It’s an interesting year for investor communications professionals as they look at different options for their annual report. The last couple of years have seen companies testing the waters of Notice & Access and looking at different formats and mediums of communicating with their investor base. Most decisions are based on ways to save costs as well as initiatives in place to showcase corporate and social responsibility. Many companies didn’t want to be the first to try new approaches but this year more than ever we are seeing our clients finally spread their wings and venture into new territories of the annual report landscape.

Mentus recently hosted an online annual report event to discuss the different approaches to taking your annual report online.  Some of our clients produced solely an online annual report while others did a combination of print and online.  The decision was based not only on the objectives of the senior management but more importantly the percentage of institutional vs. retail investors. Those companies with a large institutional shareholder base do not necessarily need a print version and are seeing real value in the online annual report.  A number of companies still want their shareholders to receive some type of printed piece so they are considering printing a more environmentally friendly annual report with a complementary online version. Of course, there are still those companies who will continue to produce only a print version but with print you can’t take advantage of the interactive components that can add real value like videos, Flash animation and downloadable financial information.

Each company has to decide what is the right vehicle to tell their story and there are many more choices than there used to be.  Start the brainstorming process early, involve your agency and don’t forget to ask questions along the way.