Q4 Blog

A great post by Hitachi XBRL (one of the leading xbrl groups out there). 

Another example of expanding XBRL beyond financial statements is the work being done by a nonprofit group called the Enhanced Business Reporting Consortium.  The EBRC is attempting to organize a market-based initiative involving the collaboration of companies, investors, and a wide range of intermediaries like sell-side analysts, rating agencies, and accounting firms.  Recently members of this group met with SEC Chairman Christopher Cox to talk about how XBRL could be extended into broader narrative reporting, such as for the MD&A and 10K, and for industry-specific key performance indicators.  

A very rough draft XBRL taxonomy for the Enhanced Business Reporting Framework Version 2.0 has been developed. 

Here at Q4 we’ve been extending and building out our systems and in the coming months we will release the next version of Q4 Web and another exciting Enterprise 2.0 type product. From these you’ll begin to see how we are working to bring the value of structured data like XBRL and now EBR to the world of corporate reporting and disclosure in general.

Technorati Tags: Disclosure, SOX, XBRL, Corporate reporting, Q4 Web Systems, Q4

A study commissioned by Symantec Corp. revealed today that only 10 per cent of executives believe Canadian businesses are fully prepared to conform to Bill 198 and MI 52-109 compliance legislation.

The press release goes on to say that senior compliance professionals from Symantec advise executives to consider the benefits offered by software-based automation tools intended to make financial disclosure less labour intensive and less expensive to prove compliance to auditors and regulators. 

“Meeting first-year Bill 198 deadlines was only half the battle, and, unfortunately, a high level of both inaction and resistance to Bill 198 has forced many Canadian companies into a risky game of procrastination,” said Ed Daugavietis, senior analyst, Info-Tech Research Group. “Rather than wait any longer, Canadian companies would benefit from process automation before manual ones reach the breaking point. We expect to see growing numbers of companies playing ‘catch-up’ as they embrace software automation to bring themselves up to the regulatory benchmark and adjust their processes for greater clarity, transparency and control.”

We are really pleased to see the increasing awareness of both the risk related to C-SOX and the benefits of using our software to automate disclosure. We’re seeing more and more companies realize how software can help them and we’re really pleased to be one of the solutions out there that helps companies improve compliance with Bill 198 and CEO and CFO certification of disclosure controls (MI 52-109)

Technorati Tags: Bill 198, Sarbanes Oxley, MI 52-109, CEO and CFO Certification, SOX 302, SOX 404, Risk Management, Compliance

It’s an exciting time here as we continue to bring on new clients. Recently Newport Partners Income Fund (TSX: NPF.UN) went live with our content management and disclosure automation solutions. Using our solutions will help them to improve compliance with Bill 198 and their CEO and CFO certification of disclosure controls and procedures.

Newport invests in the private business asset class. Newport’s objective is to make long-term equity investments in leading private businesses that have a track record of strong earnings and potential for future growth. Newport’s portfolio currently consists of 17 high-quality businesses representing a diverse cross-section of the Canadian economy. www.newportpartners.ca

Technorati Tags: Bill 198, Q4 Web Systems, Newport Partners, CEO/CFO Certification, Regulation

Yesterday we had a chance to visit with a couple of our new and prospective clients at the PDAC show in Toronto yesterday. PDAC is the largest mining show in the world and brings people from all around the world. It’s a massive event with roughly 18,000 delegates and virtually every mining company you can think of.  No wonder the event goes for 3 ½  days, you’d need that just to be able to walk the floor!

Technorati Tags: PDAC, Investor Relations, Q4 Web Systems, Q4

Congratulations to all of the IR Magazine Canada Awards winners! The awards were held last Thursday. We were pleased to present the Lifetime Achievement award to Ron Blunn’s two sons. It was a privledge to present such a special award.

Best investor relations by a TSX Venture Exchange company
Shift Networks Inc

Best investor relations for an IPO
Tim Hortons

Best investor relations web site – small to large cap
ATI Technologies Inc

Best use of conferencing – small to large cap
Canadian Tire Corporation Limited
Gildan Activewear Inc

Best investment community meetings – small to large cap
ATI Technologies Inc

Best senior management communications – small to mid-cap
Cineplex Galaxy Income Fund

Best senior management communications – large cap
Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited

Best use of technology
RBC

Best annual report
PotashCorp

Best communications with the retail market
TELUS Corporation

Best disclosure policy
Inmet Mining Corporation
TD Bank Financial Group

Lifetime achievement in investor relations
Ron Blunn

Best M&A investor relations
Inco Limited

Best corporate governance
RBC

Best investor relations in the US market
CN

Most improved investor relations
Angiotech

Best investor relations officer – small to mid-cap
Isabelle Adjahi – Axcan Pharma Inc
Pat Marshall – Cineplex Galaxy Income Fund

