IROs will gain insights into better decision-making from topical in-person and virtual events this summer
IR Magazine will help IR practitioners get to grips with the repercussions of global disruption on investor relations and the latest developments in the profession in a series of essential, reinvigorated in-person, virtual and hybrid events in 2022.
As the Ukraine crisis unfolds, governments impose sanctions and corporations exit Russia, a recalibration of global supply chains combined with rising inflation, high interest rates and the long shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic mean public companies are looking for guidance on navigating the uncertain environment.
IR Magazine will gather leading IROs, industry experts and members of the investment community to debate the state of the market, its trading volatility and changing investor sentiment as they move toward more defensive options and sectors. Such developments have a huge impact on how IROs manage their investors and C-suites.
Our events will explore what rising inflation – notably in energy prices and supply chains – means for businesses and their IROs. There are IR conversations to be had on the consequences for ESG: our events will ask what ESG looks like when confronted by high energy prices, the need for energy security and the focus on climate among responsible investors – especially when there have been major changes toward the standardization of ESG reporting frameworks. How can IROs not only catch up with changing legislation on ESG reporting but also get ahead?
IR Magazine’s events will also address IR in transition. Can practitioners do more to better service lower-tier investors via the efficiencies of virtual engagement? Questions will be answered on how IROs are rethinking their investor days, whether they can be more efficient with their roadshow schedule and how they can make the most of digital IR to get more and higher-quality information to investors.
Lending an ear ‘Our team spends hundreds of hours talking to IR officers in North America, Europe and Asia to truly understand what is top of mind for them at any given time,’ says Gargi Iyer, managing director of events at IR Magazine. ‘IR is going through a transition period and those who can successfully navigate this uncertainty with agility will emerge stronger in the coming years.’
Iyer says external forces such as inflation and supply-chain disruption are causing investors to rethink their portfolios. Countries and companies are removing restrictions on meetings and ESG compliance is now firmly at the top of everyone’s agenda.
‘These factors have enormous implications for investor targeting, roadshows and messaging – adding to an already full plate,’ she says.
‘An IRO’s role can also be lonely, with team sizes shrinking in some regions. Our events help alleviate some of these pressures by helping IROs meet and learn from the challenges and successes of their peers. Listening to how another head of IR has handled a similar situation can be powerful.’
Asked how IR Magazine’s own post-pandemic events strategy has developed, Iyer says the team now has several different formats to choose from. ‘In-person, hybrid and virtual events all have their merits, and what works best is based on what you hope to achieve during the event,’ she notes. ‘Our think tanks aim to encourage open and honest discussion and are exclusively for heads of IR, so these only take place in person.
‘Our forums are hybrid because we want to share best practices with a wider audience. And our virtual events help us collect insights from attendees in different geographies and feed that back to our audience to help it make better decisions. Essentially, IROs can choose the option that suits them best at any given point.’
Upcoming events IR Magazine and sister publication Corporate Secretary team up to host the virtual ESG Integration Forum – Asia on June 9. The theme of this year’s event is: how to keep your international shareholder base happy.
Among the prolific speakers will be Ralph Dixon, director of environmental investments at YTL Corporation, one of the top 30 companies listed on the Bursa Malaysia. Dixon will discuss how to navigate the changing landscape of ESG across Asia and look at what investors are prioritizing in 2022.
We go from Asia to Europe and from virtual to in person for the next IR Magazine Event in the calendar. The IR Magazine Think Tank – Europe returns on June 23 and will be held at Bank of America’s offices in London. Admission is free but by invitation only and exclusively for senior IR officers as we take a deep dive into the issues most impacting them.
The think tank will alternate between panel presentations and roundtable discussions, starting with panelists looking at the role of public companies in an era of political crisis. Attendees will get the experts’ market outlook amid the uncertainty and hear the best ways to engage with shareholders and manage corporate reputation. Participants get to share their thoughts in the follow-up roundtable discussion about building resilience and communicating in a crisis before relaying the big takeaways to the room.
The think tank concludes and makes way for the IR Magazine Awards – Europe at 8 Northumberland Avenue, London on the evening of June 23. The prestigious awards will be the first opportunity for IR practitioners on the continent to celebrate excellence in person with IR Magazine following the end of pandemic restrictions.
Nominations for self-nominated categories have closed and the esteemed judging panel is making its tough decisions on who will win in 15 award categories. The researched categories have already been decided by an independent survey of portfolio managers, sell-side analysts and buy-side analysts.
Join the glittering gala ceremony to find out who will take home the prizes, including best annual report, best investor event, best ESG materiality reporting, best retail IR strategy, best investor relations officer and best overall investor relations.
The rediscovered excitement of the IR community gathering in celebration continues with the ESG Integration Forum and Awards – Summer in New York on July 14. IR Magazine and Corporate Secretary are back by popular demand to discuss the outcomes of the proxy season and help companies respond to the growing demand for improved ESG practices.
Nominations have also closed for the debut ESG Integration Awards. Judges are now determining who will be hailed in six categories, among them best board oversight of ESG, best ESG communications and best diversity, equity and inclusion.
Looking further ahead in 2022 and after a triumphant in-person return in March, the IR Magazine Think Tank – West Coast II will be back in Palo Alto, California on September 14 to round off the busy summer in style. Stay up to date with the agendas and speaker announcements and book your places at IRmagazine.com.