provides great information that we use to provide our public company clients with an even better client experience."
"INVESTKentucky has been an excellent platform for our public company clients to engage the investment community on a more in-depth level. We are pleased to support the program in Kentucky and surrounding states," said John R. Crockett III, Chairman, Frost Brown Todd LLC, a law firm serving public and private companies throughout the region.
The one-day event is also supported by the CFA Society of Louisville and the Financial Executives International chapter in Louisville, both of which are organizing sponsors of the event.
The professional groups join other corporate and business professionals on an INVESTKentucky steering committee overseeing the event's planning and execution. Gold sponsors are NASDAQ OMX, Hays Companies, RR Donnelley, the Wall Street Transcript, and educational partner, the University of Louisville College of Business. Contributing Gold sponsors include media partner Business First, mergermarket, Ingrid Design, O'Neil Arnold Photography, Vivid Impact Printing and Wall Street Calendar.
Live webcasts of various conference presentations can be accessed through www.investky.com.
The corporate presentation schedule, keynote speakers and other activities will be announced as the event approaches.
Current List of Participating Companies (all are based in Louisville, unless otherwise noted. Market capitalization as of March 12.)
Ashland, Inc., Covington, (NYSE:ASH), $6.43 billion.
CaféPress Inc. (Nasdaq:PRSS), $123 million.
Churchill Downs Incorporated (Nasdaq:CHDN), $1.12 billion.
Citizens First Bancorp, Bowling Green (Nasdaq:CZFC), $19 million.
Community Trust Bancorp, Inc., Pikeville (Nasdaq:CTBI), $541 million.
Delta Natural Gas Company, Inc., Winchester (Nasdaq:DGAS), $145 million.
HopFed Bancorp, Inc., Hopkinsville (Nasdaq:HFBC), $83 million.
Kindred Healthcare Inc., (NYSE:KND), $591 million.
Papa John's International, Inc. (Nasdaq:PZZA), $1.34 billion.
Republic Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq:RBCAA), $470 million.
S.Y. Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:SYBT), $317 million.
Texas Roadhouse, Inc. (Nasdaq:TXRH), $1.34 billion.
For more information:
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