IR Leader
May 12, 2020

An Important Message for CIRI Members. Proxy Materials Coming Tomorrow.

The first virtual Annual General Meeting of the members of CIRI will be held on Monday, June 8, 2020.

All members are encouraged to attend the virtual Meeting. Even if you are attending, we encourage all members to vote their proxy as soon as possible. All members are entitled to vote at the Meeting in person or by proxy. You can return your proxy by email to proxies@ciri.org before 5:00 p.m. (ET) on Friday, June 5, 2020.

Annual General Meeting documents will be provided to all members on Wednesday, May 13, 2020.

These member-only documents will be available at CIRI.org. (You must be logged in using your CIRI username and password to access them.)

Please remember, YOUR VOICE COUNTS, so vote your proxy as soon as possible.

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Introducing CIRI Connect: A Virtual Discussion Among Members

Community is important to an IRO. Often times, IR departments are small and IROs can benefit from connecting with one another to share experiences and get advice. This has become even more important as we continue with social distancing. 

Join us every other Wednesday, beginning May 13, for an informal virtual discussion among peers – old and new – to share war stories, brainstorm solutions and know that you’re not in this alone.

Click here for more details.
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Top Stories

COVID-19 and Corporate Governance: Leading Proxy Advisors Weigh In

In light of COVID-19 and the impact it is having on how companies conduct business, the two leading proxy advisors have provided guidance in relation to the pandemic.

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Comments on Public Company Disclosure Considerations and Shareholder Engagement/Virtual Shareholder Meetings in the Covid-19 Pandemic Context

The purpose of this letter is to provide perspectives on topics to be discussed at the May 4, 2020, Investor Advisory Committee (IAC) meeting concerning public company disclosure and shareholder engagement and virtual shareholder meetings in the context of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

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Canadian Securities Regulators Provide Temporary Relief to Public Companies with Delayed Annual Meetings due to COVID-19

The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) announced today it is providing public companies with temporary blanket relief from certain filing and delivery requirements, which are generally tied to the sending of materials for annual general meetings (AGMs).

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Earnings Calls in the Age of COVID-19: Proceed with Caution

Canadian public issuers are grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications for earnings calls and disclosure. This bulletin highlights certain considerations for earnings calls that prudent management teams of Canadian public issuers should bear in mind as they navigate the next several quarters, which will be far from the norm and subject to higher scrutiny.

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The Impact of COVID-19 on Corporate Reporting

As the novel coronavirus pandemic continues to expand across the globe, it is taking an unprecedented toll on businesses of all stripes. The outbreak coincides with companies’ annual general meeting (AGM) season and the accompanying legally mandated reporting, adding an additional layer of complexity as companies work to meet their obligations to shareholders under circumstances that challenge many aspects of the process.

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What COVID-19 Has Revealed About Working Remotely

Use these three insights to improve remote work in the wake of the pandemic.

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Securities Regulators Seek Comments on Revised Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Rule

On February 13, 2020, the CSA published a second notice and request for comments (the Second Notice) on a revised version of the proposed NI 52-112 - Non-GAAP and other Financial Measures rule and its companion policy (together, the Proposed Instrument).

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Anatomy of a COVID-19 Risk Factor

The current pandemic is having an impact on public companies’ current and future financial results, operations and cash flows, as well as the price or value of their securities in the capital markets, leaving many companies asking how to appropriately provide disclosure of the risks associated with COVID-19.

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How To Pull Off Your Virtual Earnings Call

Use technology, planning and practice to make your announcement run smoothly.

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Managing Through COVID-19: Six Imperatives for CFOs

CFOs must consider what needs to change in how a company operates and what opportunities can be seized during this time.

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COVID-19: Some Novel Advice to the Board

In most corporate environments, directors understand that the role of the board is one of oversight. For years, they have heard the governance advice captured by "nose in, fingers out" (NIFO). However, the current COVID-19 pandemic has many directors wondering about how best to discharge their fiduciary duty - to act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interest of the corporation - and their duty of care - to exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances.

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Pandemic Highlights ESG Importance, S&P Global Ratings Says

Report offers support for companies that have stakeholder-focused governance.

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2020 Virtual AGM Proxy Season : Key Takeaways to Date

With the 2020 proxy season well underway, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many issuers to consider changing their annual shareholders' meeting format from a customary in-person meeting to a virtual setting. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, specifically between March 1, 2020 and April 14, 2020, we monitored issuers listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V) with regards to their 2020 annual shareholders' meetings.

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ESG and Covid-19: Four Market Trends

Social issues move front and centre as ESG funds prove their mettle.

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