Best investor relations officer – large cap
Janet Craig – Angiotech

Best investor relations officer – mega-cap
Bruce Mann – Rogers Communications

Best investor relations by a CEO
Hunter Harrison – CN

The CIRI grand prix for best overall investor relations – small cap
Cineplex Galaxy Income Fund

The CIRI grand prix for best overall investor relations – mid-cap
Axcan Pharma Inc

The CIRI grand prix for best overall investor relations – large cap
Canadian Tire Corporation Limited

The CIRI grand prix for best overall investor relations – mega-cap
CN

Technorati Tags: Investor Relations, IR Magazine, IR Magazine Awards, Q4 Web Systems

Here are the final categories for the IR Magazine Canada Awards. The awards are tomorrow night and we look forward to seeing many of you there. Congratulations again to all the companies and people nominated. Job well done!

Best disclosure policy
CN
Inmet Mining Corporation
TD Bank Financial Group

Most improved investor relations
Angiotech Pharmaceuticals
Canadian Pacific Railway
Nexen

Best M&A investor relations
ATI Technologies
Falconbridge 06
Inco

Best investor relations for an IPO*
Canada Cartage Diversified Income Fund
Teranet Income Fund
Tim Hortons
* New listings on TSX

Best investor relations by a TSX Venture Exchange company
Active Control Technology
Shift Networks
Sterling Resources
Titanium Corporation

Best investor relations in the US market
Canadian Natural Resources
CN
Nova Chemicals
Research in Motion

Best retail investor communications
RBC Financial Group
Rogers Communications
TD Bank Financial Group
Telus

Technorati Tags: Investor Relations, IR Magazine, IR Magazine Awards, Q4 Web Systems

Here are the IR Magazine Canada Awards nominees for Best Annual Report, Best Investment Community Meeting and The Best Use of Technology. Congratulations to these great companies!

Best Annual Report
CN
PotashCorp
Telus

Best Investment Community Meetings
Angiotech Pharmaceuticals
ATI Technologies
Cognos

Best Use of Technology
ATI Technologies
EnCana
RBC Financial Group

Technorati Tags: Investor Relations, IR Magazine, IR Magazine Awards, Q4 Web Systems

Here are the IR Magazine Canada Awards nominees for Best Investor Relations by a CEO and the Best Senior Management Communications. Congratulations to these impressive leaders.

Best Investor Relations by a CEO 

CN – Hunter Harrison
Shoppers Drug Mart – Glenn Murphy
Suncor Energy – Rick George
TD Bank Financial Group – Edmund Clark

Best Senior Management Communications

$1bn to $10 bn market cap
Agnico-Eagle Mines
Canadian Pacific Railway
Meridian Gold

Under $1bn market cap
Cineplex Galaxy Income Fund
FNX Mining Company
Savanna Energy Services Corporation

Technorati Tags: Investor Relations, IR Magazine, IR Magazine Awards, Q4 Web Systems

Here are the IR Magazine Canada Awards nominees for Best Investor Relations Officer 2006. Managing IR in today’s enviroment is a challenging endeavor. Our hat goes off to everyone below for a job well done in 2006.

Over $10 bn market cap
CN – Bob Noorigian 
Inco – Sandra Scott
Rogers Communications – Bruce Mann 
Suncor Energy – John Rogers

$1 bn to $10 bn market cap 
Angiotech Pharmaceuticals – Janet Craig
Magna International – Louis Tonelli 
Shoppers Drug Mart – John Caplice
TransAlta Corporation – Jennifer Pierce & Mardell van Nieuvenhuyse 

Under $1 bn market cap
Axcan Pharma – Isabelle Adjahi 
Cineplex Galaxy Income Fund – Pat Marshall
Draxis Health – Jerry Ormiston 
Harris Steel Group – Flora Wood

Coming next week: Best investor relations by a CEO

Technorati Tags: Investor Relations, IR Magazine, IR Magazine Awards, Q4 Web Systems

We’re pleased to be a sponsor of the upcoming IR Magazine Canada Awards on February 8th.  Here is the short list of nominees for award The CIRI Grand Prix for Overall Best Investor Relations.

Congratulations to all of the nominees!.

Over $10 bn market cap
Barrick Gold
CN
Manulife Financial
Telus

$1 bn to $10 bn market cap
Angiotech Pharmaceuticals
Canadian Tire
Cognos
Shoppers Drug Mart

$500 mn to $1 bn market cap
Aeroplan Income Fund
Axcan Pharma
Cascades
FNX Mining Company

Under $500 mn market cap
Cineplex Galaxy Income Fund
Dalsa Corporation
Gennum Corporation
 

Technorati Tags: Investor Relations, IR Magazine, IR Magazine Awards, Q4 Web Systems