Investing in Investor Relations An information website for the IR field in Israel

A public company uses investor relations activities to provide regular information to market players, analysts and investors. IR activity makes it possible to convey the company’s story with reference to competitors, the market and the business environment. IR also provides pertinent information on the company's performance, financial statements and future plans, thus boosting coverage of the company.

IR activity includes:

disseminating information about the company; designing and formulating presentations and company messages that target the capital market; locating and creating relationships with potential investors; initiating personal meetings and ongoing conference calls with investors and analysts; organizing investor conferences; regularly updating the IR website and other digital platforms, and regularly promoting company-related events and announcements, financial statements, etc.

The company can promote IR activities in several ways:

• Recruiting a company employee as Investor Relations Officer (IRO) to oversee the company’s IR activities. The IRO will represent the company in the capital market and maintain regular contact with investors interested in the sector in which the company operates. The IRO should be aware of issues on the company’s agenda, as well as major events in the capital market and economy that could affect the company and its results. The IRO enjoys direct access to the company’s Chairman, CEO and VP Finance, thus assuring uniformity and consistency of company messages to the capital market.
• Employing an external IR company to represent the company in the capital market and allowing it to manage and implement the company’s IR activities.
  An external IR company has the advantage of intimate familiarity and experience with players in the capital market and its real-time updates on mailing list market changes (such as analysts moving from one organization to another), in addition to its previous experience in grappling with a variety of circumstances. An IR company also organizes meetings with investors, and assists in preparing relevant materials for investors and reinforces personal relationships with them.
• A combination of an Internal and external IR, employee from the financial or marketing department (depending on the organization’s structure and strategy) and an external IR company or consultant. This option combines the advantages of an external company with those of an internal employee.

The goal of PR is increasing public awareness of the company and its products through the media. IR activity focuses on increasing the company’s exposure to investors, investment managers and analysts, so as attract new investors and increase liquidity of the company’s securities.

IR strategies and operating methods differ from PR activity; still, PR is part of the IR toolbox and is included in the service package offered by investor relations companies.

Regular IR activity is unquestionably more advantageous than specific IR. Just as regular marketing of company products to customers is highly advisable, so too is such marketing to investors. IR activity enables investors to gradually gain familiarity with the company and provides information and explanations regarding company-related events. Furthermore, regular IR activity is extremely valuable in times of crisis. It enables the company to prepare for any scenario and deliver a swift response when necessary. Thus a company can respond immediately and effectively to a crisis, rather than waiting for it to deteriorate and complicate matters prior to recovering and reestablishing stable IR activities.

Furthermore, ongoing activity with existing and potential investors reinforces their trust (as well as that of the entire capital market) in the company, its vision and executives. Optimally-managed IR aids in recruiting additional investors and maintaining a share price that reflects the company’s business.

A website is fundamental to start with IR activities. Specifically, an IR website showcases the company to the capital market, communicates the company story, and introduces company figures, products, financial statements and strategy. The website is the company's prime arena for relating its story and serves as the first point of contact for analysts, investors, and other interested parties.

An IR website usually offers many advantages, especially for relatively small companies, because those companies have comparatively few direct communications with the capital market and lack exposure to new investors. Analysts coverage very few companies outside the leading indices. For the relatively small companies, an IR website serves as the company's business card and portal for financial information and reports. Therefore, an IR website is a vital first step in expanding the company's circle of investors.

Numerous companies maintain IR websites as part of the accepted standard in leading exchanges throughout the world. Companies that wish to be exposed to international investors also need an English language website that includes regular reports and financial statements.
In summary, an IR website that includes ongoing, accessible information in Hebrew and English increases company exposure and aids recruitment of new investors while maintaining existing ones. The website, however, must be frequently updated. A website alone is not enough for promoting efficient IR activity, and there must be additional IR elements to achieve broader exposure and establish a relationship of trust with the capital market.

While it is true that the market is small and that its players are more intimately familiar with each other, it is crucial to remember one point: the quantity of resources and attention that can be devoted to your company by analysts, investors, capital market entities, and institutional investors is finite. Naturally, the more available and accessible the information, the simpler and swifter the company's task of winning over potential investors. Therefore, even if you are acquainted with capital market players, effective and sound IR activity will focus more attention on your company.

TASE believes it is highly important to develop investor relations and create tools for enhancing transparency of companies listed on the exchange, including their corporate conduct. The goal is to expose the companies’ potential economic value to investors and assist companies in making their information more accessible. Thus, they will be able to recruit additional investors and increase liquidity of their shares. Such activity assists in the fair pricing of a security's value and increases negotiability and liquidity of company shares.

Furthermore, TASE has initiated an analysis program that has operated successfully over the past two years. Its goal is to suitably price technology and biomed companies and increase investors' knowledge about this sector and remove blocks to their understanding.
You can learn about the program here

TASE is working to promote the field of investor relations in Israel and has publically appealed for digital IR solutions. The development of digital resources together with the changes in how information is consumed and transferred in Israel and abroad, has created an opportunity for companies to develop their IR activity—using proven effective, convenient, and advanced means requiring only a reasonable investment of time and resources. From all the proposals received, we have chosen to present you with variety of proposals and prices. We hope that the variety of proposals will refer you to the services most suited to your needs. Nevertheless, you should contact and engage with the companies directly. In all cases, TASE shall not constitute a party to any such engagement.