formerly Shareholder Notice & Access Symposium

New regulations are combining with political and popular pressure to change the face of shareholder communications today. For example:

• The SEC has just eliminated NYSE Rule 452, thus ending broker-dealer discretionary authority to vote “uninstructed client shares” in uncontested director elections. This will create new opportunities for proxy solicitors and other organizations providing issuer services because companies now will have to campaign votes they’ve received all but automatically until now.
• This move comes less than eight months after the SEC adopted new Summary Prospectus rules that will become mandatory in January 2010. These changes also are creating opportunities for firms in digital printing and fulfillment, who are working with companies to produce communications that are both compliant and cost effective. Service providers in content management, XBRL, and filing services likewise should be sending thank you notes to the SEC.
• Meanwhile, a recent survey of investor relations professionals indicates that sustainability is not a top (or even third) priority because the economy has everyone focused on cost savings. But shareholders do care about environmental matters, and when the economic dust settles, public companies will be unable to take a mulligan regarding their current approach to the issue. Knowing this, they are now looking for support as they seek to paint their story “green,” and their need is playing directly to your advantage.

Capturing these opportunities means being in the right place at the right time, and the 2009 Shareholder Communications Symposium (SCS) October 6-7 in Chicago gives you both. Attendees there will be looking for support as they seek to comply with the new mandates, and their need plays directly to your advantage.

As an SCS sponsor, you will be able to present information before, during, and after the event and have it be searchable on our online business community SCS-Central.com. SCS is the gathering place for shareholder services professionals across corporate governance, investor relations, proxy solicitation, and corporate communications. Please visit www.insightforums.com/scs2009.php for details.

SCS members interact year-round and will have access to your message in multiple ways:

• On site in Chicago on October 6-7,
• Online at SCS-Central.com, and
• In print through case studies, white papers, partner advertising, and other materials we can help you create and/or distribute.

We can also provide additional marketing support for our sponsors such as the development and hosting of webinars, or the conducting of custom research on shareholder communications. Sponsorships range from as little as $1,500 for a presence at the event to $25,000 for a year of industry marketing support. Email us today at sponsorshipsinsightforums.com to learn more about our flexible packages!