The Chairman of the SET's Capital Market Opportunity Center, Ms. Sopawadee Lertmanaschai announced that investor relations activities are given great important by leading listed companies abroad because it is integral part in upholding the company's good corporate governance practice. In Thailand, understanding of these issues is still limited, partly because of the belief amongst business operators that they generate no tangible benefits for their companies while increasing their operating costs.
"We must admit that investor relations activities are essential to business because they allow both local and foreign investors to receive clear information. This is essential for enhancing investor confidence and strengthening the company in the long-run," Ms. Sopawadee explained. Thailand Investor Relations Club President, Mrs. Kobboon Srichai, revealed that the Investor Relations Club has been established for a little over a year through the collaboration of leading corporations listed on the SET. There are currently 158 members. The objective of the club is to make Thai business operators, especially listed companies, understand and be fully aware of the necessity for investor relations activities. This is especially true for the efficient and transparent dissemination of information to investors. The club's main focus this year will be on the benefits of holding investor relations activities, as well as creating an information exchange network for members of the club.
"With cooperation and support from the SET, this year the club has held several activities for members. The coming event will be a seminar for members and other listed companies on the topic of 'Investor Relations Activities: How They Will Add Value for You' at the Professor Sangvien Indaravijaya Conference Room, Third Floor, the Stock Exchange of Thailand building on Thursday, February 27, from 14.00-16.30. The club has invited two speakers to address the gathering. The first is an expert from Thomson Financial Corporation Group, which specializes in consulting on investor relations activities, and is recognized by investors and leading
companies all over the world as an authority in investor relations consulting. The second speaker is an executive from Siam Cement Plc, which received an award for 'Best Investor Relations by a Thai Company in 2002,' from both IR Magazine and the Asian Wall Street Journal."
"Siam Cement had a reputation for limited dissemination of information to the public before the financial crisis. Why Siam Cement realized the importance and benefits of good investor relation's activities therefore makes a good case study. Moreover, the SET wants to create an awareness of the significance of investor relation's activities for listed companies, and how they must be the responsibility of a corporation's executives. Corporations instituting good investor relations will clearly benefit from them in the longer term. Therefore, this seminar should prove to be a great help for all listed companies," Ms. Sopawadee concluded.
