投資者關係網站如何使投資者和公衆受惠？

How Investor Relations Website can benefit investors and public listed companies?

Investor Relations (IR) website provides latest investment information of a particular public listed company through its corporate website. IR websites have been gaining significance especially with the growing popularity of the use of internet among investors. Corporate IR Website is even considered a “Must Have” item especially for the public listed companies (PLCs) targeted by knowledgeable investors.

Why IR Website is so important for the corporate and investors? The answers are indeed laid on the needs of the investors. Genuine investors, who normally assess and track their targeted PLCs, find that IR Website is one of the most important channels to access the latest corporate information. Through proper managed IR Website, the investors will be able to gauge the PLC’s grade (whether it is a good company with good fundamental backed up by professional and responsible management).

With good IR practice, PLCs that are professional, responsible and transparent, with strong foundation, are most likely to garner the attention and receive higher valuation compared to those who are not. With strong support from the investors (both institutional and retail), the company shares will be highly sought after.

Another justification for IR Website is its ability to access a larger group of investors as IR Website is easily accessible, efficient and cost-effective to disseminate information to the investing public. IR Website will be the most cost-effective tool for the global investors to identify and track the local PLCs via the internet. Hence, with the support of larger group of investors, the valuation shall be higher.

Calvert Wong, the managing consultant of WEBSE, which specializes in online IR solution, highlights that IR website is common and important for both the investors and PLCs in US and Europe. The demand for a professional IR website is growing tremendously in Asia especially for countries like Hong Kong, China and Singapore, which are competing relentlessly to attract global investors. Malaysia is playing catch up in this due to the pressure of globalization and needs for more foreign investments. “Indeed, there are many areas that can be improved in online IR for Malaysian PLCs to compete in global investment platform. Only less than 5% of Malaysian PLCs have adopted good IR website.” says Calvert Wong.

“Most PLCs assume that IR website is just about putting a download version of their annual reports. This is not sufficient to their investors. An efficient IR website should provide better investor services by providing the latest stock quote and analysis, various financial ratios, dividend information, AGM web cast, research coverage, corporate calendar, investors’ alert, investment calculators etc. It shall comprise the most comprehensive investment information and services for the corporate.” says Calvert Wong again.

“From our track record, most of WEBSE’s PLC customers have performed well in terms of equity returns to the investors”, says Francis Chong, the Managing Director of WEBSE. Apart of the good corporate performance, up-to-date and properly managed IR Website has enhanced the company’s visibility and equity to the investing public.