CIRI BC Chapter Update
Geoff Castle, Manager, Group Investments with Kestrel Holdings Ltd., educated and entertained attendees at CIRI BC’s first event of the 2013 fall programming season. Focusing on diversifying the shareholder base through identifying and reaching out to private equity managers, Castle provided a thoughtful and thorough approach for IROs.
As IROs targeting this highly sophisticated group of investors, we need to understand that private equity investors are different. Often they are willing to accept a higher degree of risk and have longer than typical timelines in exchange for higher expected returns.
In order to interest private equity, know your targets and appeal to them on their terms. Is the opportunity you present consistent with the targets’ underlying strategy and investment ‘comfort zone’? Do you have a relationship with a broker or other individual with whom a targeted investor has a close relationship?
Know that finding and closing a deal with private equity investors takes considerable planning and strategy from the company’s Board of Directors, management and IRO. IROs should do their research to ensure the best chance for success.
CIRI Alberta Chapter Update
We are full swing into programming for the 2013-2014 season. In October, Todd Hirsch, Chief Economist at ATB Financial, delivered an engaging seminar that included a discussion of local, national and global economies and his thoughts on what is next for the capital markets.
Later in the month, CIRI Alberta hosted a Mentorship Breakfast Fireside Chat – with David Carey, Senior Vice President, Capital Markets with ARC Resources. This complimentary members-only event provided CIRI Alberta members the opportunity to openly discuss topics of interest and career planning with an experienced investor relations officer.
On November 14, CIRI Alberta is hosting an interactive lunch seminar entitled Shareholder Outreach – Are You Hitting the Target? Attendees will discover how to improve their targeting efforts and learn best practices for non-deal roadshows in today’s changing markets. Please join two experienced IR professionals, as well as a former buy-side investor who has launched an innovative online service called “Meetyl”, aimed at changing the way IROs find institutional investors. The speakers are: Dean Morrison, Director, Investor Relations, Vermilion Energy; Susan Soprovich, Principal, Phoenix Strategies; and Jeffrey Tha, CEO & Co-founder, Meetyl Inc.
Also, if you haven’t already, please mark your calendars for our popular Holiday Event on Thursday, December 5 at Centini’s restaurant. Stay tuned for more details.
CIRI Ontario Chapter Update
In October, CIRI Ontario hosted two successful events – the 2013 Fall Mentorship Breakfast and On the Road: Targeting, Measuring and Best Practices. Thanks to our presenters for leading such great events, and to our attendees for your participation.
CIRI Ontario’s 2013 Holiday Gala is taking place on November 21. The CIRI Ontario Board is currently planning a fun and elegant night at Eight Wine Bar at the upscale Cosmopolitan Hotel in Toronto.
Come raise a glass with your CIRI colleagues, meet old and new friends, and embrace the spirit of the season. Purchase one ticket for $30, two tickets for $50, or three tickets for $70. Each ticket includes one complimentary drink ticket and complimentary wine tasting, with expert sommeliers available to answer any questions.
On November 26, CIRI Ontario is presenting View from the Sell Side. Get the inside track on how the sell-side works, and what you can do to help your company stand out and build strong relationships. For more details on CIRI Ontario events, visit ciri.org/education/events/calendar.aspx.
CIRI Quebec Chapter Update
The Quebec Chapter held its first event of the season, focusing on AGM Trends. The sold-out event in September featured a panel of speakers and addressed several interesting issues related to different aspects of the AGM, such as how AGMs can be used to better communicate with the right shareholders and whether AGMs are as important today as in previous years. With a tremendous breadth of knowledge to share, the panelists held a lively and very interactive session with attendees from many companies, both large and small.
The Quebec Chapter’s next event is on the topic of Shareholder Activism and will feature two experts on the subject: William Orr, Partner, Fasken Martineau and Glenn Keeling, Executive Vice President, CST Phoenix Advisors. With the increasing notion that investors are working to influence the running of the companies in which they invest, primarily through the casting of shareholder votes, shareholder activism has been on the rise. Our guest speakers will share their experiences in this important area.