OUR APPROACH

At CMB, we're passionate about investor relations. We are experts on improving the valuation of companies.  Our focus on value means creating, maintaining and enhancing corporate credibility.

Our approach in working with clients is to understand your top three challenges, and then draw on over 20 years of experience working with over 200 companies, to help you develop and implement solutions that drive results to help you succeed in your career and achieve your company's objectives more efficiently.

Do you want to eliminate stress?

'Putting out fires' most of the time, but want to be strategic?

Increase your earnings power?

Achieve C-Suite (CEO & CFO) recognition for your efforts?

Our typical client process begins with a three-step approach:

PHASE #1: PERCEPTION RESEARCH, ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Perception Research

CMB’s relationship with a new client begins with a perception study of how a company is perceived among investors and financial media opinion makers. 

A CMB Perception Study is unique because it includes interviews with senior management AND investors and gives you:

• A direct comparison of management to investor opinions on the same topics and value drivers

• Quantifiable opinions on key topics, strengths, weaknesses, concerns, corporate strategy, and management capability

• A clear illustration of differences of opinions and which disparities negatively impact value

• Ability to identify misunderstandings and communication needs, internally and externally

Perception studies by other firms only include interviews with investors.  A CMB Perception Study focuses on the PERCEPTION GAPS — differences between management responses and those of investors which provide a clear picture of which disparities negatively impact stock value.

Our senior principals have CFO and board-member experience. CMB's intelligence gathering expertise can provide insight into what might be holding your company back from achieving higher valuations.

How over 200 companies have used the findings of our custom Perception Study to compete more effectively for investment money and:

• Support management to understand needs and concerns of investor

• Illuminate and quantify the factors behind a company’s image among investors

• Support decisions and actions quantitatively

• Enhance message and slide presentation to investors: Identify investors’ ‘keys’ to them investing in your company’s stock

• “Tailor made” investor relations activities based on needs of investors

• Comparative baseline of responses to measure future progress and results / scores to normative data including “best practice” companies, industry peers, and investment peers

• Identify new investor targets: Identify most receptive audiences, their investing characteristics, and most appropriate messages
  

Due Diligence

We also perform due diligence briefings with company spokespersons to understand your company’s vision and investment proposition, and to recommend appropriate activities to match your goals.  How can that message be properly communicated to the capital markets?

Great Ideas and Strategic Insights

CMB’s in-person presentation and report provides each client with the appropriate plan to improve the valuation and create, maintain, and enhance corporate credibility.  We have worked with over 200 clients to grow equity value. 

 
PHASE #2: IMPLEMENTATION

Using the data obtained in Phase # 1 above, we provide hands-on guidance for implementation that will produce the desired results. 

PHASE #3: ONGOING GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT

We are available to provide ongoing guidance and support to achieve the highest sustainable value for the company’s securities.

TESTIMONIAL

“NiSource was a mid-sized energy company with aggressive plans for its future.  The Company’s stock was perceived to be undervalued and capital was needed to fund growth. With limited internal resources, we went outside to find a capital markets consulting firm with strong leadership, financial savvy and experienced principals in the utility arena to partner with us in the development of a strategic investor relations program.  Howard and Jeff Christensen’s firm was selected because they were among the innovative leaders in the energy industry. 

We began with an in-depth perception study, which identified strengths, issues and opportunities.  The results of the study then allowed us to define action plans to attract long-term and supportive institutional and retail investors. 

Following the initiatives suggested, NiSource has now progressed from being little-known in the marketplace to being recognized as the 3^rd largest gas distribution company in the US. with a market cap of over $6.5 billion.”