IRM700 - Introduction to Investor Relations

Outline information
Semester
Schools offering this subject
Last revision date 2024-01-29 00:46:57.062
Last review date 2024-02-05 00:15:02.84

Subject Title
Introduction to Investor Relations

Subject Description
The corporate communications function exists to help organizations establish and sustain the social-political permission they need to continue operating successfully. The function accomplishes this by developing and executing communications programs that help the organization maintain a constructive dialogue and relationship with its major stakeholders. One of the most important of these stakeholders is investors, both current and potential.

Publicly listed corporations have an obligation to engage in regular, transparent communications with the institutional and retail investors who trade in its shares and with investors who may be interested in doing so.  The role of these communications is to ensure that information about the corporation's market and financial performance and its plans and programs that may have a material impact on the its investment worthiness is made available in a timely, comprehensible and fulsome manner to the larger community of investors in every jurisdiction in which the corporation's shares are traded.

An understanding of how capital markets work and of the rapidly changing regulations and constraints that stipulate the minimum standards that publicly listed corporations must meet when they communicate with investors is a key responsibility area for the professional IR practitioner.

This course is intended to provide a basic understanding of how capital markets operate in Canada and of the concepts and terminology employed in the day-to-day dialogue between listed corporations and their investors. It explains why this knowledge is important to the IR practitioner. It provides an overview of the basic communications activities listed corporations engage in and the tools they employ to fulfill their investor communications responsibilities. And it introduces students to some of the skills necessary to plan and execute an investor communications program.

Credit Status
1 credit.

Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this subject the student will be able to:

  1. Build a strong relationship between investors and listed corporations using investor relations
  2. Apply a basic knowledge of the structure and function of modern capital markets in their investor relations activities
  3. Influence and manage investor attitudes and behaviour
  4. Apply Canada's regulatory and statutory regulations to a corporation's investor communications
  5. Develop strategies that promote credible working relationships with investors, the financial media and the regulatory bodies that govern capital markets, and incorporate a strong ethical foundation in developing these relationships.

Academic Integrity
Seneca upholds a learning community that values academic integrity, honesty, fairness, trust, respect, responsibility and courage. These values enhance Seneca's commitment to deliver high-quality education and teaching excellence, while supporting a positive learning environment. Ensure that you are aware of Seneca's Academic Integrity Policy which can be found at: http://www.senecapolytechnic.ca/about/policies/academic-integrity-policy.html Review section 2 of the policy for details regarding approaches to supporting integrity. Section 2.3 and Appendix B of the policy describe various sanctions that can be applied, if there is suspected academic misconduct (e.g., contract cheating, cheating, falsification, impersonation or plagiarism).

Please visit the Academic Integrity website http://open2.senecac.on.ca/sites/academic-integrity/for-students to understand and learn more about how to prepare and submit work so that it supports academic integrity, and to avoid academic misconduct.

Discrimination/Harassment
All students and employees have the right to study and work in an environment that is free from discrimination and/or harassment. Language or activities that defeat this objective violate the College Policy on Discrimination/Harassment and shall not be tolerated. Information and assistance are available from the Student Conduct Office at student.conduct@senecapolytechnic.ca.

Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
The College will provide reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities in order to promote academic success. If you require accommodation, contact the Counselling and Accessibility Services Office at ext. 22900 to initiate the process for documenting, assessing and implementing your individual accommodation needs.

Camera Use and Recordings - Synchronous (Live) Classes
Synchronous (live) classes may be delivered in person, in a Flexible Learning space, or online through a Seneca web conferencing platform such as MS Teams or Zoom. Flexible Learning spaces are equipped with cameras, microphones, monitors and speakers that capture and stream instructor and student interactions, providing an in-person experience for students choosing to study online.

Students joining a live class online may be required to have a working camera in order to participate, or for certain activities (e.g. group work, assessments), and high-speed broadband access (e.g. Cable, DSL) is highly recommended. In the event students encounter circumstances that impact their ability to join the platform with their camera on, they should reach out to the professor to discuss. Live classes may be recorded and made available to students to support access to course content and promote student learning and success.

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