News
Investor Relations Society (IR Society) Chairman, Richard Davies, launched the Society's ‘Guidance for Investor Relations Practitioners on the UK Corporate Governance Code' at the Society's Annual General Meeting last night.
This launch ties in with the IR Society's 30th anniversary year and is its response to the FRC's Governance Code, being designed to show how investor engagement should work in practice.
Speaking at the AGM hosted by Citi Depositary Receipt Services in London, Davies said:
"As the conduit between issuers and investors, the Society has developed guidance for investor relations practitioners on the UK Governance Code".
"It is vitally important that IR is seen to be at the heart of companies' strategic decision making and influencing Board policy; after all it is the IR practitioners who are tasked with explaining often complex and controversial Board decisions to investors".
Corporate governance has been a major source of debate and contention following the financial crisis amidst criticism that many leading companies did not operate proper checks and balances. With investors more inclined to take ownership of their invested companies - as we have seen with the recent refusal of Prudential institutional investors to back the AIA takeover - IR professionals will increasingly need to operate at the forefront on crucial corporate governance issues.
The Investor Relations Society represents the voice of the issuer in the UK and aims to be the focal point for investor relations practice and IR professionals, and to promote best practice in investor relations generally.
To receive a copy of the guide contact richard.knight@irs.org.uk
Investor Relations Society contacts:
Michael Mitchell -
General Manager 020 7379 1763
Richard Davies -
Chairman 020 7492 0501
Notes for editors.
The Investor Relations Society represents members working for public companies and consultancies to assist them in the development of effective two way communication with the markets and to create a level playing field for all investors. It has nearly 600 members drawn both from the UK and overseas, including the majority of the FTSE 100 and much of the FTSE 250.
Copies of the Guide are available from the Investor Relations Society or on the Society's website; www.irs.org.uk
Published: 16 June, 2010