PIMFA in new partnership to boost investor engagement with listed firms

PIMFA, the trade association for the Personal Investment and Financial Advice industry, has announced a strategic partnership with Investor Meet Company (IMC) as part of its PIMFA Plus initiative to increase investor engagement with listed companies.
Launched at the PIMFA Annual Summit, the IMC platform provides the personal investment community and their clients with a free integrated digital solution to meet the evolving needs of individual investors, and for the first time levelling the playing field between individual and institutional investors.
Through direct access to UK Listed companies via live, interactive management presentations around announcements, individual investors now can become part of the investor roadshow, empowering them to make more informed investment decisions.
Our profession is keen to ensure that private investors feel engaged in the companies they own and through our collaboration with Investor Meet Company our members and their clients, can now benefit from an integrated solution that can provide direct engagement with UK Listed Companies.”
Research has shown that 92% of institutional investors found meeting a company ‘as important or critical to their investment process. Both IMC and PIMFA believe that all individual investors, and the firms that invest on their behalf, should have the same opportunity to access company management, regardless of the number of shares they own or where they are located.
The partnership also offers investment firms the opportunity to directly engage and demonstrate how they conduct a dialogue with the companies they invest in on behalf of their clients - as required by the FCA CP19/7 (Improving shareholder engagement and increasing transparency around stewardship).
PIMFA chief executive Liz Field, said: "An important part of our mission is to create the best possible environment so that our member firms can focus on delivering the highest service to clients, and we have been long-time campaigners for the growth of retail participation in shareholding and the need to build a UK culture of saving and investment."
She continued, "Our profession is keen to ensure that private investors feel engaged in the companies they own and through our collaboration with Investor Meet Company our members and their clients, can now benefit from an integrated solution that can provide direct engagement with UK Listed Companies."
Marc Downes, CEO of Investor Meet Company, added: "IMC's technology redefines the way individual investors and companies can engage. We believe that all investors should be treated fairly, equally and on a non-discriminatory basis. By providing all investors the same opportunity to get the clarity they need to make a more informed decision, we will enhance trust, confidence and transparency in the market.
Through our partnership with PIMFA who represent over 200 wealth managers we hope that all wealth mangers from the largest to the smallest, will see the benefits of providing their clients a free integrated engagement solution."
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