NEW YORK – July 14, 2020 – ICR has retained its ranking as the #2 global investor relations advisor to companies defending against activist investors, according to Bloomberg’s recently released H1 2020 Global Activism Market Review. Previously named the #2 global shareholder activism defense IR advisor in Bloomberg’s 2019 Global Activism Market review, ICR continues to be one of the most called upon firms to advise public companies on public and private shareholder activism issues and campaigns.
Phil Denning, Partner at ICR and Head of ICR’s Special Situations Group, noted, “While shareholder activism had a down year due to COVID-19 related market volatility, our activist defense team advised clients on a wide range of activist issues from experienced to first-time activists. The situations included managing private engagements, responding to public agitation, defending against a consent solicitation, short-slate and control proxy campaigns. We are proud of the deep and experienced activist defense team we have built, the trust and confidence of our clients, and the support of the other advisors that refer ICR to their clients when facing shareholder-related issues.”
“As large index funds comprise a significant voting block of most public companies, often constituting the swing vote that could determine the outcome of a proxy fight, activists have centrally premised their campaigns on the Boards’ lack of accountability to these large shareholders,” added Lyndon Park, Head of ICR Governance Solutions. “Activists this proxy season used COVID-19, subpar human capital management and other ESG-based attacks to both complement their business-related goals and appeal to large passive investors.”
“ICR’s integrated public relations and investor relations approach to shareholder activism defense improves outcomes not only for the clients that they serve in a proxy fight, but for all of our clients,” said Tom Ryan, Chief Executive Officer of ICR. “Our activist defense team actively screens all ICR clients to assess their vulnerabilities, allowing our IR teams to flag potential issues in advance of a public attack and enabling our clients to prepare an appropriate response and proactively take corrective actions before an activist goes public. Preemptive, preventative work is even more important during this time of uncertainty and market volatility, and our team is prepared to guide engagement with critical passive investors, articulate optimal ESG and pandemic-related responses, and implement crisis management plans before they are necessary.”
ICR has advised companies on preparation and defense against activist investors on hundreds of campaigns over the past decade. Please see the attached chart for the full list of Bloomberg’s shareholder activism investor relations advisory ranking.
About ICR
Established in 1998, ICR partners with its clients to execute strategic communications and advisory programs that achieve business goals, build awareness and credibility, and enhance long-term enterprise value. The firm’s highly-differentiated service model, which pairs capital markets veterans with senior communications professionals, brings deep sector knowledge and relationships to more than 750 clients in approximately 20 industries. ICR’s healthcare practice operates under the Westwicke brand (www.westwicke.com). Today, ICR is one of the largest and most experienced independent communications and advisory firms in North America, maintaining offices in New York, Norwalk, Boston, Baltimore, San Francisco, San Diego and Beijing. Learn more at www.icrinc.com. Follow us on Twitter at @ICRPR.
Contact:
Brian Ruby, ICR, 203-682-8268, brian.ruby@icrinc.com
