Achieving excellence in Europe: IR Magazine Awards – Europe 2013

The leading lights from the European IR community met in London on Thursday for the annual IR Magazine Awards – Europe 2013

Brushing aside strong challenges from compatriots and the rest of Europe alike, the German chemical company BASF triumphed at this year’s IR Magazine Awards – Europe, which took place on June 20 at the Brewery in London.

BASF, which relinquished its crown to Allianz in 2012, retained pole position in the IR Magazine Euro Top 100 rankings this year. In addition, the IR department won the best corporate literature award for the third year running, scooped the best in sector for chemicals/specialty chemicals for the fourth year in succession, won the best use of technology for IR and, last but not least, won the best-in-country award in a particularly strong German field.

Other notable winners in the large-cap category include Oliver Stratmann, IRO at second–placed Lanxess, who collected the award for best IRO; Sanofi’s Chris Viehbacher, who won best IR by a CEO; and Simon Henry, CFO of Royal Dutch Shell.

Portugal Telecom rose 32 places to rank 26th in the IR Magazine Euro Top 100, scooping the coveted grand prix for best overall investor relations by a mid-cap company and the award for best in sector – telecoms. Lyndsay Wright capped a fruitful five years at William Hill, taking home the award for best IRO in the small and mid-cap category.

In the small-cap category, the Italian online clothing retailer Yoox Group claimed the grand prix for best overall investor relations program, climbing an impressive 295 places to finish in joint 114th place.

As the list of winners over the next few pages reveals, six new entrants within the Euro Top 10 signal a year of change. In addition, it has been a particularly strong year for German companies, whose six pan-European awards suggest they are now serving as the benchmark in IR practice for the rest of the continent.

The winners

Best corporate literature
BASF

Best use of technology for investor relations
BASF

Best corporate governance & disclosure
Novo Nordisk

Best sustainability practice
EDP – Energias de Portugal

Best analyst/investor meetings
Bayer

Best investor relations for an IPO
Ziggo

Best investor relations during a corporate transaction
The Linde Group

Best crisis communications
Repsol

Best investor relations by a CFO – large cap
Simon Henry, Royal Dutch Shell

Best investor relations by a CFO – small & mid-cap
Clive Watson, Spectris

Best investor relations by a CEO – large cap
Chris Viehbacher, Sanofi

Best investor relations by a CEO – small & mid-cap
Thierry Le Hénaff, Arkema

Best investor relations officer – large cap
Oliver Stratmann, Lanxess

Best investor relations officer – small & mid-cap
Lyndsay Wright, William Hill

Grand prix for best overall investor relations – large cap
BASF

Grand prix for best overall investor relations – mid-cap
Portugal Telecom

Grand prix for best overall investor relations – small cap
Yoox Group

Country Awards

Best investor relations by country

Austria
Erste Group Bank

Belgium & Luxembourg
Solvay

Czech Republic
ČEZ Group

Denmark
Novo Nordisk

Finland
Kone

France
Sanofi

Germany
BASF

Greece
Coca-Cola HBC

Hungary
MOL

Ireland
Kerry Group

Italy
Intesa Sanpaolo

Netherlands
ASML

Norway
Yara International

Poland
PKN Orlen

Portugal
EDP – Energias de Portugal

Russia
Mobile TeleSystems

Spain
Amadeus IT Holding

Sweden
Swedbank

Switzerland
Roche

Turkey
Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri

UK
Unilever

Sector Awards

Aerospace & defense
EADS

Alternative energy
Outotec

Automobiles & parts
Continental

Banks & financial services
BNP Paribas

Chemicals/specialty chemicals
BASF

Construction & materials
YIT Corporation

Diversified industrials/industrial machinery
KONE

Food & beverages/tobacco
Unilever

Forestry & paper
Stora Enso

Healthcare/pharmaceuticals & biotech
Novo Nordisk

Insurance
Allianz

Media
Wolters Kluwer

Metals/mining/steel
Rio Tinto

Oil & gas
Repsol

Personal care & household/luxury goods
adidas

Real estate
Great Portland Estates

Retail
Jerónimo Martins

Support services/business services
Randstad Holding

Technology hardware & equipment/electronics
ASML

Technology software & services
Amadeus IT Holding