Listed companies admit relations with investors need improvement

Chinese mainland-listed companies have large room for improvement in their investor relations work, with nearly 62 percent surveyed saying they lack experience and professional guidance in the area, according to a newly released report.

More than 50 percent of them believe their investor relations teams were facing some sort of problems, the report shows.

The report on investor relations work among Chinese mainland-listed companies was compiled by Panorama Media with the support of China Securities Investor Services Center, and released in Shenzhen on Wednesday.

It based its findings on survey of 1,862 listed companies on Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges, with the aim of promoting the development of investor relations work and better ensuring rights and interests of investors.

According to the report, 97.37 percent of the listed companies have set up independent investor relations department or have specific people in charge of the work.

However, over 40 percent of them said they were facing various problems, such as a lack of clear responsibility, professional knowledge and talents.

About 67 percent of people who deal with investor relations in the listed companies have three years or more work experience, while 30 percent have one to three years of experience.

“As cooperation among global capital markets deepens and the number of listed companies increases, investor relations management will play an important role in enhancing allocative efficiency of capital markets and creating corporate value,” Liu Wei, deputy general manager of investor education department at Shanghai Stock Exchange, said.

With cloud computing, big data, artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies making a profound impact on capital markets, it is also important for listed companies to integrate high-tech into their investor relations work, he added.

“Listed companies can take full advantage of such technologies as big data and mobile internet to carry out investors research and provide personalized services for them based on their characteristics and needs. This will enhance the efficiency and effect of investor relations work,” he said.