“Company of the Year” is an award within the Swedish business community that was instituted in 1992 to recognize companies that excel in financial information for the market, media and shareholders.

Investor was awarded the highest number of points in four different categories, based on selected criteria. To decide the winner, Aktiespararen magazine analyzes the quality of annual reports and interim reports released by all companies listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange, while Dagens Industri’s journalists examine the openness and reporting speed of the companies.

Over the past few years, Investor has been focusing on improving its reporting and communications with the media and financial markets.

“We’re extremely pleased to win the award. It is the result of our ongoing work to ensure that Investor’s financial reports are of consistent high quality, comments Investor’s Chief Financial Officer Lars Wedenborn. “It’s important to us that the market values Investor correctly, and the more market players know about us, the better their picture and understanding will be of Investor.”

Explaining value creation is challenging

Reports, for natural reasons, cannot reveal everything about Investor’s business and intentions – some information has to be withheld, such as business secrets or planned strategic investments.

However, since reports are historical descriptions of operations, Investor gladly reports on past events and how the company has acted in certain situations.
 
“We have always followed this practice, although some market players feel that we are more open about our business, compared to before,” comments Lars Wedenborn. “Our biggest challenge is to explain how Investor creates value in its holdings – how we develop companies as active owners.”

Growing international interest in Investor

“As part of the communications process, Investor is very much interested in contacts with market players,” adds Oscar Stege Unger, Investor Relations Manager. “During 2006, we met with approximately 100 foreign investors, mainly from the U.S. and U.K.”

Meetings were also held with Management Group members and investors/analysts/journalists in Stockholm, New York, London, Paris and Oslo.

 “Coverage and reports on Investor were published by more than 12 brokers in 2006. With the sharpened focus on Investor, foreign ownership of our company has also risen,” says Oscar Stege Unger. “To meet the growing international interest in Investor, road shows are already planned for 2007 in London, Zurich, Frankfurt and Paris.”

Altogether each year, Investor makes 10 to 15 company presentations a week, participates in seminars and meets analysts, in Sweden and abroad.

“You can’t cram all information into our reports,” says Oscar Stege Unger. That’s why we are increasing our market communications in step with the growing intensity of Investor’s business activities.”

In the opinion of Aktiespararen magazine and Dagens Industri, Investor succeeded with this in 2006. This is why our company was awarded the title “Company of the Year” on the Stockholm Stock Exchange for 2006.

Information updated 2008-03-28 11:59:57